Orthopaedic Surgery
Specialists:
Your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles make up your musculoskeletal system. It is common to have pain in these parts of your body because they play such an important part in everyday movement.
Orthopedics is the medical field devoted to treating these areas. An orthopedic surgeon or orthopedic doctor (also called an orthopedist) is a doctor who specializes in this field. They can perform surgery, but they’re also qualified to diagnose and treat issues using other techniques.
Orthopedics is a vast field, so most orthopedic doctors specialize in a particular type of orthopedics. For example, some of the most common specialties within orthopedics are hand, foot, and sports injuries.
Orthopedists are specialists. Typically, you see an orthopedist after your primary care doctor refers you. Your primary care doctor can let you know what type of orthopedist you need to see for your issue.
Why do you need to see them?
Another sign that you should see an orthopedic doctor is if your range of motion is diminished. Orthopedic doctors can help you regain your ability to move in specific ways.
If you have a serious injury, orthopedic surgeons can help with recovery and also help you prevent further injuries. This is why athletes often work with orthopedic surgeons. Typical injuries an orthopedic surgeon might treat are:
- Torn or broken (ruptured) ligaments
- Torn or broken tendons
- Broken bones that won’t heal with just a cast
- Spine or hip fractures from osteoporosis
You don’t need to have an injury to see an orthopedic surgeon. Many people see them because of long-lasting aches, pains, or loss of mobility.
You may have these kinds of problems due to an old injury. They may develop over time. It’s important to talk to your doctor and keep them informed if you feel pain.
- Arthritis
- Bursitis
- Chronic muscle and joint pain
- Non-cancerous (benign) tumours
- Cancerous tumours that start in the bone (sarcomas)
- Cancerous tumours that spread to the bone from somewhere else (metastatic)
- Blood cancers like multiple myeloma can weaken bones
Your treatment plan may include surgery, medication, or physical therapy.
What do they do?
An orthopedic surgeon is qualified to diagnose orthopedic problems, perform or prescribe treatments, and assist with rehabilitation. They can also help you develop long-term strategies to treat illnesses, disorders, and issues relating to your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles
There is a broad range of procedures, including ankle, knee, hip, spinal, hand, and neck surgeries that this type of doctor can perform. Typically, they’ll attempt to treat an issue in the most holistic and least intrusive way possible, which may not be surgery.
Physician consultation is a good opportunity and you should be prepared for it.
- Carry all necessary medical records for the discussion. It helps in better understanding your heart condition and avoids repetition of diagnostic tests.
- Make sure you discuss your past medical history, surgical history, family history, and medications that you are taking.
- Discuss about your lifestyle habits, dietary habits and also about your profession. Your lifestyle and nature of job may be associated with the risk for cardiac diseases.