For many, persistent pain and decreased function can feel like a lifelong sentence. But at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, people are finding relief - and renewed quality of life - through advanced, non-surgical outpatient treatments and regenerative medicine.
Take the case of a veteran who sustained a shoulder injury during a training exercise nearly two decades ago. After struggling with persistent pain for years, he received an ultrasound-guided steroid injection that significantly improved his mobility and comfort, making daily activities – and workouts – much easier.
Or consider the contractor who came to Gaylord’s outpatient physician services in the hopes of resolving the severe knee pain interfering with his job. A non-surgical procedure provided a near-complete resolution of his pain, allowing him to return to work without limitations.
Real stories like these highlight Gaylord’s expertise in treating musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, offering solutions beyond physical therapy to relieve pain and enhance function - without surgery or opioid-based medications.
Meet Dr. Patrick Siegele: Specializing in Musculoskeletal Physiatry
Dr. Patrick Siegele is a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor – also known as a physiatrist – with Gaylord outpatient physician services in Wallingford.
He focuses on treating people with musculoskeletal injuries and conditions such as back and neck pain, joint pain and osteoarthritis, and sports injuries like strains, sprains, and tendonitis.
In addition to traditional treatments like exercise, physical therapy, bracing, and non-opioid-based medications, Dr. Siegele specializes in advanced interventions such as ultrasound-guided injections of steroids or hyaluronic acid delivered precisely to the affected area.
Dr. Siegele is especially enthusiastic about regenerative Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, a treatment that stimulates the body’s natural healing response to promote tissue repair to provide long-lasting pain relief and improved function.
Regenerative Medicine at Gaylord
“Platelet-rich plasma can be an excellent option for someone who is looking to delay or avoid more invasive procedures like knee replacement,” explains Dr. Siegele.
PRP works by delivering concentrated platelets and growth factors from a person’s own blood directly to the affected area, initiating a cascade of healing processes and strengthening the joint, tendon, or tissue. PRP can be especially effective for those with:
PRP vs. Steroid Injections – What’s the Difference?
Dr. Siegele is often asked how PRP compares to cortisone, or steroid, injections. He says that while both can be effective tools, their use is dependent on the individual’s needs.
Steroid injections can be beneficial for providing quick relief by reducing inflammation and pain, making it more comfortable to participate in physical therapy. For some, he says, it can offer enough relief to help them reach critical recovery milestones.
“But steroids don’t treat the root cause of your pain,” says Dr. Siegele, “and frequent use can sometimes interfere with your body’s natural healing process.”
In contrast, PRP works by intentionally triggering inflammation to stimulate the body’s natural healing response and promote long-term tissue repair.
“PRP results can take longer to develop, but can last for months or years.”
Another key difference is the type of conditions they treat. Cortisone is commonly used for bursitis, arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions, whereas PRP is particularly effective for tendon injuries, soft tissue problems, and arthritis.
To schedule an evaluation with Dr. Patrick Siegele or to learn more about PRP and other non-surgical options at Gaylord to improve persistent pain and function, call (203) 284-2845 or visit www.gaylord.org/prp.