PAIN MANAGEMENT

Hip & Knee Specialists - Lowcountry Orthopaedics, Charleston, SC

Injuries don’t keep office hours. When its urgent, get diagnosed and recover fast when you go straight to the orthopedic experts with Ortho After Hours.

As premier hip and knee replacement surgeons in Charleston, SC, Dr. Zimlich and Dr. Stem alleviate patient pain and discomfort using innovative techniques and technologies. Concentrating exclusively on knee and hip replacement, the Lowcountry Orthopaedics Hip and Knee Specialists operate at the Lowcountry Orthopaedics Surgery Center and area hospitals per patient preference.

Top rated for eight years in a row as Charleston’s Choice for best orthopedic surgeons, countless of satisfied patients walk away with a pain free, natural feeling knee or hip. From custom total knee arthroplasty using 3D printing to the area’s first and only outpatient surgery center based robotic knee replacement program, patients trust Lowcountry Orthopaedics Hip and Knee Specialists.

Signature services include:

  • Custom total knee arthroplasty using 3D printing
  • Same day robotic knee replacement program
  • Personalized joint replacement experience
  • Dedicated team of nurses, physician assistants, and physical therapists
  • Proven outcomes for quick recovery and pain-free lives

Same day appointments are available at one of our convenient North Charleston, Summerville, or Daniel Island locations.

Stage 1

May last up to 3 months. Burning pain and increased sensitivity to touch are the most common. Swelling and joint stiffness usually follow, along with increased warmth and redness. There may be faster-than-normal nail and hair growth and excessive sweating.

Stage 2

Can last 3-12 months. Swelling is constant and skin wrinkles disappear. Skin temperature becomes cooler. Fingernails become brittle. Pain is widespread, stiffness increases, and the area becomes more sensitive to touch.

Stage 3

Occurs after 1 year. The skin of the affected area becomes pale, dry, tightly stretched, and shiny. The area is stiff and there is less hope of getting motion back.

What Medical Tests Do I Need?

  • X-Rays: to rule out any abnormal bone structures that might be causing your symptoms.
  • MRI: to rule out any abnormal soft tissue structures that might be causing your symptoms
  • Nerve Conduction Study: to show whether the nerves in the extremity are carrying signals normally and the hand muscles are responding to those signals.

Medications

Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), oral corticosteroids, anti-depressants, blood pressure medications, anti-convulsants, vitamins, and opioid analgesics.

Injection Therapy

Injecting a numbing medicine near the affected sympathetic nerves. This is usually recommended early in RSD.

Biofeedback

Body awareness and relaxation techniques.

Therapy

Active exercise is essential to permanent relief. Physical and/or occupational therapy are important in helping patients regain normal use patterns.

Lowcountry Orthopaedics’ Pain Management Team

Shailesh Patel, MD

Shailesh Patel, MD

Interventional Pain Management

Christopher Merrell, MD

Christopher Merrell, MD

Interventional Pain Management

Kelly Merrell, ANP-BC

Kelly Merrell, ANP-BC

Nurse Practitioner

Alyssa Grant, MSPAS, PA-C

Alyssa Grant, MSPAS, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Christina Chandler, PA-C

Christina Chandler, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Kathleen Bukowsky, PA-C

Kathleen Bukowsky, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Pain Management

The Lowcountry Orthopaedic and Pain Management practice, led by interventional pain specialists Shailesh Patel, MD, and Christopher Merrell, MD provides innovative and comprehensive pain therapies, including interventional spinal procedures, sports medicine, and regenerative medicine.

Pain Management

Pain Management Conditions

Neck Pain
Non-Surgical Spine Treatments
Epidurals
Back Pain
Radiofrequency Ablation
Sciatica
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Nerve Blocks
Regenerative Medicine

Hip & Knee Specialists

Fast forward to feeling better with Lowcountry Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine’s board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeons that specialize in joint reconstruction and hip and knee surgery.

Same Day Appointments

Pain Management Videos

Femur Fracture Fixation

Femur Fracture Fixation

Femur Fracture Fixation

Femur Fracture Fixation

Femur Fracture Fixation

Same-Day Joint Replacement

The benefits of same-day total hip or knee replacement surgery include fast recovery, lower risk of infection, no risk of hospital-acquired illness, cost reduction, and increased patient satisfaction. Patients interested in same-day joint surgery should schedule an evaluation with Dr. Zimlich to review their medical profile for candidacy.

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