Procedures

Do You Hate Being Referred To Multiple
Doctors In Order To Get Tests Done For Arthritis?

Now You Can Avoid The Hassle Because We Do All Of Those Tests In Our Clinic.

Most Physicians will send you to the hospital or to another specialist to perform certain tests. We eliminate all of the trouble of running around by offering all of these services under one roof. At the The Arthritis Treatment Center, we are able to perform everything from routine lab tests to arthroscopic surgery. Here are some of the ways we can help discover your problems:

1. Laboratory
2. X-Ray
3. Diagnostic Ultrasound
4. Arthroscopy
5. Epidural Blocks
6. Infusion Therapy
7. Percutaneous Needle Carpal Tunnel Release

Laboratory

Laboratory testing is performed in our own fully accredited in-house laboratory by Medical Technologists who are certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathology.  The standards that our laboratory maintain demonstrate our commitment to quality, and our emphasis on quality leads to reliable test results which are essential in assuring excellence in patient care.  We are proud of our achievement of receiving no citations for deficiencies from our accrediting agency, COLA, for the past decade.
 
Abnormal laboratory results are rechecked and followed closely by the physician, and critical results are called to the patient by our nursing staff for follow-up.  We will also fax laboratory results to referring physicians, upon request, at no charge to the patient.

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X-ray

We have our own in-office x-ray department that is staffed by certified radiological technicians. Our x-ray unit has a table that can lower to a height that will accommodate older people who have difficulty getting up onto other types of tables. Your x-rays are evaluated while you are still in the office so you can get the results before you leave.

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Diagnostic Ultrasound

Diagnostic ultrasound is a new technology for visualizing joint disease. It is used in our practice to detect evidence of early inflammation and also to follow the effects of medications in slowing the disease process down. Diagnostic ultrasound helps detect inflammation in the joints, tendons, and bursae. For some diseases--rheumatoid arthritis, for instance--it provides valuable diagnostic information much earlier than standard x-ray. It is also useful for certain procedures such as injections. Numerous studies have indicated that joint injections by experienced orthopedists and rheumatologists are inaccurate in about 1/3 of cases! The use of diagnostic ultrasound allows the physician to inject with 100 percent accuracy and precision. Diagnostic ultrasound is also much less expensive than magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

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Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is a special, sophisticated way of looking inside a joint by putting a highly refined, small camera into the joint. The goal is to remove any arthritic, diseased tissue that can cause pain and suffering. Those who benefit most from arthroscopy are patients with arthritis who've failed other treatments. This practice is done in our office with local anesthesia. It is therefore safe, for people with other medical diseases for whom general or spinal anesthesia would be too risky. After receiving local anesthesia, the patient will be taken to the procedure room, where the nurses will continue the sterilization procedure of the surrounding area. The doctor will then insert a small camera into the joint, assess the extent of damage in your joint and clean it of any clinically significant arthritic changes. Washing the joint space with a large amount of sterile fluid completes the arthroscopy. This is done to remove any remaining debris inside the joint that might be causing pain.

This procedure lasts on average 15 to 45 minutes. You will be able to walk immediately after the procedure, but we do advise you to take it easy for the next couple of weeks to promote better healing. We will then schedule a follow up appointment seven days after the procedure to ensure that everything is fine.

Arthritis Treatment Center is an internationally recognized center in arthroscopy for arthritis. Since 1990, arthroscopy procedures done in our center have helped patients with pain and suffering, have helped them avoid crippling, and restored their enjoyment of life. We've refined many existing techniques and pioneered others for the treatment of arthritis in other areas such as the hands and wrists. The result of our work has been published in a number of scientific journals. Thus we have been able to share our knowledge with physicians worldwide.

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Epidural Blocks

Anesthesiologists in a hospital setting have traditionally performed epidural blocks. With the advent of new technology, epidural blocks are performed in our office setting. They are safe and effective in alleviating chronic mechanical low back pain in patients who have not responded to other types of treatment.

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Infusion Therapy

Some of the newest up-to-date arthritis treatments require administration via intravenous therapy. This is done in an in-office setting and our staff has been certified in the latest intravenous infusion techniques so we can provide these therapies.

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Percutaneous Needle Carpal Tunnel Release

Up until fifteen years ago, carpal tunnel surgery required a large incision and six to eight weeks of recovery. About fifteen years ago until the present, carpal tunnel surgery could be performed using an endoscope, a small telescope. Less invasive... but still two to three weeks of recovery time. Now, carpal tunnel release can be performed using a small needle with ultrasound guidance. Relief is immediate and recovery time is 24 hours or less.

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