Treatments

Corticosteroid injections have been used for decades to temporarily relieve pain and inflammation in joints and soft tissues, and to relieve systemic inflammatory reactions. The advantage to injecting corticosteroid medication rather than taking it orally is that it is delivered more quickly to the affected area and often has more effective results. Corticosteroid injections are routinely used to reduce the pain and swelling of bursitis, tendonitis and arthritis. In addition, they are helpful in treating lupus, scleroderma and severe allergic reactions. Corticosteroid injections are also very effective in reducing spinal or radiating limb pain (radicular pain) when injected into the epidural space, which is between the dura, the outer...

An intensive outpatient program is a form of psychiatric treatment that can be particularly successful for patients making a transition from inpatient care or those diagnosed with an eating disorder or substance addiction. It is appropriate for those who may be in need of more comprehensive treatment than standard outpatient care but who are capable of participating in most normal daily activities.

Because joints are in constant use, they often wear out over time due to overuse or aging. Joint reconstruction or replacement may be required to relieve the resulting pain and restore function. Most joints in the body, including the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, hips, knees, ankles and feet, are synovial, permitting movement and articulation. When these joints suffer traumatic injury, or when the cartilage that normally protects them wears away, surgical repair or replacement may be necessary.

In medicine, 3-D imaging is the process used to create images of the human body and its internal organs. This type of procedure requires a patient to lie still while a machine circles the patient to record the images. Different techniques are used depending on the part of the body being examined and what variety of image is needed. If nuclear medicine is being used, a contrast dye is administered to help with visibility of the specified areas.

Traditionally, hip arthroplasty, commonly known as hip replacement, has been performed by accessing the joint through the rear of the leg. Recent advances in technique, however, have made an anterior approach, during which the surgeon accesses the hip joint through the front of the leg, a more desirable option for most patients.

Bilateral knee arthroplasty is the replacement of both knees during the same period of time. This procedure can be simultaneous, with both knees operated on during the same surgery, or staged, with separate surgeries performed on each knee a few days or weeks apart. Bilateral knee arthroplasty is performed on patients disabled by severe arthritis in both knees. While the bilateral procedure is longer and more complex than a single knee arthroplasty, the pain relief after surgery is much greater and the overall rehabilitation time is shorter.