An orthopedic journey refers to a process you go through when seeking orthopedic care for your musculoskeletal system injury, disease, or disorder. A patient’s orthopedic journey may have many goals that are unique to his/her orthopedic issue, but generally, the goal of an orthopedic journey is to help a patient regain optimal function and mobility while minimizing pain or discomfort.
If you have an orthopedic issue and are referred to an orthopedic clinic, you may wonder what your orthopedic journey will be like. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you understand your orthopedic journey.
Diagnosis
The very first step in the orthopedic journey of people with orthopedic issues is diagnosis. An orthopedic specialist will assess your symptoms like pain, swelling, reduced range of motion, or limited mobility to reach a diagnosis.
In addition, they may also perform a physical exam and order some diagnostic tests, including lab tests and imaging tests like X-rays, MRI, and CT scans.
Treatment
After identifying the cause of your orthopedic issue, your orthopedic surgeon will make a tailored plan to address it. The treatment plan may include nonsurgical treatment, surgical treatments, or both. The nonsurgical treatments for orthopedic issues are medication, physical therapy, braces, injections, orthotics, etc.
If needed, your orthopedic doctor may perform surgery, which can be a repair surgery like ligament repair surgery or replacement surgery like joint replacement surgery.
If you are a candidate for surgery, your orthopedic surgeon may also provide you with preoperative and post-operative instructions.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
The recovery period comes after the surgery. This may include medications and follow-up appointments with the orthopedic surgeon.
The timeline for the recovery phase may depend on the type of surgery you had and your preoperative health status. Your orthopedic surgeon may also provide specific instructions to manage post-op symptoms like pain and swelling.
Most orthopedic issues require rehabilitation to heal completely. The rehabilitation plan usually includes physical, occupational, and hand therapy. Like the recovery timeline, your time in the rehab will depend on the type of surgery you had as well as your preoperative health status and physical condition.
Your orthopedic specialist will closely work with your therapists to help you return to your activities as quickly as safely possible.
Prevention of Future Injuries
Your orthopedic journey is not limited to treating orthopedic issues only; your orthopedic doctor will also provide you with everything you need to prevent future injuries.
They may provide education on proper body mechanics and techniques for various activities. In addition, they may also recommend patients protective gear, appropriate footwear, and safety precautions to help minimize the risk of injuries.
Orthopedic Doctor in San Antonio, TX
Typically, the length of your orthopedic journey will depend on the nature and severity of your orthopedic issue.
At the Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, we offer advanced and comprehensive treatments for a full range of orthopedic injuries and conditions while ensuring that your orthopedic journey with us is as quick and comfortable as possible. We also ensure you are well-informed about each step of your orthopedic journey.
If you would like to make an appointment with us, call today at (210) 692-7400 or use our convenient online request form.
