Thursday, April 25, 2024

Can An Orthopedic Doctor Diagnose Arthritis

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy

How does the doctor diagnose arthritis?

The platelets in your blood are responsible for clotting when you get cut or are injured, but they also contain properties to help in the healing process. With platelet-rich plasma therapy, your doctor will draw your blood, then use a centrifuge to isolate the healing factors. Your doctor will then inject this extract from your own body back into the area where healing is needed. In the case of arthritis, it could be any joint, particularly in the hips and knees PRP can also be used to treat tendonitis, ligament injuries, and joint sprains.

What Are Orthopedic Doctors

Orthopedic doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating problems involving your joints, muscles, ligaments, and other connective tissues. Injury and degeneration caused by repetitive motion in your shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles are the common causes of such conditions.

Treatments include non-surgical and surgical interventions. Not all orthopedic doctors, however, are trained to perform surgery, but they may specialize in certain body parts or sports medicine. Orthopedic surgeons, on the other hand, can treat you using noninvasive and invasive methods.

When To See An Orthopedist

If you are having difficulty using a part of your body due to pain or stiffness, or if you have suffered any type of soft-tissue injury that is not improving, an orthopedist can help you heal. This is the type of doctor who will have you feeling better and moving more efficiently as quickly as possible, without unnecessary tests or extra wait time.

Orthopedic treatment may be as simple as physical therapy or as complex as a full hip or knee replacement. Many orthopedists work in a group practice and therefore have multiple orthopedic surgeons who specialize in treating certain areas of the body.

A benefit of an orthopedic group practice is that it may also have physical therapists and nurses. The orthopedic surgeon will work as a team with the physical therapists and other providers in order to get the patient back to feeling more pain-free and mobile again.

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Knee Doctor In St Peters Or Ofallon Missouri

The orthopedic doctors at Advanced Bone & Joint specialize in treating conditions affecting the hip and knee, among others. We provide alternative therapies for pain relief and surgery for patients with damaged knee joints due to arthritis. We also provide rehabilitation services in our facility. Our orthopedic doctors are ready to see you in our orthopedic urgent care clinic.

If you would like to make an appointment, call 229-4222 or use our convenient online form. Our friendly and highly-qualified team of physicians and health care specialists looks forward to serving you in our clinic.

What Increases Your Risk For Arthritis

Shoulder Arthritis

Sometimes arthritis can occur with no known cause. But there are also factors that can increase your risk for all types of arthritis.

Age: Advanced age increases a persons risk for arthritis types such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis.

Family history: You are more likely to have arthritis if your parent or sibling has an arthritis type.

Gender: Women are more likely to have RA than men while men are more likely to have gout.

Obesity: Excess weight can increase a persons risk for OA because it puts more pressure on the joints.

History of previous injuries: Those who have injured a joint from playing sports, from a car accident, or other occurrences are more likely to experience arthritis later.

Even if you dont feel the symptoms, you should discuss your potential risks for arthritis with your doctor. They can help provide ways to prevent or delay arthritis.

Just as the location of arthritis varies, not all people will have the same type of arthritis.

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Why Not Just See My Regular Family Doctor

Receiving treatment that is tailored to your specific condition and pain picture is a vitally important part of improving the chances of securing a favorable prognosis and outcome. The specialist you choose, whether a rheumatologist or a Southwest orthopedic specialist, is experienced in your illness, your particular type of joint pain, and the best therapies available for treatment. Your symptoms are a major factor in choosing a specialist, but other factors, including family medical history and personal circumstances, will ultimately dictate which specialist you choose to visit.

It is also important to keep in mind that there is more to treating joint pain than just finding a qualified expert. Choosing Southwest orthopedic specialists that understands you, your individual situation, and your treatment goals can be extremely beneficial to your treatment course. Whether you simply want treatment for your pain, or if you are eager to get back to your fitness training or sport at your previous level or even higher, the specialist you choose should be an actively-engaged participant in your treatment and recovery until you are satisfied with the results.

Prepare For The Journey Of Arthritis

Many people who are newly-diagnosed want the quick fix or cure for arthritis. For most people with arthritis, however, there is no cure. There have been significant advances in treatment options over the years, but finding the right course of treatment can be a journey. It is not uncommon to start one course of treatment and have to change several times before you find what works best.

Also, it is important to realize that what brings relief to one person may be totally ineffective for you. There are many things to try, including exercise, so try to be patient as you go through the process of finding what works for you. Even after you have been treated for a period of time, its very important that you talk to your healthcare provider about new or persistent symptoms. It may be time to change your treatment if your response is no longer satisfactory.

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Benefits Of Collaboration Between Orthopedic Surgeons And Rheumatologists To Optimize Disease Management

For patients suffering from autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout, a combined approach that focuses on both pharmacological and surgical procedures is often required for the optimum management of diseases.

Alfonso E. Bello, MD, MHS, FACP, FACR, DABPM, director of rheumatology research here at Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, has found that having rheumatologists and orthopedists in the same practice works well, because if the patient ends up visiting an orthopedic surgeon first when they could have benefited from seeing a rheumatologist, it is easy to transfer care to the right specialist.

