ask the pickleball doctor
By Noe Sariban, PT, DPT
www.thepickleballdoctor.com
Injections
for
Orthopedic
Injuries
Good
or Bad
Idea?
T
he medical field has changed considerably
in the past 15 years, and continues to evolve
on a daily basis. Certain treatment options
that were not available a few decades ago
have provided people with opportunities to extend their
athletic careers and improve their overall quality of life.
In my opinion, conservative management of orthopedic
injuries should always be the first course of action. It
has been shown and supported that physical therapy
is more cost effective than other medical services and
very effective in the treatment of various orthopedic
conditions such as (not limited to) low back pain, neck
pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, and hip pain.
However, there are other measures that can be
taken to optimize someone’s recovery. At times, more
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invasive treatments need to be used in order to solve
the problem. Certain types of injections can facilitate
the recovery process, and enhance the benefits gained
in physical therapy. When conservative treatments in
conjunction with injections don’t work, then it may be
necessary to consider more invasive methods such as
surgeries or other procedures.
But what injections should you receive? How effective
will they be? How soon can you be back on the courts
playing pickleball?
There is no straightforward answer—it depends.
Everyone is different, and every injury will heal
differently. Having a good discussion with your
physical therapist as well as your orthopedic physician
and determining the best course of action for you