
What Does An Orthopaedist Do? When Should You See An Orthopaedic Doctor
An orthopaedics doctor treats any issue related to your body’s musculoskeletal system. The primary responsibilities of an orthopaedist are as follows:
- Diagnosing and curing conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system
- Assisting with strength gaining and improving range of motion and flexibility after an accident or surgery
- Helping prevent injuries to stop chronic conditions like arthritis from escalating into something more severe
Look at the top signs that might indicate that you need to see an orthopaedist right now.
1. Shoulder Pain
You must see an orthopaedist immediately if you have severe shoulder pain that becomes more problematic at night. The symptoms are often accompanied by tenderness surrounding a joint, which indicates tendonitis. Overuse or injury is the reason behind tendonitis in the shoulder, heel, wrist, or elbow.
Tendons are responsible for joining the muscles to the bones in the body. Sometimes they get overworked or injured and also lose elasticity with increased age. It often makes the tendons inflamed and swollen.
2. Painful Joints
Chronic or persistent pain in your joints indicates something isn’t right. Your joint pain can be considered chronic if it has continued for three to six months or hasn’t gone away. The pain can also be accompanied by swelling or inflammation around the joints.
The symptoms can also indicate that the bones in your joints are rubbing together. All these symptoms are an indication of arthritis. Women are more likely to develop arthritis, and the risk increases with age.
But young people, including ones in their 20s, can also develop arthritis. Some factors that can increase the likelihood of arthritis include excess weight, past joint injuries, and repeated bending of particular joints due to an everyday task or profession.
3. Stiff, Weak, or Bruised Muscles
Are you experiencing pain, swelling, or a bluish discolouration around a previous injury? It might be occurring as a result of muscle contusion. These injuries occur when a blunt object hits a muscle or your body gets slammed into a hard object.
While the muscle fibre gets crushed, the skin does not break. As a result, blood might pool under the skin. It creates a lump on top of the injury.
4. Twisted Ankle
Wearing heels, stepping on something, or walking on uneven surfaces can often cause your ankle to roll or twist. A sprained or twisted ankle usually comes with symptoms like bruising and swelling. You might also suffer from pain outside the ankle due to a sprain.
People on the move all day are more likely to get their ankles sprained. Sometimes people sprain their ankles due to their posture. Past sprains in the ankle can also further escalate injuries in the ankle.
5. Worsening Injury
An accidental injury like a major collision takes much time to heal. If the pain or swelling does not disappear, there are chances of a fracture.
Fractures are common in the arms, hips, legs, and spine. Children are more prone to fractures than adults for obvious reasons. Swelling or bruising is a common sign of fractures. Sometimes pain worsening due to pressure or movement can also lead to fractures. A loss of function in an injured body part also indicates fractures.
6. Pain Due to Repetitive Motions
Occupations demanding repetitive motions often cause stress injuries in the nerves, muscles, and tendons. Maintaining an awkward position persistently, machine-producing vibrations, and forceful exertions are usually responsible for stress injuries. This condition is responsible for pain and discomfort, particularly in the upper body.
7. Numb or Tingling Hands
Do you frequently drop things or have a tingling sensation in the thumb, middle or index finger? If yes, you might have carpal tunnel syndrome. The nerve running from your forearm to the wrist travels via a tunnel in the wrist.
The nerve gives the sensation to all the fingers except the pinky. Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur due to various factors, including previous injuries.
Wrapping up
If you are looking for the best orthopaedics doctor in India, you can find them at Max Healthcare. From surgical procedures to exercises, the orthopaedists at the hospital can show you the right path to recover from musculoskeletal issues.
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