Injuries, conditions, and disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system can occur in people of all ages and at any time. If you are affected by a musculoskeletal condition or injury, you will need the expertise of an orthopedic doctor to help you get an accurate diagnosis, get treatment, and find long-term relief.
Orthopedic doctors are specialists at diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders and injuries in the musculoskeletal system, which includes the body’s bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
Responsibilities of An Orthopedic Doctor
Orthopedic doctors often see patients who have chronic pain from medical conditions and injuries. An orthopedic doctor’s key responsibilities include:
- Assessing patients’ orthopedic needs
- Ordering diagnostic and imaging tests
- Prescribing medication/joint injections, primarily for pain relief
- Creating customized treatment plans
- Carrying out orthopedic surgical procedures
- Reviewing patient’s treatment and progress
- Onward referral to other medical specialists, when necessary
Orthopedic doctors can not only diagnose and treat various injuries such as work-related and sports injuries, they can also provide rehabilitation, preventive care, and pain management for many other conditions. Some of the conditions they treat include:
- Spine and neck conditions
- Sports injuries including sprains and strains
- Fractures
- Tendonitis
- Degenerative diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis
- Overuse injuries
- Back pain
- Congenital disorders such as cystic fibrosis
- Joint conditions requiring full or partial joint replacements/reconstruction
Orthopedic doctors are trained to create personalized, ongoing treatment plans right through to a patient’s recovery which may include treatment beyond surgery, such as physical therapy. They can also provide long-term treatment for progressive conditions like arthritis, which may include joint replacement surgery when other nonsurgical treatments fail to relieve pain successfully.
When to See an Orthopedic Doctor
Sometimes aches and pains come and go. Our bodies are resilient in repairing injuries and bringing us back into pristine condition on their own. However, sometimes injuries and medical conditions prevent the body from healing itself properly. In such situations, you may be left with chronic pain that won’t go away on its own. A lot of times, our lifestyle choices (what we eat, what we do, etc.) can negatively impact our bodies. In such situations, musculoskeletal issues can develop that need medical treatment. For such situations, you need an orthopedic physician to help you get an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan in place. It is advisable to seek medical care from an orthopedic doctor if:
- You have been experiencing orthopedic pain or discomfort for more than a few weeks.
- You have a reduced range of motion.
- Normal, everyday activities like walking up the stairs or lifting things are causing pain or becoming difficult.
- If you have a medical condition that affects the musculoskeletal system. Examples include arthritis, osteoporosis, and spinal issues.
Orthopedics in Watertown, New York
At North Country Orthopaedic Group, our objective is to provide you with the highest quality orthopedic care. We offer a warm and caring professional service for patients of all ages and deliver it in a prompt and effective manner.
Whether you have an urgent injury or would like to discuss the different treatments we offer for all types of orthopedic conditions and injuries, we are here to help.
Call us today at (315) 782-1650 or request an appointment online. We look forward to helping you find relief.