Many times, patients are seen by orthopedic surgeons as their first musculoskeletal specialist when, in fact, they may be better served by a rheumatologist, he says. My orthopedic partners are well equipped to identify patients with rheumatologic disorders and facilitate transfer of care to methereby accelerating proper care.

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What Do Orthopedic Doctors Do

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Due to their specialized training on the musculoskeletal system, they can treat any diseases or disorders that affect the joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones. Orthopedic surgeons are trained to evaluate the entire musculoskeletal system. Some orthopedic doctors may sometimes sub-specialize in one or two particular areas.

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Do I Need To Go To A Rheumatologist Or An Orthopedist

With so much overlap between medical disciplines and specializations, it is often difficult for an individual to discern which type of doctor to see for their problem.

This is especially true for orthopedics and rheumatology, as both of these types of physicians treat joint pain.

Orthopedists are surgeons who address bone and joint diseases and injuries, such as arthritis, osteoarthritis, and body trauma. Rheumatologists are internal medicine physicians who focus on autoimmune conditions and the non-surgical treatment of such diseases, such as arthritis, where medications and/or physical therapy can provide the proper treatment.

It is important to understand the areas these two specialties cover in order to make an informed decision.

Treatments For Joint Pain

There are multiple treatments your orthopedist might prescribe for joint pain, depending on its cause. If your pain has a known cause, R.I.C.E. is the first line of treatment for an acute musculoskeletal injury. Afterward, your doctor might recommend a course of physical therapy to help rehabilitate your injured joint and regain strength and range of motion.

If your joint pain is caused by arthritis or another long-term condition, the goal of treatment will be to reduce pain, preserve joint strength and motion, and slow the progression of disease. Your orthopedic treatment plan might include:

If youre suffering from severe arthritis or a significant joint injury, you may need surgical treatment under the care of an orthopedic surgeon. There are several surgical options for arthritis treatment, including total joint replacement. If surgery is an option for you, your orthopedic surgeon will walk you through everything you need to know.

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Which Specialist Do I Need

While both rheumatologists and Southwest orthopedic specialists can treat joint-pain symptoms, it may be in the patients best interest to take a closer look at both options before deciding which specialist can best serve their needs. In cases where there is a family history of rheumatoid arthritis, for example, it would be perfectly logical and reasonable for a patient to seek out a consultation with a rheumatologist.

If, however, there is a family history of knee replacements and the patient is suffering from intractable knee pain, a better choice would be an Southwest orthopedic specialists. But how do you know which one makes the best sense for you?

Choosing a specialist does not mean you have made a permanent, unchangeable choice. If a patient seeking treatment from a rheumatologist does not improve with therapy, or as a patients condition progresses over time, there may be a need for some overlap in care from a rheumatologist to an orthopedic surgeon. In the beginning, however, the choice of which specialist to see will be primarily determined by the patients current and/or ongoing symptoms.

How Does An Orthopedic Doctor Treat Hand Pain

Orthopedic doctor near me Archives

October 12, 2020 By Jeanny Deliard

There are many injuries and chronic conditions that can affect the hand and cause pain. Hand pain can occur from an injury or from overuse. Some hand pain may only be short term and will resolve by itself without any medical intervention. However, persistent or reoccurring hand pain may be a sign of an underlying medical condition and require further investigation to enable the most suitable treatment. Arthritis is a common condition that can affect the hands, which can cause pain, stiffness, immobility, and swelling within the joints of the fingers.

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Schedule Your Visit With A Rheumatologist Or Orthopedist In Illinois Today

Whether youre in need of a surgical or non-surgical treatment option for your joint disorder, the physicians at Illinois Bone & Joint Institute can help improve your quality of life. We have many locations throughout Illinois for your convenience. Not sure which specialist you should schedule your appointment with? Contact us today and we will recommend who we believe the best physician is to suit your needs.

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Early Intervention Is Essential For Strong Recovery

Hopefully, you now have a good idea of the primary differences between orthopedics and rheumatology, and also when you should be seeking the treatment of an orthopedic surgeon or a rheumatologist.

But the last thing to press home is that early intervention is absolutely critical to achieving the best possible outcomes, no matter what the underlying cause of your pain is. Because of the interconnectedness of the human body, damage suffered in one area can often lead to damage in others.

Also, even minor conditions can worsen, causing unnecessary wear and tear on the affected bones and muscles. So, by diagnosing the problem early and getting it treated, you can save yourself the trouble of needing more intensive treatment later on.

So, if you are experiencing pain and want to get treatment from an orthopedic surgeon in Hawaii, why not get in touch with us to set up a consultation today?

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Hand Surgeon In San Antonio Texas

At the Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, our hand surgery team diagnoses and treats a broad range of hand injuries and conditions, including arthritis.

Our extensive education and training enable us to treat the most complex hand issues. For any type of hand or wrist pain and injury, call the Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at 692-7400 or request an appointment now. We are happy to provide you the highest quality care for your hand condition.

