Ultrasound is About More Than Babies

When you hear the word “ultrasound,” what comes to mind? Probably an expecting mother hoping to get a peak at their child, right? While this is certainly the most well-known use of the technology, it is actually a mainstay in non-surgical orthopedics as well. With ultrasound, a doctor can diagnose certain injuries more accurately compared to an X-ray and then also use it to deliver treatment with extreme precision.

Diagnosing Injuries with Ultrasound

If you break a bone, what is the first thing the doctor is likely to do? Take an X-ray so they can get a look at the injury. While a static image is fine in this case, X-rays leave a lot to be desired when it comes to joint injuries. Often, the only way to tell what is causing the problem is to see the joint in motion, which is impossible with an X-ray.

But ultrasound allows the doctor to look “under the hood” of a joint as a patient moves it. This will make it much more obvious whether someone’s pain, stiffness, or swelling is due to a muscle, ligament, tendon, or cartilage problem. This leads to a more accurate diagnosis, which not only provides peace of mind for the patient, but also helps the doctor choose the right treatment.

Treating Injuries Using Ultrasound

When it comes to treating joint injuries, the two main options are medication and surgery. But fortunately, regenerative medicine is able to offer an alternative in the form of therapeutic injections. This could involve injecting corticosteroids into the distressed joint to stop pain or something like prolotherapy or stem cells to encourage accelerated healing.

Rather than just injecting a patient’s joint and simply hoping the medicinal substance goes where it is supposed to, a doctor can make sure with ultrasound. An ultrasound-guided injection allows them to see the needle within a patient so they can place the treatment right where it’s needed. This way, nothing is wasted, and the patient gets the maximum effect.

Answers and Solutions with Ultrasound

If you have a joint injury or pain and don’t know what is causing it, ultrasound can help you finally get the answers you deserve. Then, it can also play a part in helping you feel better! Just look for a doctor that offers both diagnostic ultrasound as well as ultrasound-guided injections. This technology is amazing and has already been used to help countless patients across the world—both those who are expecting and those who aren’t!

About the Author

Dr. Joel Stein is a DO that has been taking care of patients and getting people out of pain for almost 40 years. His decades of experience have helped him achieve some truly amazing results for patients using ultrasound, and he’s eager to do the same for you. To learn more and schedule a consultation at the Institute for Non-Surgical Orthopedics in one of our Florida locations, click here.