Therapeutic Injections in Kansas City

Therapeutic Injections


Your Solution to
Hand & Wrist Discomfort.

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Understanding the Basics Behind Hand & Wrist Pain


What is Therapeutic Injection?

For most of us, joint pain will occur at one point or another in our lives due to an acute injury or a chronic condition. Your hand and wrist are no exception. The complexity of the hand, its overall usage and the mobility associated with its structures increase the likelihood of an injury.

Hand and wrist injuries can greatly impact our ability to live our lives. Acute injuries, years of repetitive motion, or trauma building up over time, can all prevent you from doing the things you love

Regardless of the hand or wrist issues you’re dealing with, whether it’s a sprain, fracture or ligament tear, help is available. One common non-surgical method we use to treat hand and wrist pain is a therapeutic injection. By injecting medication directly into the painful area we can help ensure lasting relief that gets you back to the activities you love.

If your provider determines that therapeutic injections in Kansas City are the right treatment for your needs, we’ll create a customized plan. Each recommendation made by our physicians depends on your specific symptoms and personal goals.

Your First Appointment for Hand & Wrist Injuries

Choosing therapeutic injections in Kansas City is a decision that typically involves guidance from your primary care doctor and orthopedic physician. When you choose Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance, one of our highly-trained orthopedic hand and wrist specialists will conduct an initial evaluation to better understand your condition. After a complete review of your results, your provider will discuss whether therapeutic injections are the best treatment option for you.

Your First Appointment

Some signs and symptoms that may require therapeutic injections in Kansas City include:

  • Swelling
  • Pain
  • Instability
  • Numbness
  • Popping/Clicking/Locking
  • Decreased Range of Motion

Both acute and chronic injuries can be corrected by the experts at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance. When you visit us, we’ll take the time to determine the cause of your pain and determine whether a treatment like cyst removal is best for you.

When a patient visits one of our KCOA offices, a skilled orthopedic specialist will ask you questions regarding your symptoms, what aggravates/alleviates your symptoms, and whether you have attempted prior therapies. Next comes a thorough physical exam. We will then review any images you bring with you and/or take new images. After determining the cause of your pain, we can discuss if therapeutic injections in Kansas City will work best for your needs.

Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance hand & Wrist Assessment


Assessing the Injury

Determining the proper treatment process for hand and wrist injuries starts with an assessment from one of our experienced providers. You can think of hand and wrist pain as a spectrum, with some instances being more severe than others.

The KCOA orthopedic specialists always focus on each patient and their concerns before creating a treatment plan.

Therefore, during your initial appointment, we will often ask questions such as:

From there, we can decide what treatment option will align best with your needs and lifestyle goals.

  • Does your pain currently limit you or your activities?
  • Has your pain progressed or worsened recently?
  • Did you notice or hear a popping sound at the time of your injury?
  • Have you noticed any change in your symptoms or the cyst that has made it more challenging to function?
  • What are your lifestyle goals?
  • How has the cyst affected those goals?

Examinations

 

Once we’ve completed a proper assessment, your provider will often begin with a physical examination to help determine the origin point of your pain. In some cases, advanced testing may be required for a full diagnosis. This may include: 

X-Ray

Also called radiographs, an X-ray captures a picture of the wrist. Orthopedic physicians may order an X-ray to rule out the possibility of a fracture (broken bone), osteoarthritis, or other bone-related conditions.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

MRI captures images of muscles, bones, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons to help provide information other tests can’t detail. During an MRI, you will lie on a table that slides into a tube-shaped scanner. The machine creates a magnetic field around you, using pulsed radio waves to form the MRI images.

Electromyograms (EMG) & Nerve Conduction Studies

Our board-certified physiatrists utilize electromyograms (EMGs) and nerve conduction studies to help determine whether nerves and muscles respond properly to stimuli. The EMG measures the electrical activity of your muscles at rest and in motion, while nerve conduction studies determine how fast and effectively your nerves and muscles receive electrical signals.

A picture of a physical medicine specialist in Kansas City

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Establishing a Care Plan

Based on the results of your interview, examination, and imaging studies, you can expect a custom care plan catered specifically to you.

Many people believe it’s best to wait until their pain becomes severe, leading them to “put off” or delay treatments like cyst removal in Kansas City. 

