The medical profession offers a wide variety of specialized practitioners who provide advanced care and treatment options for a wide variety of illnesses, injuries, diseases, and conditions. In fact, statistics from 2019 show that there are currently well over a half-million medical doctors in the United States practicing in some sort of specialized field of medicine.
Medical doctors and surgeons who specialize in diagnosing and treating all the elements of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons, are an important type of medical specialist called orthopedic doctors. Yet many people may not be utilizing these orthopedic specialists as much as they should.
If you have yet to see an orthopedist, here are some reasons why doing so might be something you should consider.
1. You are experiencing joint or back pain
While occasional aching joints or back pain can be normal after strenuous exercise or a long day on your feet at work, ongoing pain that lasts more than a few days can be a sign of a deeper problem. For instance, ongoing joint pain might be a sign that the components of the joint are deteriorating from age, wear and tear, or due to a joint health condition, like arthritis.
While your family doctor can help with short-term pain options such as controlling pain and inflammation, an orthopedist can offer more advanced medical and surgical treatment options to help you better alleviate back and joint pain and discomfort and regain better mobility.
2. You are concerned about osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, a serious condition where bones become porous and are subject to fracture much more easily, is a medical problem that many people face. Unfortunately, it can progress for years before the discomfort, and other symptoms are noticed.
Women past the age of menopause are most likely victims of osteoporosis, but it can strike both men and women at any age. Regular testing by an orthopedist can help patients discover osteoporosis early when treatment is likely to be more successful.
3. You feel as if your body is experiencing negative changes
Another reason to see an orthopedist is when you feel that negative changes are happening to your body that you do not understand. For instance, changes in posture, changes in the way clothing fits, or noting decreasing height can all be signs that spine or other musculoskeletal changes are occurring. An orthopedist will be able to determine the cause and help you find the best options for dealing with the problem.
To learn more about orthopedics and how they might benefit you or someone you love, make an appointment to speak with an orthopedic doctor in your area soon.