Orthopedics (also known as “ortho”) are doctors who treat musculoskeletal injuries. They often work in hospitals, clinics and specialized practices.
They have up to 14 years of medical training, including four years in medical school and five or more years in an orthopedic residency. Before recommending surgery, they usually try nonsurgical options like pain medications, splints and braces.
Back pain
Back pain is a common condition that can have many causes. Your doctor will take a careful history and do a physical exam to determine the source of your pain. Imaging procedures, such as X-rays, bone scans and CT scans, can help your doctor see what’s causing it and decide on a treatment plan.
Most people who strain their backs recover within a week or two without the need for medical intervention. However, if your pain persists or gets worse, it may be a sign of a more serious health condition that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. An orthopedic specialist can help identify the cause of your pain and treat it effectively. They can also help you avoid future problems by teaching you safe and effective movements to improve your posture and balance.
Knee pain
The knee gets its strength and flexibility from a complicated network of bones, ligaments, and tendons. So it’s no wonder that pain in the knee is a common first sign of orthopedic problems.
The symptoms of knee pain can range from dull and aching to sharp and shooting. The location of the pain can also suggest conditions like arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis) or overuse injuries.
If your knee pain is serious, you should seek medical care right away. Call 111 for help or visit an urgent treatment centre, sometimes called walk-in centres or minor injuries units. They will provide you with advice and treatment for acute conditions such as a dislocated knee or broken bone. They can also refer you to an Orthopedic specialist if needed.
Sciatica
Sciatica refers to pain, numbness or weakness that occurs when spinal nerves are compressed or injured. This can occur as a result of herniated discs or spine-related conditions such as spinal stenosis.
Your orthopedist will evaluate your symptoms and complete a physical exam to determine what is causing them. They will test your range of motion, feel your spine, check for muscle spasms and reflexes and may request imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI.
Medications such as anti-inflammatory, narcotic or opiate pain killers and muscle relaxants are often used to relieve sciatica pain. Other nonsurgical methods include steroid injections and physical therapy.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones, making them more fragile and likely to break (fracture). Osteoporosis usually happens when you are older. It also affects women more than men because of the hormonal changes they go through at menopause. People who have certain diseases or take medications that affect bone strength are more likely to get osteoporosis.
People with this condition often don’t know they have it until a bone breaks (fracture). These fractures most commonly happen in the spine, hip or wrist.
A health care provider can diagnose osteoporosis by testing your bone density. A health care provider may also test your blood to see if you have other conditions that can increase your risk of osteoporosis. These include some types of cancer, some infections, some liver or kidney diseases and prolonged use of the blood thinner heparin or other medications that affect blood clotting.부산족부정형외과
Tendinitis
Tendons help you make specific movements, so it’s important to protect them. But sometimes, repeated actions or a sudden injury can damage tendons. This is called tendinitis. The pain from this condition can be a dull, burning ache that gets worse with movement or pressure on the affected area.부산무지외반증
A doctor can diagnose tendinitis based on the symptoms and a physical exam. They may also use imaging tests, such as X-rays, MRI or ultrasound to assess the damage and look for inflammation.
A person with tendinitis can try resting the affected area, using ice packs several times a day and wearing a splint or brace to limit movement. They can also take NSAIDs or steroid injections to reduce swelling. If these treatments don’t improve symptoms, surgery might be needed.