Aches and pains are a common part of life, especially as we become older. So, how long should you put up with it before going to an orthopedic surgeon?
However, identifying a major orthopedic condition may not always be clear or straightforward, especially if you’ve gotten accustomed to live in persistent pain over time.
Signs you should consult an orthopaedic doctor or surgeon.
When your symptoms become painful or interfere with your daily life, pay attention to your body’s natural red signals that indicate it’s time to consult an orthopedic doctor or surgeon. Not sure what to look for? Here are five distinct symptoms you should pay attention to and arrange a visit with Orthopedics.
1. Pain, edema, or tight joints that appear unexpectedly.
This is generally one of the most visible signs of an orthopaedic condition. Look for pain, swelling, or stiffness that is not only painful but also cannot be eased by changing activities, icing the affected region, resting, or taking over-the-counter pain relievers.
2. Increased joint pain or numbness.
Take note of joint discomfort or numbness that worsens or interferes with everyday, ordinary tasks like carrying a coffee cup, cleaning around the house, or climbing stairs. Due to troublesome joints, even routine chores might become difficult or impossible to do.
3. Muscle, tendon, or ligament injuries.
These injuries are characterized by intense pain, spasms, edema, and impaired mobility or function in the afflicted region. You should seek additional evaluation if you hear or feel feelings of popping or catching in a joint, and/or if the joint lacks stability or feels unstable with movement.
4. Pain that keeps you awake at night.
People suffering from joint pain or arthritis are more likely to develop “pain-somnia,” or difficulty sleeping and staying asleep. According to experts, joint pain can be significantly worse at night, which is most likely due to laying in one place for an extended period to sleep and the effects of circadian rhythm, or the mental, physical, and behavioural changes that humans naturally experience during hours of sunlight and darkness across a 24-hour cycle. Continuously interrupted sleep can have serious negative consequences for both physical and mental health, exacerbating joint pain symptoms.
5. Infection near an injury with similar symptoms
Soreness, redness, heated skin to the touch, swelling, fever, and drainage/pus discharges are all symptoms of infection after an injury. Do not delay treating an infection since it can swiftly proceed to sepsis, which is the body’s life-threatening response to untreated infections and is considered an urgent medical emergency. If you have the following symptoms in addition to a suspected infection, get emergency medical attention right away: rapid heart rate or weak pulse, persistent high temperature, shivering or feeling extremely cold, shortness of breath, intense pain or discomfort, and clammy or damp skin.
Will I need to undergo orthopaedic surgery?
Although booking an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon or specialist may sound like a bad idea, it’s vital to remember that surgery is frequently the final choice. In reality, around 70% of orthopaedic problems may be successfully managed without the need for surgery.
“Many orthopedic conditions can be managed non-operatively in the absence of trauma or ligament injury.”
Non-surgical therapies can range from finding an acceptable diagnosis and monitoring the illness without further intervention to more conservative therapy methods that aim to address symptoms directly and reduce the chance of development.
For example, if arthritis is the underlying cause of knee, hip, or shoulder discomfort, conservative treatments may include
Iqra Khan