Question 1

Does every patient need surgery?

Accepted Answer

No. Most patients never require surgery, as many shoulder and knee conditions can be treated successfully with conservative care. However, when surgery is necessary, I offer a full range of surgical options and specialize in minimally invasive techniques whenever possible.

Question 2

What nonsurgical treatments do you use?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the problem, treatment may include activity modification, medication, physical therapy, home exercise, injections, or simply observation. Treatment should match the diagnosis rather than using the same approach for every patient.

Question 3

How do you decide which treatment is right for me?

Accepted Answer

Diagnosis, age, activity level, overall health, symptoms, expectations, imaging findings, and what the patient wants to accomplish all contribute to developing an individualized treatment plan.

Question 4

What types of injections do you offer?

Accepted Answer

I offer corticosteroid injections for both shoulder and knee patients and viscosupplementation injections for knee patients. When appropriate, I also offer BioRenew(TM) placental tissue matrix (PTM).

Question 5

Will I need physical therapy?

Accepted Answer

Physical therapy is extremely useful for some conditions and most postoperative recoveries. In other situations, a home exercise program or simple activity modification may be sufficient.