When To Use The Services Of An Orthopedic Surgeon Philadelphia PA

By Paulette Mason


If you are suffering from a disorder, deformity or injury related to the musculoskeletal system, it may be necessary to consult with an orthopedic surgeon or orthopedist. You could benefit from consulting with this medical expert instead of relying on pain relievers to keep the pain at bay. By consulting with an orthopedic surgeon Philadelphia PA residents can eliminate the discomfort that is interfering with their daily lives.

Orthopedic surgeons focus on treating ailments that affect the musculoskeletal system. To become orthopedic surgeons, medical students have to complete post baccalaureate education that lasts about 8 to 9 years. These professionals can diagnose and treat several ailments including deformities, sprains, injuries, fractures, tendon damage, tumors, traumas and arthritis.

People who have swelling or bruising around certain joints can also seek the assistance of an orthopedist. Similarly, people who have problems with keeping their spinal column straight and those who have chronic discomfort in the joints, tendons or muscles can also benefit from using the services of this professional. Seeking the advice of an orthopedist early is wise especially when one is unsure about what is causing the pain.

You can find an orthopedist in a hospital, academic medical center or a private clinic. After you consult with this expert, he or she will come up with the best treatment plan depending on the intensity of your pain and the severity of the problem. Prior to deciding to perform a surgery, the professional will perform a number of standard therapies. Before this medical expert operates on you, you will be placed under regional or general anesthesia.

An orthopedist can prescribe medicines for patients who have been taking pain relievers and anti inflammatory medications but still experience pain. This professional may also treat patients by using cortisone therapy. This usually involves injecting cortisones into the affected areas. Patients who have arthritis can feel relieved of arthritis pain after undergoing cortisone therapy.

An orthopedist may also recommend physical therapy regimens and exercise to reduce stiffness. He or she may also recommend that you use walking aids like canes or splints so that you can get around more easily. If the therapies that an orthopedist recommends do not seem to be effective, he or she can perform surgery. You will be placed under the care of a physician who specializes in a particular area such as hand surgery, ankle and foot surgery or knee surgery.

An orthopedic surgeon can treat a patient by fusing the end joints of bones together pr realigning joints in order to eliminate pain. Patients who have minor joint problems can be good candidates for an arthroscopy. This procedure is minimally invasive and it is carried out in order to rectify damage in the shoulders, hips, knees, elbows or wrists.

An arthroscopy can also be performed in order to remove lose bone or cartilage, repair torn ligaments, reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament of the knees and to remove or repair a torn meniscus of the knee. Since you will be put under anesthesia, you will not feel anything during the arthroscopic procedure. You may experience mild pain or soreness after the procedure but your orthopedist will prescribe some pain medicine.




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