Procedures

Vasectomies are an incredibly effective birth control method with over 99% effectiveness. They’re also a relatively quick, simple, effective, and safe procedure. During your vasectomy, the vas deferens tube, which carries the sperm from your testicles, will be severed and closed. The localized anesthesia you receive will prevent you from feeling pain during the procedure itself, and any discomfort or pain you feel after should be mild enough to treat with compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers.

Another popular form of birth control is the IUD. IUD stands for intrauterine device, and it is a copper-coated piece of plastic that prevents sperm from fertilizing your eggs. Other IUDs may be coated in progestin, which works similarly, but may also thicken the mucus in the cervix and thin the lining in the uterus. The device is fitted and inserted into the uterus using an applicator tube. IUD placement is an uncomplicated, quick, and typically only mildly uncomfortable procedure.

Cryotherapy and LEEP are used to treat many of the same conditions with few marked differences. Cryotherapy uses freezing temperatures to deaden irritated nerves and stop the pain. LEEP uses heat instead, essentially vaporizing the treatment area. This is particularly useful in destroying cervical tissue lesions. They may also be used to treat localized areas of certain cancers and abnormal skin cells.

While studies have revealed that they offer very similar results, they also show that LEEP may be slightly more effective when used on more severe lesions. With cervical cancer being the second most frequent cancer in women, understanding your options is important. When you call or visit our office, we can go over your options with you and help you decide which one is better for you.

An EKG, or electrocardiogram, is a noninvasive medical test that helps measure the electrical activity of a patient’s heartbeat. This painless test is often used in the detection of heart problems like heart attacks, arrhythmias, irregular heartbeats, and heart failures. Measuring and monitoring heart activity can help alert medical professionals to potential or existing problems before they become too severe to treat.

Injections cover a wide variety of possibilities, as many medications and treatments now come in injection form. Injections like corticosteroids can help lower inflammation, soothe allergic reactions, and reduce pain. They can be used to treat many health conditions, like allergic reactions, asthma, arthritis, lupus, and many others. Additionally, some pain relievers and birth controls can also be injected.

When there is fluid buildup in the area around a joint, joint aspiration can be used to remove it. During the procedure, a needle and syringe are used to take out the excess fluid, relieve swelling, or obtain a sample for analysis. The procedure is done under anesthesia, so pain and discomfort are usually minimal. Joint aspiration is done on the knee more than anywhere else, but can also be used around the shoulders, elbows, hips, wrists, and ankles.

When a cut or laceration is large or deep enough, a Band-Aid, medicated ointment, or gauze wrap may not be enough. Sutures (also called stitches) are designed to seal the edges of a wound together so that it can heal. This helps reduce the potential for scars forming, stop the bleeding, and decrease the potential for the wound to get infected.

These three terms are often used interchangeably, despite their differences, so let’s clarify what each one means before we move on. Lesions are regions within an organ or body tissue that suffered damage via disease or another injury. Wounds, ulcers, abscesses, and tumors are all examples of lesions. Cysts are sacs of tissue that are filled with other substances, like fluid or air. Warts are small, hard, and benign growths that appear on the skin and are usually caused by a virus. Each one can be treated by using different methods within our office.

When a troubling mole is present on your skin, the only way to determine with certainty if you have melanoma is to remove it and test it. This process is called excision biopsy and is most commonly performed on moles found on the arm, leg, or back. While it sounds like a scary process, a very small percentage of biopsied moles are determined to be melanoma. Most biopsied moles are completely removed during the procedure.

Casts and splints are used to help fractures and breaks in bones heal properly. The terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re significantly different. For starters, casts wrap all the way around your injury, while splints are, essentially, a half cast, and don’t wrap all the way around. Velcro straps or ties help hold splints closed. Casts are made from plaster or fiberglass to fit an individual patient’s measurements, while splints can be purchased in a variety of preset sizes.

Other than the differences in materials, customizability, and size, there are a few other differences. Splints provide less support than casts do because they don’t wrap all the way around, but they’re easier to use and adjust. Being able to tighten or loosen a splint can come in handy in areas that may swell. Splints are more ideal for areas that are difficult to wrap in a full cast and fractures or breaks that aren’t as severe. Casts offer greater support and protection for more severe breaks or high-risk individuals.