Listen and examine
We take a detailed history and do a hands-on exam. How an injury behaves tells us a lot about what is driving it.
Open Hours
Tues - Fri 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Learn · Our Approach
How Treating the Root Cause Helps
A lot of orthopedic care is built around quieting symptoms. A cortisone shot calms inflammation for a while. A pain pill dulls the signal. Surgery removes or replaces a part. Those tools have their place, but they do not always ask the more useful question: why does this hurt in the first place? At Interventional Orthopedics of Washington, we start with that question. When we understand the root cause, treatment can support the tissue that is actually the problem, and that is where lasting change is more likely to come from.
Key Takeaways
- Masking symptoms can bring short-term relief, but it does not fix what is causing them.
- We use a careful exam plus ultrasound and imaging to find the specific structures involved.
- Treatment is matched to the diagnosis and placed with image guidance for accuracy.
- We also look at whole-body factors, like metabolic and hormonal health, that affect how well you heal.
- Root-cause care may help, but it is not right for everyone. A consultation determines fit.
The Difference
Symptom Relief Is Not the Same as Healing
Pain is a signal. When you turn the signal down without addressing what set it off, the underlying problem is often still there. Cortisone is a good example. It can reduce inflammation and buy comfort, but repeated use can also weaken the very tissues it is injected around. Opioids mask pain without touching its source. Even surgery, which can be the right call for some people, is hard to undo and does not always address the surrounding structures that were part of the problem.
None of this means those treatments are wrong. It means the order of operations matters. We would rather understand the cause first, then choose the least invasive option that has a real chance of helping.
The Process
How We Find the Root Cause
Look, do not guess
Where it helps, we use ultrasound and imaging to see the actual structures involved, whether that is a ligament, tendon, joint, or nerve.
Connect the dots
Pain in one spot often comes from somewhere else. We map how the pieces relate before we treat anything.
Consider the whole person
Factors like metabolic health, hormones, sleep, and nutrition affect how well the body repairs itself. We factor those in.
What We Use
Supporting the Body's Own Repair
Once we know what is actually wrong, treatment can be targeted. Our tools are non-surgical and image-guided: platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow concentrate (often called stem cell therapy), prolotherapy, and precise injections placed with ultrasound or fluoroscopy. The goal is not to override the body, but to give injured tissue the right support in the right place so it has a better chance to heal. Results vary from person to person, and these treatments are not right for everyone.
The Bigger Picture
Why the Whole Body Matters
Two people can have the same knee finding on a scan and heal very differently. The difference is often everything around the injury: blood sugar, inflammation, hormone balance, activity level, and rest. This is why we do not treat a joint in isolation. When the broader system is working better, the local treatment tends to work better too. It is a more honest way to practice, even if it takes a little more time up front.
Patient Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. Surgery is the right answer for some problems, and we will tell you honestly if we think it is. Our aim is to make sure less invasive options have been properly considered first.
Cortisone reduces inflammation temporarily and can weaken tissue over time. Our regenerative approach aims to support the injured tissue itself. They are different goals.
It may help, but it depends on the diagnosis, the tissue involved, and your overall health. A consultation is how we determine whether you are a good candidate.
Because they affect healing. The body repairs tissue better when the whole system is supported, so we factor those in rather than ignore them.
Take the Next Step
Ready to Find Out What Is Actually Causing Your Pain?
Ready to find out what is actually causing your pain, not just quiet it? Schedule a consultation.
Schedule a ConsultationContent reviewed by Otoño Silva, MD.
Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Fellowship-trained in interventional orthopedics.