Orthopedic doctors help clients with bone and joint injuries. If you have had an injury involving a bone or joint, or you’re dealing with chronic joint pain, you should visit an orthopedic doctor. Perhaps you are prone to injury and frequently hurt yourself. Although orthopedists can provide medication and assistive devices, if you have a long term injury, you may need to have orthopedic surgery.
When you visit an orthopedist, they will examine you and take x-rays. The team will ask about your medical history and ask you to describe your signs of injury. Some injuries will require you to undergo a test called an MRI, which uses magnets to examine the inner structure of your bones and muscles. This information should lead the doctor to an injury diagnosis.
If your doctor believes you need surgery, it will be done by an orthopedic surgeon. With surgery, the surgeon will repair or replace your joint. Before the surgery, the team will help you get the needed blood tests and other preparatory measures to get ready for surgery. After joint replacement surgery, many clients must go to a rehab facility in order to regain their strength and mobility.
If you’ve recently suffered from sports injuries or if you’ve been dealing with severe joint pain, it might be time to see an orthopedic doctor. The right doctor will be able to tell you exactly what’s wrong and how to treat it. But is your situation bad enough for surgery? Here are a few common conditions that people look for orthopedic surgeons to fix.
- Total Joint Or Knee Replacement: If you’ve been dealing with severe joint and knee pain for an extended period of time, your doctor may recommend a total joint or knee replacement surgery. This procedure is more common than you might think; over 4.5 million Americans are currently living with a total knee replacement. Knee and joint replacement can help you get back in top condition and keep you mobile for longer.
- Total Shoulder Replacement: For those who have lost a large degree of mobility in their shoulder as a result of severe shoulder pain or injury, a total shoulder replacement may be helpful. This procedure can help restore motion and reduce pain in the area.
- Spinal Surgery: If severe back pain is a problem or if you have a known condition that affects your spine, like herniated discs, you may need to see an orthopedic surgeon. Orthopedic surgeons can help improve a wide variety of spinal conditions; talk to your doctor to see what procedures may be right for your situation.
- Ligament and Tendon Injuries: If you’ve torn your ACL or Achilles tendon in a sports injury or other accident, an orthopedic surgeon may be able to help. While usually the result of physical activity or athletics, ligament and tendon injuries can occur in just about anyone. These more immediate situations are usually able to be fixed with surgery, and after a recovery window, athletes will be able to get back in the game.
If you’re worried about any of these conditions, talk to your doctor; your doctor will be able to accurately diagnose your condition and recommend a course of action. If you need a specialist for your joint or back problem, contact us for more information.