It is recommended to consult a specialist if you experience issues or injuries affecting your bones, joints, muscles, ligaments or tendons. Here are some common situations where seeking advice from a specialist may be beneficial:
Reasons You May Seek Professional Help
- Joint pain: If you’re experiencing discomfort in your knees, hips, shoulders, elbows or any other joint, it could be a sign of pain or discomfort. If you have severe pain that limits your mobility or worsens over time, it would be wise to seek an evaluation from an orthopaedic specialist.
- Back and Neck Discomfort: If you have severe back or neck pain that extends to your arms or legs, it might indicate issues that an orthopaedic specialist can diagnose and treat.
- Fractures and Joint Dislocations: If you suspect a bone or have encountered a joint, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention. Orthopaedic specialists are equipped to assess the situation through X-rays and provide treatments.
- Sports-Related Injuries: Athletes who sustain injuries during sports activities, such as ligament tears (ACL tears), sprains, strains or overuse injuries, should consult with a specialist for an accurate diagnosis and suitable treatment options.
- Arthritis Management: For individuals experiencing arthritis symptoms like stiffness, swelling and activity-induced pain worsening over time, consulting with a specialist can help manage the condition effectively by suggesting appropriate treatment methods.
- Restricted range of movement: A problem moving a joint, limb, or body part through its full range of movement can also indicate an underlying issue that requires evaluation by an orthopaedic specialist.
- Numbness or weakness: if you experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in a limb or extremity, specifically after an injury or without a clear cause, it’s critical to consult with an expert to rule out nerve or musculoskeletal problems.
- Chronic pain: Ongoing musculoskeletal pain that doesn’t respond to conservative remedies like rest, physical therapy, or medicinal drugs may require the expertise of an orthopedic specialist.
- Deformities: when you have congenital or acquired deformities of the bones or joints, an orthopaedic expert can offer alternatives for correction or management.
- Rehabilitation After the surgical procedure: if you’ve undergone an orthopaedic surgical operation, post-operative care and rehabilitation under the guidance of an orthopaedic professional are crucial for a successful recovery.
- Concerns about Mobility: If you or a loved one is experiencing a decline in mobility or functional independence because of musculoskeletal issues, it’s critical to consult with an orthopaedic expert for evaluation and potential interventions.
- Pediatric Orthopedic Concerns: Parents should seek the advice of a pediatric orthopaedic professional for children with developmental issues, congenital situations, injuries, or growth-related concerns.
In general, it is a good idea to discuss this with your primary care physician first when you have musculoskeletal signs. They can provide an initial assessment and refer you to an orthopaedic professional when necessary but, in case you experience an extreme injury or believe you need immediate medical attention, seek emergency care without delay. Keep in mind that early diagnosis and treatment often result in higher outcomes in orthopaedic conditions.