Neck

Before You Get A Cortisone Injection For Knee Pain In Cedar Rapids Here Is What You Should Know!

If you have knee pain in Cedar Rapids, I am glad you found this post.

What if I told you that something you did today would increase the likelihood of you getting a knee replacement in the next decade by almost 10%?

Would you do it?

What if I told you every time you did this thing it would continue to increase the risk of a knee replacement by almost 10% within the decade?

Chances are you would probably avoid it, right?

What if I told you that something you did today would increase the likelihood of you getting a knee replacement in the next decade by almost 10%?

Cortisone, or steroid injections, are common practice by practitioners in the United States.  Chances are if you are reading this you, or a loved one has had one.

From the Mayo Clinic recommendations, cortisone injections should be limited to 3-4 injections per year.  This is common practice for more than just knee pain in Cedar Rapids.

 

 

“cortisone injections should be limited to 3-4 injections per year.”

New research published from The Bone and Joint Journal, shows that maybe we should be careful when using corticosteroids for pain relief.

Researchers found each injection increased the absolute risk of arthroplasty by 9.4% at nine years’ follow-up compared with those who did not receive injections.

Read that again if you skipped over it!  Nearly a 10% risk of a knee replacement FOR EACH CORTISONE INJECTION WHEN COMPARED TO THOSE WHO DID NOT RECEIVE ONE!!!

Cortisone is a means of reducing inflammation – which is a good thing – but there is a reason why inflammation is there in the first place.  Often times inflammation is caused by joints not moving as well as they should, or limited range of motion and function.

Adhesion is one of the most common problems in the body that you probably haven’t heard about.  Adhesion acts like glue on muscles limiting range of motion and function, causes weakness, pain, and speeds up degeneration.  If you have osteoarthritis in the knee, chances are you have this! 

Adhesion primarily builds up through overuse, but can also happen from trauma and previous surgery.  It is a problem relatively few doctors know about or know how to treat.  It can be fixed with expert treatment to restore range of motion and function, and limit the pain of degeneration.

We have known for a long time that cortisone is not a long term solution to solving pain.  Now we know that using these injections even once, can increase the chances of a joint replacement in the future!

Before getting another injection, know there are better options out there for permanent pain relief that doesn’t increase your chance of a future surgery!

At Thrive Care, we are the only office in Iowa exclusively treating muscle adhesion.  We have helped thousands find permanent pain relief and avoid unnecessary injections and surgeries.

Let us help!

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At Thrive Care, we work diligently with our patients to find permanent pain relief!

Patients deserve better care than what they have come to expect — and that is what we deliver in our office! Our Cedar Rapids knee pain doctor and staff provide a patient-centered experience in a results-driven environment to ensure you get honest and effective treatment for your pain problems.

If you or someone you know is struggling with joint pain, we want to see you at Thrive Care!  Getting you to do the things you used to do, and doing them better is our mission!

Schedule Your Appointment

    Cedar Rapids Neck Pain Doctor Provides Complete Neck Pain Care

    Finding relief from chronic neck pain can be difficult.  Stats show upwards of 20-40% of Americans will struggle with neck pain at some point in their life.  Fortunately, a Cedar Rapids neck pain doctor is providing permanent neck pain relief to those who have suffered months and years and failed multiple providers or therapies!

    “20-40% of Americans will struggle with neck pain at some point in their life.”

    A healthy neck requires two things; full range of motion and enough strength that is required to perform our daily activities.  Having those two things ensures a healthy neck.

    Each year, we spend over 90 billion dollars a year on neck and back pain.  That number is on the rise.  While we continue to spend more on neck pain, more people continue to suffer from daily pain.  What we are doing isn’t working.

    The reason? Most doctors are ill-equipped and lack the knowledge required to measure and manage the problem.  For some, this may be an offensive statement.  It’s a hard truth.

    “over 90 billion dollars will be spent on neck and back pain this year… and more people will continue to suffer from neck pain”

    Think about this.  If you go to a chiropractor, what happens?  You are told you have a misalignment and get adjusted.  If you take the same problem to a physical therapist, what happens?  You get a pamphlet of stretches and exercises.  Trying the same thing with a medical doctor, you will get prescribed muscle relaxers, pain killers, even cortisone injections.

    These providers are just doing what they are trained to do.  They are carpenters with a hammer looking for a nail.  Where most providers fail is working to provide an accurate diagnosis – finding out what’s wrong and what needs to be done to fix the problem.

    At Thrive Care, this is where we are different.  Our process demands a lot of work upfront to determine as accurate a diagnosis as possible.  We help a lot of patients find relief from chronic neck pain.  In some cases the patients problem isn’t for us – but we know who does – and make the appropriate referral.

