Do I need to see an Orthopedic Surgeon?
Are you experiencing pain? Find out if an orthopedic surgeon can help you.
Courtesy Denton Regional Medical Center, Denton County LIVING WELL Magazine
An orthopedic surgeon studies damage within the muscular skeletal system and can help to reduce the pain or eliminate the condition. The muscular skeletal system includes bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles. The spine and joints are a common focus for orthopedic medicine. According to the National Institutes of Health, we have over 400 bones and joints in our bodies, not to mention muscles.
What do orthopedic surgeons do?
Orthopedic surgeons offer many more services than surgery. They diagnose problems using various tools and then find the best treatment for the situation. Orthopedic surgeons also provide preventative care and tools for rehabilitation after an injury or an operation.
Signs and Symptoms
If you are feeling pain in any part of the muscular skeletal system, it’s time to find out why.
Seek the help of an orthopedic surgeon if you are experiencing:
• Instability, such as when standing or walking
• Swelling, tenderness or stiffness in your joints
• Trouble moving or reaching
• Pain so severe that it wakes you at night or keeps you awake
• Pain that prevents you from doing ordinary tasks like walking or rising from a chair
• An untreated or changing deformity
• An untreated or changing degenerative disease such as arthritis or osteoporosis
• Failure to eliminate pain or improve your condition by means of physical therapy
What happens during an appointment?
An X-ray or bone scan will help you and your doctor determine more about your muscular skeletal health. If you have experienced trauma, these diagnostics will reveal specifics about the exact location of your injury or what condition is occurring and to what extent. If you have not tried alternative treatments––from losing weight to taking anti-inflammatory medication, among many others––your doctor may ask you to pursue these thoroughly before considering a procedure. Surgery should be a last resort.
Are you ready to schedule an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon? Call Denton Regional Medical Center today at 855- 477-DRMC or visit us at dentonregional.com.