When Might Your Doctor Recommend A Bone Density Test

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There are several reasons why your doctor may recommend a bone density test. If your doctor suspects that you have osteopenia or osteoporosis, where your bones have lower mass, are weaker, and become brittle and more fragile. It is common for doctors to recommend a bone density test in patients over 35 years of age because this is when total bone mass peaks in adults. A bone density test may also be recommended for women who are going through menopause due to their fluctuation in hormone levels. Adults over 65 may also receive a bone density test every few years to help detect any bone loss later in life. Certain conditions may also make people a candidate for a bone density test, including a family history of osteopenia or osteoporosis, people with type 1 diabetes, and people with hyperthyroidism or hyperparathyroidism. People with liver or kidney disease may also undergo regular bone density tests as part of their monitoring and treatment for chronic illness. Your doctor may also recommend a bone density test if you are a smoker, prone to drinking alcohol excessively, or have a low body mass index. People who take steroids or are on anticonvulsants for certain conditions may also be candidates for a bone density test.

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How Is Ra Treated

RA is most often treated with medicine. Some medicines help to control the symptoms. Other medicines, especially when used early, can help to prevent the disease from getting worse.

Many of the medicines used to treat rheumatoid arthritis have side effects. Have regular checkups. And talk with your doctor about any problems. This will help your doctor find a treatment that works for you.

Physical therapy and finding the best balance between rest and activity can also help your symptoms.

If your treatment doesn’t help, surgery may be an option. The type of surgery you can have depends on which joints are causing problems. Sometimes surgery to replace a joint is an option. Other types of surgery can remove debris or inflamed tissue from a joint, or relieve pressure on nerves.

Fort Worth Hand Center Helps Patients Find Relief

Do you suffer from hand pain, finger pain or wrist pain? Concerned about whether you could have rheumatoid arthritis? Request an appointment from the best orthopedic surgeons in Fort Worth, Texas. Fort Worth Hand Center is Fort Worths first and most experienced multiple hand surgeon practice. We have been serving the North Texas area for over 45 years. To learn more or to schedule, call 817-877-3277, or complete the form below.

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Does An Orthopedic Doctor Treat Joint Pain

If youre living with achy knees or hips, morning stiffness that makes it hard to get out of bed, or pain when climbing stairs, you may be wondering what to do next. Should you see a doctor for a swollen joint? Mild joint pain? Joint pain thats been ongoing for several weeks?

The answer is yes to all of the above, and the doctor you need to see is an orthopedic doctor. Learn more about the role an orthopedist plays in joint pain, and when its time to make an appointment with an orthopedic specialist.

Do You Need To See An Orthopedic Physician Or A Rheumatologist

How an Orthopedic Doctor Helps Treat Arthritis

Patients should use the guidelines below to help determine if they should choose an orthopedic physician or rheumatologist for their arthritis and joint pain.

Patients might need an orthopedic physician if they have:

  • Joint or musculoskeletal pain that began after an injury
  • Gradually progressive hip or knee pain that is worse with weight bearing
  • Joint pain that is severe and interfering with function
  • Moderate or advanced arthritis of the knee or hip
  • Previous unsuccessful treatment for joint pain
  • Been told by their doctor they might need a joint replacement

Patients might need a rheumatologist if they have:

  • Pain involving many joints
  • New joint pain not associated with any injury
  • Joint or musculoskeletal pain associated with morning stiffness, fever, fatigue, rash or chest pain
  • Joint pain that followed a tick bite
  • Joint pain associated with back pain
  • Joint pain and psoriasis
  • Muscular pain with or without any other symptoms
  • New headaches or muscle aches and are over the age of 50
  • Back pain with or without pain in the legs
  • Unexplained, ongoing symptoms such as fever, sweats or weight loss

A patients’ medical needs are important and unique, that is why UMass Memorial Medical Center offers specialty trained physicians that have devoted their education and career to treating specific medical conditions to serve you.

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What Does An Orthopedist Do

Orthopedists handle the disorders, injuries, prevention, treatment, and repair of the skeletal system and its related joints, ligaments, and muscles.

Orthopedists and orthopedic surgeons are specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of bone and joint disease. They use an array of testing modalities to aid in diagnosis and treatment.

Expect Ups And Downs With Arthritis

Pain is an unwelcome intruder on normal daily activities. Every person diagnosed with arthritis hopes that treatment will quickly gain control over the disease. And not only do people with arthritis hope to gain control of their condition but they hope to maintain that control. The truth is that the usual course of arthritis is fraught with ups and downs. Like many chronic health conditions, it can feel like a roller coaster.

Even with treatment, you should expect both good days and bad days with arthritis. Some people find that the ups and downs, a major part of dealing with arthritis, are the most difficult aspect. If possible, prepare for those ups and downs by building flexibility into your life.

Some people find it helpful to list out ways to adapt to unforeseen circumstances ahead of time, and there are even retreats focused on resilience training to help those coping with chronic medical conditions.

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