Dr. Bailey follows a conservative treatment strategy and performs surgery only when necessary. He uses a wide range of effective nonsurgical measures including innovative orthobiologics and creates individualized treatment plans for better outcomes.
Most sports injuries are initially managed by the RICE protocol including:
- Rest: Rest is the most important part of any recovery process. If you have an injury, you should rest the affected area to allow it to heal properly. This may mean avoiding activities that aggravate the injury or reducing the intensity of your workouts.
- Ice: Applying ice to the affected area can help to reduce pain and inflammation. You can apply ice for 15-20 minutes at a time, several times a day.
- Compression: Compression can help to reduce swelling and provide support to the affected area. You can use compression bandages, sleeves or wraps to help manage swelling.
- Elevation: Elevating the affected area above heart level can help to reduce swelling and promote healing.
Depending on your condition your doctor may also recommend:
- Physical therapy: Physical therapy can help to strengthen the affected area and improve range of motion. A physical therapist can work with you to create an exercise program that is tailored to your specific needs.
- Medications: Over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help to manage pain and reduce inflammation. Your doctor can also offer prescription medication if needed.
- Injections: Cortisone injections may be administered into the affected joint space, bursa, or the region around a swollen tendon. This helps in reducing the inflammation quickly and easing pain. In some cases, imaging techniques such as ultrasound may be used by your doctor to guide the needle to the exact location while injecting the medication.
- Orthobiologics: These are innovative procedures to harness natural substances in the body that promote healing and regeneration of tissues and target them at areas of injury. Examples of orthobiologic procedures include injection of platelet rich plasma and bone marrow aspirate concentrate which may be used alone or in conjunction with physical therapy.