Everybody goes through aches and pains, but for issues that seem to linger for an extended period of time, it’s important to know when to consult an orthopedist. About 1.5 billion people worldwide suffer from chronic pain, and tremendous advances in general orthopedics have made it possible to put an end to your constant suffering.
Knowing when to consult an orthopedist can save you a lifetime of future complications related to your injuries. It’s imperative to nip orthopedic problems in the bud to preserve your healthy body and get back to doing the things you love. Here are three common examples of injuries that a great orthopedic doctor can treat:
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Knee problems. One of the most common problems in sports medicine, almost every athlete knows the feeling of a tweaked knee. Even if you don’t play sports, aging can have a “wear and tear” on your knees, which causes osteoarthritis, a painful condition common among older people. An orthopedist can help you feel better in no time by administering the proper treatments, whether it be through physical therapy or, if necessary, knee surgery.
Ankle/foot issues. Problems with the ankle and foot are especially important to diagnose in their early stages, and for obvious reasons. Your feet support the entire weight of your body when you’re standing. Each foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments, so there’s no shortage of ways to injure your feet. Women are about four times more likely to develop foot and ankle problems than men, and wearing high heels is a big reason for that alarming statistic.
Back pain. Nothing can make you feel defeated quite like dropping something on the ground with a bad back. In more serious cases of back pain where the spine is involved, orthopedic care is absolutely crucial, and it is imperative to know when to consult an orthopedist. Thankfully, with the introduction of new minimally invasive spine procedures, you can have your back fixed in no time, greatly reducing your recovery time. Many minimally invasive procedures are outpatient surgeries, so you can return home on the very same day.
These are just a few examples of pains and injuries that require the care of a qualified orthopedic surgeon. If you ever feel as if an injury is just not going away, consult an orthopedic doctor and find out what the problem is before it worsens.
