To the Editor:
It was with great concern that I read the On My Watch article “Tales of a Tricky Knee,” by Anne Semmes in your March 17, 2017 issue. Ms. Semmes’ search for knee pain relief is one shared by thousands of patients who come to ONS each year, as is the quest for a non-surgical solution for their condition.
Many non-operative, opioid-free solutions have been developed to treat functional limitations and chronic pain in the years since Ms. Semmes first underwent meniscal surgery. Depending on the severity of the condition and whether severe arthritis in involved, the physiatrists at the ONS Interventional Spine and Sports Center, can use a wide variety of treatments to address pain and restore mobility.
In addition to physical therapy, treatments range from simple bracing and topical anti-inflammatory creams to image-guided viscosupplementation to replace fluids in the knee joint, and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), which uses platelets from the patient’s own blood to stimulate the body’s healing power. At ONS, physicians work in collaboration to exhaust non-invasive options before advising a patient to undergo surgery. In fact, 90percent of our patients’ conditions are treated without surgery.
Anyone interested in learning about the non-surgical, non-opioid treatments for chronic functional limitation and pain should come hear ONS physiatrists Jeffrey Heftler, MD, Tamar Kessel, MD, Alex Levchenko, DO and Christopher Sahler, MD, at Greenwich Hospital on Wednesday, May 10 at 6 p.m. The free health seminar, “Physiatry: Medicine’s Best Kept Secret,” will introduce the broad range of options available to treat musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. There will be time for Q & A at the conclusion of each of the talks. People can register online at greenwichhospital.org or by calling 203-863-4277.
Anyone whose life is limited by a pain or immobility should to visit our website, ONSMD.COM, to learn more about our physicians, services and the many options that are available to our patients.
Sally Frank
Greenwich
The writer is chief operating officer of ONS, which has offices in Greenwich and Stamford.
