HealthSpan Services. No Membership Required.
No Membership Required | Radiation-Free | Noninvasive
Non-Surgical Orthopedic Care & Joint Injections
Adults 18+
Relieve Pain. Restore Function. Get Back to What You Love.
At Rochester HealthSpan Medicine, we believe addressing joint pain and limited mobility is an important step toward staying active, preserving physical function, and maintaining long-term independence.
Joint discomfort, inflammation, and stiffness can make everyday tasks more difficult. Our personalized, physician-led non-surgical orthopedic care provides a targeted approach to managing musculoskeletal symptoms without immediate surgery, helping you understand the source of your pain and return to the activities that matter most.
What Is Non-Surgical Orthopedic Care?
Non-surgical orthopedic care focuses on evaluating and managing problems affecting the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and surrounding structures without relying on surgical procedures. Unlike temporary fixes that only mask symptoms, a comprehensive musculoskeletal evaluation identifies the underlying source of your discomfort and considers how it impacts your daily life.
Your physician reviews your medical history, examines the affected area, evaluates your movement and function, and reviews previous treatments before recommending an appropriate plan.
Depending on your diagnosis, care may include therapeutic exercises, physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, medication, or targeted in-office injections.
What Non-Surgical Orthopedic Services Do We Offer?
Cortisone Injections
Delivers a corticosteroid medication, often combined with a local anesthetic, into an affected joint or surrounding tissue to reduce localized inflammation, relieve pain, and improve movement for arthritis, bursitis, and tendon sheath inflammation.
Ultrasound-Guided Joint Injections
Uses real-time imaging to visualize the treatment area and guide needle placement with greater precision, especially for deeper joints like the hip or areas near complex soft tissues.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections (Viscosupplementation)
Injects a naturally occurring synovial fluid component, most commonly into the knee, to support joint lubrication and potentially reduce osteoarthritis discomfort for selected patients.
Comprehensive Musculoskeletal Evaluations
Assesses persistent knee, shoulder, hip, elbow, wrist, or ankle pain, stiffness, and repetitive-use injuries to determine whether conservative therapies or targeted procedures are appropriate.
Dr. Carl Covey, MD, CAQSM, FAAFP, DipABLM
Sports Medicine, Family Medicine & Lifestyle Medicine Physician
“Joint pain and limited mobility should not keep you from living an active life. What matters most is understanding the true source of your symptoms and choosing a practical, individualized path forward. Whether you are dealing with persistent knee discomfort, shoulder pain, arthritis, or a painful tendon condition, non-surgical orthopedic care offers a thoughtful, physician-led way to reduce inflammation, restore movement, and support your long-term musculoskeletal health.”
No Doctor Referral Necessary | No Insurance Necessary for Self-Pay Care | No Membership Required
Why Choose Non-Surgical Orthopedic Care?
We provide you with targeted, conservative options to manage joint pain and support everyday movement.
Pain and Inflammation Management
Targeted treatments help decrease localized swelling and discomfort associated with selected joint and soft-tissue conditions.
Improved Joint Function and Mobility
Reducing discomfort makes walking, bending, reaching, climbing stairs, and daily routines more comfortable.
Greater Precision With Ultrasound Guidance
Real-time imaging allows accurate needle placement when accessing deeper or complex anatomical structures.
Better Participation in Rehabilitation
Managing acute pain and inflammation may improve your ability to tolerate physical therapy and prescribed exercises.
Minimally Invasive In-Office Procedures
Injections are typically performed in the office with limited downtime as an alternative to immediate surgical intervention in selected patients.
Individualized, Evidence-Based Care
Recommendations are tailored to your medical history, examination findings, activity level, and functional goals.
Accessible Self-Pay Care
No physician referral or Direct Primary Care Membership is required to schedule an orthopedic evaluation or procedure.
Non-surgical orthopedic treatments help manage symptoms and support mobility, though the degree and duration of relief vary depending on the condition and individual response.
Joint Pain and Active Living: Why Mobility Matters
Your Joints Change. Your Movement Matters Too.
Musculoskeletal wear, inflammation, and repetitive stress can affect joints and tendons throughout adulthood. Conditions such as osteoarthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis can cause stiffness, swelling, and restricted movement that interfere with work, exercise, recreation, and sleep.
Maintaining comfortable joint function is essential for staying physically active, preserving strength, and supporting long-term independence.
You do not need to wait until pain severely limits your daily routine to seek a thorough musculoskeletal evaluation.
At Rochester HealthSpan Medicine, we look beyond the isolated location of your pain. With over 24 years of clinical experience, Dr. Carl Covey evaluates your medical history, movement patterns, previous treatments, and lifestyle factors to recommend practical, sustainable care.
