Did you know that from 2013-2015 about 54.4 million US adults were told they had arthritis? Are you currently looking to help your joint pain?
In this article, discover what an orthopedic doctor does and how one can help. Read on to discover the many different conditions this specialty doctor helps to get pain relief today.
What Does an Orthopedic Doctor Do?
Orthopedic doctors are ligament, nerve, tendon, joint, and bone doctors who focus on improving care for this area. They help you manage conditions that tend to get worse over time such as osteoarthritis and arthritis. Your orthopedic doctor will also help you minimize any discomfort or pain from using a muscle too often.
Some orthopaedists do a generalised treatment while others can be specialists for a particular part of the body, like a Townsville hand therapist. Some other specialty areas could be the spine, shoulder, elbow, foot or ankle, or knee and hip. They treat what’s known as the musculoskeletal system.
When to See an Orthopedic Doctor
If you suffer from chronic pain (lasts longer than 12 weeks), you should consider seeing an orthopedic doctor. Also, if you have trouble performing everyday tasks they could help you minimize any pain you’re having. You could currently be suffering from arthritis if you notice you have a limited range of motion.
You’ll want to see a licensed professional as soon as possible before the problem becomes worse. If you’ve had a soft tissue injury that hasn’t gotten better within 48 hours, or you have instability when you’re standing or walking you’ll want to seek care.
Some potential symptoms could be:
Any sort of pain in your shoulders, back, hips, knees, or ankles you’ll want to consider seeing an orthopedist.
Orthopedic Procedures
If you need an orthopedic procedure done, they range from injections to surgery. If you need a fusion, that’s where they use rods or internal devices for bones to be fused together. Joint replacement is where your damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint. If you need an internal fixation, it’s to hold broken pieces of bone together with pins, screws, or plates.
An osteotomy is the correction of a bone deformity by re-positioning and cutting the bone. You could also need help with pain management and injections. An orthopedic surgeon has extensive training in properly diagnosing and treating injuries with both surgical and non-surgical options.
Surgery is the last option and your doctor will try non-surgical options first. You can receive a combination of physical therapy and medications to delay or avoid surgery. You’ll also receive advice about pain management such as injections or rehabilitation.
Exploring What an Orthopedic Doctor Does
While arthritis or other musculoskeletal problems can be overwhelming, you can get help and treatment by seeking an orthopedic doctor. Would you like to learn more about other health and wellness options? Check out our other articles.