    In some cases their problem isn’t for us – but we know who can help them!

    Most patients coming into our office have struggled with pain months and years and failed multiple provides and therapies before finding relief in our office.  

    Adhesion is one of the most common problems in the human body.  It is also one of the most misdiagnosed and mistreated conditions.  Most doctors don’t know it exists let alone how to fix it.  Adhesion, when present, acts like glue on muscles.  It limits flexibility, causes weakness and pain, and speeds up degeneration.  We fix it, providing permanent restoration of motion and reduction in pain.  The video above shows what some of our care looks like.

    At Thrive Care, we work diligently with our patients to find permanent pain relief!

    Patients deserve better care than what they have come to expect — and that is what we deliver in our office! Our Cedar Rapids neck pain doctor and staff provide a patient-centered experience in a results-driven environment to ensure you get honest and effective treatment for your pain problems.

    If you or someone you know is struggling with neck pain, we want to see you at Thrive Care!  Getting you to do the things you used to do, and doing them better is our mission!

    Schedule Your Appointment

      The Most Effective Cedar Rapids Back Pain Treatment

      Cedar Rapids Low Back Pain Relief Treatment

      Low back pain will affect 4 out of 5 people at some point in their life.  2 out of 5 people will develop chronic low back pain.  It costs 100 billion – that’s “b” – dollars a year to treat low back pain!  The problem is despite spending more than ever, the results aren’t improving!  We need better ways to fix low back pain!

      …despite spending more than ever, the results aren’t improving

      The research shows that proper movement and function is vital to slowing down degeneration and pain.  Doctors don’t measure low back range of motion. Unfortunately, the current medical model doesn’t incentivize doctors to do this. Pain pills, muscle relaxers, injections, and surgery are the norm.  We will never be able to solve a mechanical problem with a chemical solution!

      This is where our office helps to solve the problem of chronic low back pain!  Our office measures your low back health.  We assess the health of the tissues, and determine, with certainty, an accurate diagnosis and know your best treatment solution to fix your back pain.

      We will never be able to solve a mechanical problem with a chemical solution!

      Most patients in our office have been misdiagnosed and mistreated.  We find many patients to have a relatively unknown issue – muscle adhesion.  Muscle adhesion is one of the most common, most misdiagnosed, and mistreated conditions in the human body.

      When present it limits range of motion, causes weakness and pain, and speeds up degeneration.  It is a BIG deal that requires expert treatment!  Above is a sample of what treatment of adhesion causing low back pain looks like at our office.

      Treatment in the video eliminates adhesion, restores range of motion, increases function, and best of all eliminates pain!

      We will never be able to solve a mechanical problem with a chemical solution!

      If you’re tired of living with chronic pain, tried multiple providers or therapies without results, we are looking for you!   

      At Thrive Care, we work diligently with our patients to find permanent pain relief!

      Patients deserve better care than what they have come to expect — and that is what we deliver in our office! Our Cedar Rapids back pain team provides a patient-centered experience in a results-driven environment to ensure you get honest and effective treatment for your pain problems.

      If you or someone you know is struggling with chronic low back pain, we want to see you at Thrive Care!  Getting you to do the things you used to do, and doing them better is our mission!

      Schedule Your Appointment

        Cedar Rapids Knee Pain Treatment

        Ceder Rapids Knee Pain Relief Treatment

        Help is here for Cedar Rapids knee pain sufferers!

        As we have said in our previous blog, knee pain and knee replacements are on the rise. What we are doing to fix knee pain isn’t working!

        Fortunately, in Cedar Rapids there is a radical new approach to fixing knee pain that providing long-lasting results and preventing unnecessary surgeries.

        At Thrive Care, we see things different. We treat things different.

        Adhesion is one of the most common causes of knee pain. It is often one of the most under-diagnosed and mistreated conditions in the human body. When present, muscle adhesion limits range of motion, causes weakness, and pain.

        It is a VERY BIG deal that relatively few providers around the world know about.

        The good news is that the experts at Thrive Care are the only 2 providers in the state of Iowa exclusively treating muscle adhesion through the Integrative Diagnosis system – the most complete and accurate diagnosis and treatment system in the world.

        We confidently say we provide results no other providers can deliver. Most of our patients have had their pain for months and years and failed multiple providers and therapies.

        Sound familiar?

        Fill out the form below and start living your pain free life again!

        Schedule Your Appointment

          Cedar Rapids Knee Pain Assessment

          Watch the video and take this quick knee pain assessment!