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Determine Candidacy

If you are in constant discomfort, have shooting or stabbing pains, have limited range of motion, or increasing inability to perform your daily activities, a treatment like cyst removal may be right for you.

New technologies allow patients with severe hand and wrist concerns to fully recover and enjoy the benefits of a more active, pain-free lifestyle.

Our Process

Symptoms


Common Signs and Symptoms of Hand & Wrist Injuries

There are numerous potential causes of pain when it comes to hand and wrist injuries. Similar to other areas of your body, there are a number of different parts working together in your hand and wrist. This leads to many different chances for injury or chronic pain, with each instance having their own set of symptoms.

Therapeutic injections of the hand and wrist are a great way to achieve effective outcomes without surgery. We offer a range of injections, such as steroids, viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid gel), and more. We can determine the right type of injection based on your individual needs.

Hand and wrist injuries can also worsen based on certain risk factors, such as age, activity level, whether you’re a healthy weight, and more.

Causes

Causes of Hand & Wrist Pain

The body has a number of different joints that all work in unison in order to function normally. However, all of these different working parts means that your hand and wrist can face a variety of potential injuries. How severe your hand and wrist pain is will vary depending on a few different key factors, including both the location and the source of the problem.

Whether you’re suffering from an acute or chronic injury, the hand and wrist specialists at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance are here to assist. We’ll help you find the root cause of your pain and determine whether a wrist arthroscopy is right for you or if you require a different treatment. Common causes of hand and wrist pain include:

Treatments

In most cases, surgery is not the first option for treatment at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance. If we can treat your with more conservative treatments, we’ll choose those options. In the case of therapeutic injections, surgery will not be required unless the symptoms worsen.

Occupational/Physical Therapy

A trained therapist will focus on the issue that’s causing the pain or symptoms as well as the deficits that are present as a result of the injury.  Stretches, strengthening exercises, manual soft tissue work, and modalities like hot and cold therapy may be used to help you recover.

Medications

Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Advil) or prescription medications. Especially with NSAIDs, you should always talk to your doctor to ensure they are the right treatment for you.

Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine might be considered in the general category of therapeutic injections or can be a separate treatment used in conjunction with a pain-relieving injection. Regenerative medicines like stem cell injections or platelet-rich plasma can help nourish worn or damaged tissue. This option works best if you have mild-to-moderate wrist pain.

Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance is here to help.

Our care is personal. Our team is knowledgeable. And we’re more available than ever.

With access to board-certified specialists across Kansas City, we have the tools to meet almost every musculoskeletal condition.

Use our Symptom Tracker Tool to connect with the right KCOA physician for your unique needs—and get back to the things that matter most.

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Testimonials

Dr. Ting and his staff are the best!

Dr. Ting and his staff are the best! Sarah his nurse is kind and supportive. Dr. Tings nurse for surgery was absolutely the best! Dr. Ting, I have complete faith in. He is who I shall go to for anything he handles! Can’t say enough about him! Thank you all for making a scary time a completely peaceful event. You are the best!!

Valene Vanice

Staff is great

…just did my husbands hands on Wed. last week and can’t believe how well he is doing. We have already recommended you to our son and a few others. Your staff is great and my husband doing well. Thanks to you.

Sandra Lane

I left a very happy patient.

…I arrived a little bit late. I got checked in quickly and was back in a room within 10 minutes. Dr Rhodes was very friendly and took the time to pull up pictures of my surgery and show them and explain them to me. I left a very happy patient.

Michael Bachmann

Dr. Scott Ellsworth is one of the best

Dr. Scott Ellsworth is one of the best I have ever worked with. He is knowledgeable, efficient, caring, and knows his patients. He has a special bedside manner that makes any patient in any situation feel comfortable. All of the nurses and office staff are wonderful as well.

Deb Woodard

I'm consistently impressed

In the process of treating my particular problem I’ve been to Apex probably 4-5 times. I’m consistently impressed by the professionalism of the staff and the amount of care & time they spend with me as a patient. They’re always very careful to make sure I understand the nature of the medical problem, the reasons for the diagnosis, and the type of treatment recommended. Stephanie’s care and concern is especially appreciated.

 

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