Whether you have muscular aches and pains, trouble climbing stairs or cannot participate in sports because of a strain, sprain or dislocation, you can receive excellent musculoskeletal care from an orthopedic doctor. Possessing advanced education and training in diseases and injuries related to muscles, joints, ligaments, bones, nerves, and more, orthopedic specialists can optimize your strength and movement.
Here’s what to expect from a visit to an orthopedic doctor and where you can find the best orthopedic doctor in South Texas.
A Medical History and Physical Examination
Your orthopedic doctor will want to know the symptoms of your condition and injury, including what you and your primary care physician may have tried to relieve them. He also will review your medical history, looking for any trends, medical conditions, or genetic tendencies which could contribute to your condition.
Also, the doctor will examine your area of concern with visual inspection and hands-on evaluation of any deformity, including swelling or joint dislocation. He may ask you to walk and will look closely at your range of motion, reflexes, and strength.
Whatever your complaint or concern, be sure you are specific in what you wish to achieve with your examination and treatment plan. For instance, you can walk and perform your daily routines without knee or hip pain.
Sophisticated Assessments
In addition to a basic exam, the orthopedic specialist may want you to have one or more imaging assessments, such as X-rays, CT scanning, MRI, or ultrasound examination. Nerve conduction tests may be part of your initial examination, too.
Today’s orthopedic doctors use the latest technologies to fine-tune their diagnoses. With their findings, they offer solutions to problems such as:
- Fractures
- Dislocations
- Sprains
- Sprains
- Degenerative diseases, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Inflammatory conditions, such as tendonitis and bursitis
They concentrate on the shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, feet, and hands. Some orthopedic doctors sub-specialize in spine or sports injuries.
A Detailed Treatment Plan
Most orthopedic conditions respond well to non-surgical interventions. However, more complex and/or long-standing injuries or degenerative diseases could require surgical repair.
Your orthopedic physician will detail your care, including how long it may take to reach your therapeutic goals. Care plans are always forward-looking and optimistic, as the field of orthopedics has many solutions to offer patients of all ages. However, the key to optimal movement, strength, and endurance is a patient’s realistic expectations and willingness to work diligently through the steps to recovery and rehabilitation.
Education on How to Stay Healthy
Your orthopedic team will show you how to keep your muscles and joints healthy. Strategies can include pain-relieving medications and injections, physical therapy, assistive devices, nutritional counseling, and more. Our doctors wish to avoid or postpone surgeries if possible, allowing your body to heal and get stronger in the least invasive ways possible.
Your Orthopedic Doctor in South Texas
The orthopedic doctors at the Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine provide non-surgical and surgical treatments for patients, including minimally invasive arthroscopy. We also have orthopedic doctors with advanced training in sports medicine for patients who are injured during sports or exercise, as well as orthopedic surgeons highly trained in the treatment of hand, hip, knee, and shoulder disorders.
To schedule an appointment with an orthopedic doctor, call our office today at (210) 692-7400 or use our convenient online request form.
