Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Joint Preservation

Pain is a common complaint experienced in many body parts, if not all, especially the knee, hip, and shoulders. In many cases, patients who have suffered from severe discomfort in the above regions always resort to joint replacement surgery as a form of treatment. However, joint preservation is an alternative treatment with minimally invasive techniques and can aid in easing your discomfort and range of motion as you age. A joint preservation Cumming specialist can help you find relief from your discomfort and offer the best outcomes on your treatment plan. Read on to know more about joint preservation treatment.

What Is Joint Preservation?

Joint preservation is a treatment with minimal surgical methods and is used to relieve you of the pain in the joints and cure the joint. The therapy helps avoid or stop the development of osteoarthritis or other joint-related deteriorating conditions.

 As a result, joint preservation will prevent you from undergoing replacement surgery or delay it for a while. Joint preservation minimizes the risk of issues associated with implant surgery. However, if this procedure proves ineffective, you might have to resort to total joint replacement.

What Are The Options For Joint Preservation?

You can undergo joint preservation through either invasive or noninvasive procedures. Your doctor will analyze your unique concerns to suggest which procedure is most appropriate. Some examples of noninvasive methods include:

1. Joint Injections
2. Physiotherapy
3. Radiofrequency Ablation
4. Lifestyle modifications, like changing your medication and diet
5. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
6. Exercises
7. Off-loading braces

On the other hand, invasive methods include:

1. Ligament reconstruction
2. Partial joint replacement
3. Cartilage restoration or transplant treatments
4. Osteotomy
5. Joint realignment treatments

What Concerns Warrant A Joint Preservation Treatment?

Often, young patients are considered ideal candidates for a joint preservation procedure. However, there are other factors that your physician will need to consider, including:

1. Position of the damaged ankle, hip, knee, or shoulder joint
2. Muscle conditioning and strength
3. Weight
4. The intensity of the joint’s defectiveness and the seriousness of cartilage deterioration
5. Activity level

What Makes Joint Preservation Better Than Joint Replacement?

Over the years, knee or hip arthroplasty has facilitated faster and safer recoveries. Nevertheless, there are other treatments to cure your joint discomfort. Joint preservation techniques minimize the chance of you having any side effects after an implant surgery or infection.

 Additionally, joint preservation aids in stabilizing your movement even while you age. The procedure also delays total joint replacement for a long time and prevents you from needing such a procedure later. However, if this treatment is ineffective, you might still need joint replacement as a last resort.

You do not have to live with chronic knee or hip pain while you can enjoy lasting relief from joint preservation techniques. Nonetheless, you should always consult a specialist to determine if this procedure is appropriate for you, as some conditions might eventually require total joint replacement surgery. For instance, if you have a risk of infections, or have undergone a failed surgery before, this procedure might not be for you. However, if the benefits of undergoing the procedure outweigh the drawbacks, you should consider undertaking the treatment.