Not every painful joint requires an injection. When conservative measures such as targeted exercises, physical therapy, or activity adjustments are more suitable, your physician will guide you toward the right option.
Dr. Laura Petrescu MD, CPE, MSCP, DipABLM
Internal Medicine | Lifestyle Medicine | Menopause Medicine | Certified Physician Executive
Non-Surgical Orthopedic Injections vs. Conservative Care Alone
| Feature | Cortisone Injections | Ultrasound-Guided Injections | Hyaluronic Acid (Viscosupplementation) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Reduce localized inflammation and pain | Enhance needle accuracy via real-time imaging | Supplement joint lubrication in selected knee osteoarthritis cases |
| Target Conditions | Arthritis, bursitis, tendon sheath inflammation, trigger points | Deeper joints (hip, shoulder) or complex anatomy | Selected knee osteoarthritis when clinically appropriate |
| Imaging Used | Anatomical landmark guidance | Real-time ultrasound visualization | Anatomical or imaging guidance as indicated |
| Onset and Duration | Relief may last weeks to months, varying by condition | Depends on medication administered | May develop gradually over weeks and last several months |
| Key Limitations | Does not repair cartilage or cure arthritis | Does not eliminate injection risks or guarantee relief | Mixed clinical evidence; not recommended for routine use |
Important: Neither cortisone nor hyaluronic acid injections regenerate damaged cartilage or cure osteoarthritis. Your physician evaluates your diagnosis, medical history, and clinical guidelines before recommending any procedure.
What to Expect During Your Orthopedic Appointment
Step 1: Comprehensive Physician Evaluation
Step 2: Personalized Treatment Recommendations
Step 3: In-Office Treatment & Recovery Guidance
Your physician explains your clinical findings and discusses appropriate options, including physical therapy, therapeutic exercises, lifestyle changes, medication, or a targeted injection. If an injection is considered, you will review expected benefits, risks, limitations, and alternatives.
Understanding the Considerations and Limitations of Joint Injections
Like all medical procedures, joint and soft-tissue injections have potential risks, side effects, and limitations.
Treatment outcomes vary depending on the underlying condition, anatomical site, medication used, and individual health factors.
Although targeted injections can provide meaningful symptom relief, they do not replace comprehensive rehabilitation or cure degenerative joint disease.
Important considerations include:
Neither cortisone nor hyaluronic acid injections regenerate cartilage or reverse osteoarthritis.
Cortisone injections may cause temporary soreness, bruising, or a short-lived post-injection pain flare.
Other potential corticosteroid effects include temporary blood glucose elevation, skin pigmentation changes, localized fat loss, or, rarely, infection.
Repeated corticosteroid injections may contribute to tendon weakening or cartilage damage depending on the site, medication, and frequency.
Hyaluronic acid injections may cause temporary swelling, warmth, stiffness, or discomfort, and rarely more significant inflammatory reactions or infection.
Clinical evidence for hyaluronic acid is mixed, and major professional guidelines generally do not recommend its routine use for knee osteoarthritis.
Ultrasound guidance improves placement accuracy but does not eliminate procedural risks or guarantee greater symptom relief.
Not every musculoskeletal condition requires an injection; physical therapy, exercise, or further diagnostic workup may be more appropriate.
Our goal is to help you make a well-informed decision based on clinical evidence, individual risk factors, and your personal mobility goals.
Non-Surgical Orthopedic Care Pricing
Invest in Better Mobility and a More Active Future
Comprehensive Orthopedic Consultation
| Patient Category | Consultation Fee |
|---|---|
| Non-Members | $99 |
| RHM Members | $79 |
Your visit includes a thorough physician evaluation of your medical history, musculoskeletal exam, and personalized treatment plan.
Consultation Fee Credit: If Dr. Covey determines that an orthopedic procedure is medically necessary and appropriate, your consultation fee is applied directly toward the procedure fee.
Cortisone Injection Pricing
| Procedure | Non-Member | RHM Member |
|---|---|---|
| Major Joint (Knee, shoulder, subacromial bursa, hip bursa) | $198 | $158 |
| Intermediate Joint (Wrist, elbow, ankle) | $168 | $134 |
| Small Joint (Finger, toe) | $158 | $126 |
| Plantar Fascia | $168 | $134 |
| Carpal Tunnel Injection | $198 | $158 |
| Tendon Sheath / Ligament | $178 | $142 |
| Trigger Point (1–2 muscles) | $128 | $102 |
| Trigger Point (3+ muscles) | $158 | $126 |
| Sinus Tarsi | $168 | $134 |
Ultrasound-Guided Injection Pricing
| Procedure | Non-Member | RHM Member |
|---|---|---|
| Major Joint (Shoulder or hip) | $278 | $222 |
Hyaluronic Acid / Viscosupplementation Pricing
Requires a separate clinical assessment to confirm eligibility, medication selection, and treatment schedule. Medication cost is additional to the physician's applicable procedure fee and may be covered by health insurance depending on your plan and prior authorization. All medication charges are reviewed before treatment.
