Chronic joint pain requires ongoing treatment to manage. Joint pain is usually caused by osteoarthritis, a condition that also causes stiffness due to the cartilage wearing away and the bones rubbing together, causing inflammation. However, joint pain can also be caused by other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, sports injuries, or fibromyalgia.
Patients suffering from joint pain have their lives altered by their condition. If you want relief from joint pain, an orthopedic doctor can help. When searching for an orthopedic practice for your treatment, you are better off choosing an orthopedic practice with different providers ranging from orthopedic surgeons to sports medicine specialists and rehabilitation specialists.
Why Choose an Orthopedic Group
The strength of an orthopedic group lies in the availability of different specialists on staff. Since joint pain treatments require a comprehensive approach, it also means that different providers have to work together to provide the highest quality treatment for the patient and give them the best chance at making a full recovery.
Here are the usual members of an orthopedic practice:
The Orthopedic Surgeon
Orthopedic surgeons specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of joint pain. They are experts in the musculoskeletal system and can train further and specialize in a specific body part, such as the hip or knee. The orthopedic surgeon is who makes a diagnosis and designs a treatment plan for you that may include seeing other orthopedic specialists for your care.
Orthopedic surgeons can specialize in the following:
- Pediatric orthopedics
- Sports medicine
- Joint replacement
- Spine
- Foot and ankle
An orthopedic group is more likely to have orthopedic surgeons with differing specializations, which makes them more than capable of treating patients with a wide range of orthopedic conditions.
The Orthopedic Assistant
An orthopedic assistant assists orthopedic surgeons in treating patients with orthopedic conditions and performs duties such as prepping the patient and room for surgery. They are also patients’ first point of contact before, during, and after surgery. Orthopedic assistants are physician assistants that undergo rigorous training to be able to assist orthopedic surgeons.
Rehabilitation Specialists
Physical rehabilitation is critical to orthopedic treatment. Rehabilitation specialists are licensed physical therapists who focus on helping restore patients’ function and mobility after an illness, injury, or surgery through a specially designed rehabilitation program that includes targeted exercises. Physical therapy exercises help with pain reduction, improving flexibility and range of motion, all of which affect patients with orthopedic problems. The goal of rehabilitation specialists is to get the patient back to normal, so they can enjoy a physically active lifestyle.
An orthopedic group is composed of different orthopedic specialists who put you, the patient, at the center. If what you are looking for is the highest quality, most comprehensive, and patient-centric care, you are more likely to receive the highest caliber treatment from an orthopedic group.
Orthopedic Group in Watertown, NY
North Country Orthopaedic Group is a multi-specialty team that provides comprehensive care to patients with all types of orthopedic issues. Regardless of your condition, we are guaranteed to have a specialist who can provide you with expert care. We all work together as a team to keep you, our first priority, moving. We care about your convenience and have made available every service under one roof.
To schedule an appointment with an orthopedic doctor from the North Country Orthopaedic Group, call our clinic today at (315) 782-1650 or use our convenient appointment request form. We look forward to serving you.