Orthopedic Surgeons: Choosing a Doctor

Orthopedic surgeons repair injuries and damaged in areas of the body that could be caused from sicknesses. For example, people who are suffering from arthritis might seek the advice of orthopedic surgeons. Your general practitioner will diagnose you and determine the true reason between your discomfort and pain.

Sometimes the doctors have specialties, and it could be helpful to visit a doctor who has a specialty that fits your complaint. A doctor who specializes in sports injuries, is trained and has experienced in injuries that patients who participate in sports might sustain. Injuries to the shoulders, knees, hands, elbows, and other ligaments and other parts of the body could see orthopedic surgeons who specialize in sports injuries. Sometimes patients cannot pinpoint a specific event that might have cause the discomfort or pain, but they see a doctor because they cannot move as fluidly, or they experience pain that prevents them from comfortably moving parts of the body. You should not guess as to whether or not the injury or the discomfort indicates a serious problem. See a doctor and like him or her determine the extent of your problem. The doctor can then give you options that can help resolve the problem.

Do not feel intimidated the doctors that you visit. Ask the doctor how long he or she has been helping people with these types of injuries or complaints. Good orthopedic surgeons can distinguish between problems that might resemble each other, but must be treated in different ways. You should also ask the doctor if he or she is accustomed to treating patients who have pain or injury from the sports that you play. Some injuries are more likely to occur due to the sport that you play. For example, people who play tennis might experience pain due to the repetitive motions. Some athletes are at risk to have injuries in the shoulders because their sport requires constant hits to the shoulders. Problems with the shoulders are common with athletes who participate in competitive football in which they might get hit in the shoulder or the patient might fall onto the shoulder.
When you visit the doctor, he or she will take x-rays of the area and ask you a series of questions related to the discomfort. The doctor will want to know when the area hurts. For example does your back hurt when you bend over to sit down? Does your shoulder hurts when you are in a throwing movement? The doctor will perform and examination, asking you if you feel discomfort when he manipulates certain areas of the body. The doctor will let you know if he or she believes that surgery is an option. Although you might see a doctor who is a surgeon, he or she might not recommend surgery for your injury. If surgery is recommended, the doctor will discuss the procedure and the recovery process. Your doctor might also suggest that you have physical therapy to help with your mobility and improve your recovery.