          Here are some quick knee pain stats for you:

          • Frequent knee pain affects up to 25% of adults
          • Knee pain limits function
          • Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of knee pain for those over 50
          • Knee replacements are on the rise in the aforementioned patient population
          • In the FOA Study, there was an increase in symptomatic osteoarthritis but no increase in radiographic osteoarthritis

          Did you catch that last line?

          There was an increase in symptomatic osteoarthritis, yet there was no increase in radiographic findings! A patient’s pain goes up, but the findings don’t change on an image? What’s going on?

          Look back up at the second fact. Knee pain limits function which means limits flexibility, causes weakness, and pain.

          Muscle adhesion is also very common. It limits flexibility, causes weakness, pain, and can speed up degeneration. Adhesion has also been found in patients with chronic pain more so than acute pain.

          Adhesion also doesn’t show up on images.

          Remember earlier with knee pain how there is increased pain without increased changes on imaging?

          It stands to reason that adhesion can be behind a majority of knee pain.

          What we find in our office, is that adhesion is often at the root of chronic knee pain that has failed multiple providers or therapies.

          How do you know if you have adhesion causing knee pain?

          Watch the video above and take the test. Let us know how you do.

          If you found this test positive, feel free to fill out the request form at the bottom of this page.

          Schedule Your Appointment

            New Effective Sciatica Treatment in Cedar Rapids!

            Sciatica is often used as a catch-all term by patients to refer to any pain they feel in their legs.  Millions of dollars are spent each year, with limited effectiveness.  This is understandable when we begin to take into consideration all the possible causes of symptoms and break down the traditional methods of diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

            Radiating leg pain accounts for around 5-10% of all low back pain cases.  Disc related sciatica symptoms account for only 2.2% of cases.  Tight or overactive muscles are usually to blame in cases diagnosed with piriformis syndrome, and THIS is where the lack of effectiveness in the treatment of radiating leg pain essentially begins!  Whether conservative, or surgical, there is a LACK of diagnosing underlying conditions creating “tight” or overactive muscles!

            Fortunately, new research being brought to light by researchers and doctors are shining a light on a new paradigm shift in the diagnosis and treatment of radiating pain down the leg.  Deep Gluteal Syndrome, or DGS, has the same pain characteristics as sciatica and piriformis syndrome, but the true cause of the problem has finally been found!  

            For years, surgeons have noted and treated “fibrous scar bands” during procedures.  Sciatic nerve decompression is a surgery where fibrous scar bands, also known as adhesion, are removed around the sciatic nerve to alleviate pain.  

            The problem is that surgery is no more beneficial than quality conservative care after 1 year!  Even with surgery, a small but significant group of patients fail to improve all together!  Collagen, the material that makes up adhesion, breaks down with as little as 6 pounds of tension.  The keyword is tension, and its specific application.  Compressive forces take much more pressure.  The good news is that Integrative Diagnosis providers have been effectively treating this problem, without surgery, for over a decade!

            Adhesion, as it is frequently referred as, is a build up of collagen or fibrotic tissue that acts like glue on muscles and around nerves.  As adhesion builds, it limits flexibility of joints causing weakness and pain.  If adhesion builds up around nerves, like the sciatic nerve, it can create symptoms of tingling, burning, or numbness.  Sound familiar?

            The good news is this problem is extremely common, one of the most common problems in the body, that also happens to be one of the most reversible conditions in the human body as well!  Adhesion develops most commonly through overuse, think repetitive motions like running, or prolonged positions like sitting on your butt all day.

            Adhesion builds up most commonly around the sciatic nerve in the buttock. Limited movement accompanies this development often with increasing symptoms.  Normally, with hip flexion the sciatic nerve can stretch over 1 inch in the hip!  As adhesion develops, hip flexion becomes more limited, and more stress is placed not only in the hip, but the low back and knees as well!  This is a big deal for your overall health!

            The concept of adhesion, or fibrous scar bands, playing a role in symptoms related to sciatic nerve mobility and entrapment represents a radical change and paradigm shift in the current diagnosis of and therapeutic approach to DGS.  Effective treatment aims to break down adhesion using tension.  No other method of treatment is as effective in treating this condition!  In fact, other methods of treatment, like stretching or exercise, could make the condition worse!

            Manual Adhesion Release, MAR, is a technique used by certified Integrative Diagnosis providers.  This treatment creates enough tension on adhesion to effectively break it down over a series of visits. It is currently the only treatment that focuses on the diagnosis and breakdown of adhesion.  ID providers use specific tests to establish the diagnosis and measure progress from visit to visit.

            Previously, Deep Gluteal Syndrome was a complex issue difficult to overcome with traditional therapies and surgery.  With this new research, paradigm shift, and advances in effective treatment coming to fruition, finally patients can get the treatment needed for their desired outcome.

            Schedule Your Appointment