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Working With An Orthopedist

A few years ago, I decided to take up running. I was bad at it at first, but after a few months, I got more comfortable. Unfortunately, right when I got good at running, I developed a bad pain in my left foot. At first, I decided to push past the pain, but it quickly became excruciating. I realized that it might be a good idea to talk with a doctor about my problem, and so I met with an orthopedist. He carefully watched my gait as I ran, and he decided to take some images to check out my bone health. It turned out that I had developed a stress fracture, and my doctor recommended surgery. This blog is all about ways that an orthopedist can help you, so that you can enjoy your hobbies.

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Working With An Orthopedist

Three Undeniable Signs That Indicate You Need To See An Orthopedic Physician Urgently

by Jessie Hawkins

An orthopedic physician is a doctor who specializes in the musculoskeletal system of the body. The musculoskeletal system comprises the muscles, joints, bones, ligaments, and tendons. Thus, orthopedic physicians focus on diagnosing and treating issues such as fractures, joint pain, arthritis, sprains, and muscle injuries.

Here are three major signs that indicate it is high time to book an appointment with an orthopedic physician.

Limited Range of Motion

Limited range of motion refers to a person's inability to move their body correctly. Examples of such include:

  • Reduced mobility of the limbs
  • Trouble walking or sitting upright
  • Sharp pains in the joints, muscles, or tendons while moving about

Sometimes, it is common to experience such symptoms momentarily for a couple of days due to fatigue or straining the muscles or tendons. However, when the issue persists for more than a couple of days without any significant improvement, it is a clear sign you need to visit an orthopedic physician.

Sometimes, the symptoms could be early warning signs of arthritis, especially if the joints are affected. Thus, it would be best to see an orthopedic physician promptly so that they can commence treatment and prevent the spread of arthritis to other parts of the body.

You Were Involved in an Accident

It is only cautionary to get a medical exam done to ensure you did not sustain any significant injuries when you get into an accident. However, due to the shock resulting from the accident, it can often be difficult for a person to realize that their musculoskeletal system has sustained an injury. Thus, preliminary medical exams may also not detect any issues, and therefore, the individual will get released from the hospital.

However, when the shock wears down, the body's nervous system regains its optimal functionality, and thus, the individual may start to notice some aches and pains. As soon as the aches and pains begin to present themselves, it is advisable to visit an orthopedic physician.

Sometimes, people ignore the aches and pains after an accident, not realizing that they could have sustained severe musculoskeletal damage. If you neglect to visit an orthopedic physician within the given period, the damage could become permanent.

Diminished Balance

Diminished balance refers to the gradual deterioration of a person's ability to maintain proper balance while standing or walking. However, this should not get confused with poor balance resulting from dizziness.

The most common signs of diminishing balance include weakness in the joints and muscles of the legs over an extended period. Basically, when you stand up, your legs either feel wobbly or too weak to support your weight while walking or standing.

When you start experiencing diminished balance over some time, you must visit an orthopedic physician to determine the cause.

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