Pricing is subject to change. Procedures are performed only when clinically indicated. Please confirm current fees and availability when scheduling.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
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No. Non-surgical orthopedic consultations and injection procedures at Rochester HealthSpan Medicine are available to both members and non-members. You do not need to enroll in our Direct Primary Care Membership Services to receive care. Members benefit from discounted consultation and procedure pricing, while non-members can access the same physician-led orthopedic services through straightforward self-pay arrangements.
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No. You can schedule a non-surgical orthopedic consultation directly with Rochester HealthSpan Medicine without obtaining a referral from another physician. During your appointment, Dr. Covey will evaluate your symptoms, medical history, and joint function to determine whether an injection or another treatment approach is appropriate.
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Possibly. If Dr. Covey determines that an injection is medically appropriate following your evaluation, the procedure may be performed during your initial visit. However, certain treatments may require additional diagnostic testing, medication arrangements, or a separate appointment. Your physician will explain the recommended treatment plan before proceeding.
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The duration of relief varies depending on the condition being treated, the injection site, and your individual response. Some patients experience improvement lasting several weeks to months, while others may have shorter-lasting relief or limited improvement. Cortisone injections reduce inflammation and help manage symptoms, but they do not repair damaged cartilage or reverse the underlying progression of osteoarthritis.
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Ultrasound-guided injections can offer greater precision by allowing your physician to visualize the joint and surrounding soft tissues in real time. This is particularly helpful for deeper joints, such as the hip, or areas where accurate needle placement may be challenging. However, ultrasound guidance is not necessary for every injection and does not guarantee better symptom relief. Dr. Covey determines whether imaging guidance would provide a meaningful advantage for your particular procedure.
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No. Cortisone injections do not cure arthritis, regenerate cartilage, or reverse degenerative changes within a joint. Their primary purpose is to reduce localized inflammation and relieve discomfort. For selected patients, this may make everyday movement easier and improve participation in physical therapy or exercise. Your physician may recommend injections as one component of a broader treatment plan that addresses joint function, activity, and long-term symptom management.
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No. Hyaluronic acid injections, also called viscosupplementation, are considered for selected patients with knee osteoarthritis, but they are not suitable for everyone. Clinical evidence regarding their effectiveness is mixed, and major professional guidelines generally do not recommend their routine use because average benefits are small or inconsistent. Dr. Covey reviews your medical history, arthritis symptoms, previous treatments, and individual goals before discussing whether this option may be reasonable for you.
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You may experience temporary pressure, a brief pinching sensation, or mild discomfort during an injection. A local anesthetic may be used when appropriate to help reduce procedural discomfort. Some patients also experience temporary soreness, bruising, or a short-lived increase in pain afterward. The experience varies depending on the treatment area and type of injection. Your physician will explain what to expect and provide instructions for managing any discomfort following the procedure.
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Your ability to resume normal activities depends on the injection site, medication used, and condition being treated. Many patients can return to light daily activities relatively soon, but temporary limitations on strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, or repetitive joint movements may be recommended. Dr. Covey will provide individualized aftercare instructions, including activity recommendations and guidance on when to resume your usual exercise or rehabilitation routine.
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Rochester HealthSpan Medicine offers non-surgical orthopedic consultations and injection procedures as self-pay services, so health insurance is not required to access care. Certain medications, including some hyaluronic acid preparations used for viscosupplementation, may be covered by your insurance depending on your plan, medical eligibility, prior authorization requirements, and the medication prescribed. Any additional medication expenses will be discussed before treatment.
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Yes. If Dr. Covey determines during your orthopedic consultation that a procedure is medically necessary and appropriate, your consultation fee will be applied toward the procedure fee. The consultation currently costs $99 for non-members and $79 for Rochester HealthSpan Medicine members. Whether the procedure is performed during the same visit or scheduled separately depends on your clinical needs and the treatment recommended. All prices are subject to change.
Relieve Pain. Restore Strength. Build a More Active Future.
Take the First Step Toward Better Mobility
At Rochester HealthSpan Medicine, we combine over 24 years of Sports Medicine expertise, careful diagnostic evaluation, and evidence-based care to help you manage joint pain without unnecessary surgery. Whether you are dealing with persistent knee discomfort, shoulder pain, arthritis, or a tendon condition, our team provides clear answers and individualized treatment options.
Call 585-662-5510 to Schedule Your Orthopedic Consultation.