Healing from a Shoulder Fracture: What to Expect
Depending on the severity of your injury, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to fully rehabilitate a shoulder fracture. Here’s what to expect.
Knee Pain: Do You Need Surgery for Your Injury?
Most knee injuries heal on their own, and conservative methods can be used to boost healing and get you back on your feet faster. However, some injuries heal better after surgical intervention.
Once your knee injury has been properly diagnosed, your doctor can determine what treatment will serve you best, whether that includes physical therapy, regenerative medicine, surgery, or a combination of procedures.
Dr. Philip Regala practices orthopedic medicine in Naples, Florida. If you have acute or chronic knee pain, he can consult with you and help decide if surgery is the best option.
How surgery can heal knee injuries
When your injury is severe, Dr. Regala uses surgical techniques to repair the damage and stabilize your joint. From there, your body can finish healing itself naturally. Dr. Regala provides surgical options for those with meniscus tears, complex fractures, and tears to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
If you’re concerned about the lengthy recovery time associated with knee surgery, don’t let this deter you. Most knee surgeries are done arthroscopically, which reduces the invasiveness of the procedure.
Instead of a large incision to open up your knee, Dr. Regala performs many knee surgeries using thin, narrow cameras (arthroscopes) and special tools. These are inserted through multiple, smaller incisions. Your body will have an easier time healing these, so you can get back on your feet faster.
When to begin considering surgery
Many athletes try to “walk off” injuries, and avoid going to the doctor right away. Your chances of a full, swift recovery are better if you involve a sports medicine doctor from the start. A knee injury doesn’t automatically mean surgery, but if you do need extra care, the time to get it is as soon after injury as possible.
It’s impossible to tell at a glance whether you need surgery or not. However, if you’re suffering persistent knee pain, loss of movement, or joint instability, head to our office right away. We can perform diagnostic tests to determine if you need surgery, and get you the care you need.
What to expect from recovery
Once your surgery is complete, you can begin healing. Many people struggle to heal from knee injuries, because joints consist largely of cartilage, ligaments, and muscles. These areas don’t get a lot of blood flow, so it’s difficult for your body to send growth factors through the blood.
Recovery can take time, but Dr. Regala and his team can speed up the process using regenerative medicine, like PRP injections. We start by taking a small sample of your blood, putting it in a centrifuge, and isolating the platelet-rich plasma. Then we inject the PRP into your knee joint to boost your body’s natural healing response. By using your own blood, we can bypass your body’s immune response, and the PRP can get to work immediately, which improves its efficacy.
To learn more about knee surgery and PRP therapy, get in touch with Dr. Regala and his team. You can schedule a consultation by calling 239-325-1131, or book an appointment online.
You Might Also Enjoy...
What's the Best Treatment for a Dislocated Knee?
Without proper rehabilitation, a dislocated knee can become a chronic problem. Here’s why you should trust an expert with your treatment.
How PRP Treatment Can Help You Overcome an Injury
When you suffer an injury, your body goes into healing mode. Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, can help boost and support that process, enhancing your body’s natural ability to repair itself.
Got Joint Pain? Stem Cell Therapy Offers Surgery-Free Relief
Joint pain can significantly impact your mobility and your ability to perform normal daily tasks. Stem cell therapy can help your body heal itself, improving function and relieving pain.
The Most Common Sports Injuries
Whether you’re an amatuer or a professional athlete, sports injuries are likely to occur at some point. Here are some of the most common sports injuries, and what treatments can help.
The Benefits of Hot and Cold Therapy
Hot and cold therapy involves more than just occasionally placing an ice pack over an injury or pulling out the heating pad when soreness strikes. Here’s how to use each pain relief method.