Traditional Treatments
-
Medication
-
Steroid injection
-
Surgery
-
Bracing
-
Physical Therapy
Advanced Non-Surgical Treatments
-
HILT Laser Therapy
-
MLS Laser Therapy
Premier Non-Surgical Treatment Destination For Osteoarthritis & Cartilage Lesions
Pain Relief Institute is the premier destination in Chicago and the Midwest for innovative and cutting edge based treatment for Osteoarthritis and Soft Tissue degeneration. We cater to athletes, weekend warriors and active seniors who are not interested in simply masking their discomfort with medications, temporary relief from cortisone injections and are looking to avoid surgery.
We specialize in non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment approaches. With years of experience researching and performing cutting-edge techniques, few physicians have more to offer than the Specialists at Pain Relief Institute.
Diagnosis
If our specialists suspect a cartilage problem is causing your symptoms, we will perform a full physical examination in order to obtain a diagnosis. We will begin by collecting detailed information about your symptoms, including their duration, severity and what activities seem to worsen them. From there, we will move the affected limb to test its mobility and evaluate the area for tenderness.
Frequently, we will order an X-Ray initially to see the arthritic changes that have taken place and from there may order an MRI to access cartilage damage. In most cases when diagnosed early conservative treatment can be very effective.
Symptoms
Because osteoarthritis and cartilage lesions both affect your joints, they produce very similar symptoms. The most common ones include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Joint instability
- Decrease range of motion
- A locking or catching sensation
- Numbness
These symptoms may improve with rest, but they will always return when you resume your normal activities. And, because osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease, the damage and symptoms often continue to worsen over time.
What Causes Arthritis
The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease characterized by the gradual wearing down of your cartilage over time. Although it can affect any joint in the body, it’s most likely to impact the joints in your spine, hips, knees and hands.
A cartilage lesion is an injury that involves damage to the cartilage surrounding the knee joint. These lesions may be degenerative and caused by “wear and tear,” or they may be traumatic and caused by a sudden injury. When the lesions develop, they may not result in any symptoms initially. However, as the damage progresses, they can lead to a number of problems, including inflammation, decreased mobility, pain and a loss of joint function.
GENETIC FACTORS
REPETITIVE USE & EXTENSIVE WEAR AND TEAR
ADVANCING AGE
TRAUMA
