Non-Surgical Orthopedics and Joint Pain Treatment in Fort Lauderdale

Image-guided care for hand, wrist, knee, shoulder and hip pain with Dr. Jorge A. Gonzalez, MD, triple board-certified

Joint and tendon pain in the hand, wrist, knee, shoulder or hip can make work, sports and sleep harder. Many people want to know what they can try before surgery, or whether surgery is needed at all.

At the Institute of Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (IROSM), Dr. Jorge Gonzalez, MD at IROSM in Fort Lauderdale finds the source of your pain with an exam and an ultrasound scan in the office. He then explains your non-surgical options, such as exercises, guided injections, and treatments made from your own blood or cells.

Book Your Appointment Now: (954) 751-6990 Make an Inquiry Online

Important Notice from IROSM: Your treatment plan is made for you by Dr. Jorge Gonzalez. After an exam at IROSM in Fort Lauderdale, he will tell you which option fits your condition, including when surgery is the better choice.

What Is Non-Surgical Orthopedics?

Non-surgical orthopedics means finding and treating bone, joint, tendon, ligament and nerve problems without an operation. It includes exercises, braces, guided injections, and treatments made from your own blood or cells. When surgery is needed, a non-surgical orthopedic doctor helps you understand why and refers you to the right surgeon.

Dr. Gonzalez is a triple board-certified sports medicine physician who focuses on non-surgical care. At IROSM in Fort Lauderdale, every plan starts with finding the exact source of pain.

Hand and Wrist Pain Treatment in Fort Lauderdale

Hand and wrist pain often comes from a pinched nerve, an irritated tendon or wear in a small joint. At IROSM in Fort Lauderdale, Dr. Gonzalez uses ultrasound in the office to look at the nerves and tendons while you move your fingers and wrist. Common causes we treat include:

Carpal tunnel syndrome: numbness and tingling in the thumb and fingers, often worse at night
Trigger finger: a finger or thumb that catches, locks or clicks
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis: pain on the thumb side of the wrist
Thumb arthritis: aching at the base of the thumb when gripping or pinching
Torn tendons in the hand or finger, found on ultrasound
Cubital tunnel syndrome: numbness in the ring and small fingers from a nerve at the elbow

Depending on the cause, options may include a splint, hand therapy, or an injection guided by ultrasound. For some conditions, a small procedure guided by ultrasound can be done in the office.

Joint Pain Treatment by Body Area

Back and Neck

Back, neck and nerve pain is treated by our pain management doctor, Dr. Michael Erdman. See pain management in Fort Lauderdale.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options at IROSM

Exercise and rehab: strength, mobility and load changes, often with a physical therapist. For arthritis, exercise is a first-line treatment.
Guided injections: injections placed while watching on ultrasound or X-ray, so the medicine reaches the right spot. Read how image-guided injections improve accuracy.
PRP therapy: PRP (platelet-rich plasma) is made from a small sample of your own blood and injected into the painful area. See PRP therapy in Fort Lauderdale.
Treatments made from your own cells: also called orthobiologics, these are prepared from your own bone marrow or fat tissue in our Advanced Regenerative Lab. IROSM uses only your own cells. See orthobiologics.
Prolotherapy: an injection treatment used for some ligament and tendon problems. See prolotherapy in Fort Lauderdale.
Class IV MLS laser therapy: a laser light treatment with no needles. See MLS laser therapy.

To compare options, see PRP vs stem cell vs laser therapy. Not every treatment is right for every patient, and results vary. Dr. Gonzalez will tell you at your visit which options fit you.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

1. Evaluation

Dr. Gonzalez asks about your pain and looks at your X-rays, MRIs and other records. He examines the painful area and, when helpful, scans it with ultrasound in the office.

2. A clear plan

He explains what is causing your pain, which options fit, what they involve and what they cost, including when surgery is the better choice.

3. Treatment and follow-up

If you choose an injection or procedure, it is guided by ultrasound or X-ray. Afterward you get a rehab plan and follow-up visits to check how you are doing.

Joint Pain and the Treatment Gap

Many people with joint pain are in what doctors call the treatment gap. Therapy and medicine are no longer enough, but joint replacement surgery is not right for them, or they are not ready for it. In this video, Dr. Gonzalez explains the treatment gap.

What is the treatment gap in orthopedics? | Dr. Jorge Gonzalez, IROSM

What the Research Says About Non-Surgical Joint Care

Core treatments for osteoarthritis: An international group of arthritis experts wrote treatment guidelines for knee and hip osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear arthritis). They recommend exercise and learning about the condition for everyone, plus weight loss for knee arthritis when needed. Other treatments, such as injections, are added based on each person’s joints and health. Bannuru RR, et al. OARSI guidelines for the non-surgical management of knee, hip, and polyarticular osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2019;27(11):1578-1589. View the study.

Non-Surgical Orthopedics in Fort Lauderdale

Providing non-surgical orthopedic care for hand, wrist and joint pain to residents in Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, Oakland Park, Tamarac, Lauderdale Lakes, Pompano Beach, and Broward County. For our Hialeah office, se habla español.

Institute of Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (IROSM)
3333 West Commercial Blvd, Suite 101
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Phone: (954) 751-6990

Frequently Asked Questions About Non-Surgical Orthopedics at IROSM

What is a non-surgical orthopedic doctor?

A non-surgical orthopedic doctor, often a sports medicine doctor, finds and treats bone, joint, tendon and nerve problems without an operation. Treatment may include exercises, braces and guided injections. If you need surgery, this doctor refers you to a surgeon.

What can be done for hand and wrist pain without surgery?

Depending on the cause, options include a splint, hand therapy, activity changes and injections guided by ultrasound. For carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger, a small procedure guided by ultrasound can sometimes be done in the office. Dr. Gonzalez at IROSM in Fort Lauderdale explains which options fit.

Which joints do you treat?

IROSM treats the hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle and foot. Back and neck pain is treated by our pain management doctor, Dr. Michael Erdman.

Do you use only the patient's own cells?

Yes. For treatments made from cells, IROSM uses only your own blood, bone marrow or fat tissue, prepared in our Advanced Regenerative Lab.

Is non-surgical orthopedic treatment covered by insurance?

Coverage depends on the treatment and your plan. Office visits, X-rays, therapy and many injections are often covered, while PRP and treatments made from your own cells usually are not. Our team explains costs clearly before any treatment begins.

Will I still need surgery?

Some conditions do better with surgery. Dr. Gonzalez will tell you if surgery is the better fit and help with a referral, so you can make an informed choice.

Do I need a referral to be seen at IROSM?

It depends on your insurance. Many HMO, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid plans need a referral from your primary care doctor before you see a specialist. Please check with your plan, or call us at (954) 751-6990 before your visit to confirm.

Find Out Your Non-Surgical Options

Triple board-certified · Fellowship-trained at the Andrews Institute · Fort Lauderdale & Hialeah

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Jorge Gonzalez at IROSM in Fort Lauderdale to find the source of your hand, wrist or joint pain and a clear plan for treating it.

Book Your Appointment Now: (954) 751-6990 Make an Inquiry Online

Medically reviewed by: Dr. Jorge A. Gonzalez, MD
Institute: Institute of Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (IROSM)
Last reviewed: September 2026

Disclaimer: This content is for general educational purposes and does not constitute formal medical advice. Individual patient outcomes will vary. Non-surgical orthopedic treatment at IROSM in Fort Lauderdale requires a clinical examination by Dr. Jorge Gonzalez to establish candidacy. Serving Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Plantation, and surrounding Broward County communities.