Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery in Allentown, PA
Injuries to orthopedic joints can happen for various reasons. Sports injuries, accidents, degenerative diseases, and normal wear and tear can cause pain and may restrict your maximum range of motion when moving your joints. Conventional treatments may be helpful for a while, but eventually, they may run their course of effectiveness after some time.
When the joints in your body are chronically painful and keep you from doing the activities you enjoy, it may be time to consider another alternative to the ineffectual treatments you’ve tried. Your Allentown, PA minimally invasive orthopedic surgeon at NJ Spine & Orthopedic can evaluate your medical records and offer an option to relieve your symptoms.
When Should Minimally Invasive Surgery Be Considered?
The joints or bones in the human body can be compromised by trauma, disease, or aging so that, eventually, they don’t work at their optimum level of performance. When you experience pain and can’t seem to enjoy the activities that require the use of these joints or bones, there are conventional treatments that will help relieve the pain and improve your range of movement. Treatments you can try include:
- Applying heat or ice to the area
- Over-the-counter pain medications
- Wearing braces
- Physical therapy
- Rest
- Cortisone injections
- Lifestyle changes
However, if you’ve been following treatment recommendations from your doctor but the chronic pain persists, you may have to consider minimally invasive orthopedic surgery in Allentown, PA. These procedures will solve the root of the problem by removing and replacing joints or ligaments, cartilage, discs, tendons, and bones that are instrumental in your body’s function.
Minimally Invasive Surgery vs. Traditional Surgery
During surgery, joints and spinal discs can be replaced with artificial parts made of medical-grade metals and plastics, while ligaments and tendons are replaced with healthy donor ones. If bones need to be repaired and rebuilt, bone grafting is performed by transplanting bones from another part of your body or using donated bone tissue and applying bone morphogenic protein (BMP) to help facilitate fusion.
With traditional or open orthopedic surgeries, the surgeon has to cut an incision big enough to see the problem area and work within those confines. Once the surgeon makes the incision, any tissue, muscles, blood vessels, and organs must be moved aside to access the injured part. All of this tends to create trauma and injury to the unrelated body parts that are affected during the surgery. The more injury caused during the surgery, the more extensive and painful the recovery time will be.
However, with minimally invasive surgery, a tiny incision is all that a surgeon needs to access the injured joint, and any injury to the surrounding tissues, muscles, blood vessels, and organs in this small space is minimal. Advanced imaging technology, real-time imaging guidance, and specialized surgical instruments make minimally invasive surgery possible. These advancements in surgical technology, coupled with the surgical team’s expertise and experience in using them, make for a less painful and extensive recovery time.
What to Ask Your Orthopedic Surgeon About Minimally Invasive Surgery in Allentown, PA
When all other conventional treatments have failed and it’s been determined that surgery is the best option, you might have some questions for your orthopedic surgeon. As with any sort of surgery, it’s important to clear up any concerns beforehand so that you have all the information you need. This can also help reduce any fear or worry about the procedure. You might want to ask questions like:
- Can my orthopedic issue be repaired with minimally invasive surgery?
- How do I prepare for minimally invasive surgery?
- How long will my recovery time be?
- Is minimally invasive surgery safe?
Every medical problem is unique, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution to everyone’s orthopedic issues. Asking your orthopedic surgeon about your specific circumstances will provide comfort in knowing that your chronic pain can be relieved and you can regain the quality of life you once enjoyed.
Ask the Orthopedic Surgeons at NJ Spine & Orthopedic How They Can Help You
At NJ Spine & Orthopedic, our orthopedic surgeons are the best in their field when it comes to minimally invasive surgery. These award-winning surgeons apply the latest research and technology when performing minimally invasive surgery so you can get back on your feet sooner rather than later. We will work with you to create a treatment plan that helps alleviate your pain and other symptoms.
Our Allentown, PA minimally invasive orthopedic surgeons at NJ Spine & Orthopedic can help relieve the pain in your joints and give back a maximum range of motion by repairing the injury through a small incision. Call (866) 553-0612 or complete our contact form to get you on the road to recovery if you need help with your persistent and chronic pain.