4 Questions to Ask Your Orthopedists

Orthopedists specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries and conditions within the musculoskeletal system, which includes a person’s bones, cartilage, joints, ligaments, muscles, spinal cord, and tendons. As such, there is a wide variety of conditions and injuries that an orthopedist can treat! With that in mind, some common conditions and injuries that orthopedists treat include the following:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chronic pain
• Congenital or degenerative spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Dislocations, fractures, sprains, and strains
• Failed spinal surgeries or fusions
• Frozen shoulder
• Herniated discs
• Hip dysplasia
• Osteoarthritis (OA)
• Plantar fasciitis
• Post laminectomy syndrome
• Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), such as tendonitis or bursitis
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Spondylosis
• Sports injuries, such as rotator cuff tears, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, tennis elbow, or golfer’s elbow
• And more!

If you are dealing with chronic or acute pain due to a chronic condition or injury, you would likely benefit from seeing an orthopedist. With that in mind, some common signs or symptoms that warrant a visit to an orthopedist include the following:

• Chronic pain, or pain that has lasted longer than 12 weeks, particularly within the joints, tendons, muscles, bones, or spinal cord
• Decreased range of motion
• Deformity in the joints
• Difficulty performing daily tasks due to pain, stiffness, or discomfort
• Feeling unstable or unsteady when standing or walking
• Joint pain that gets worse during and after periods of rest
• Soft tissue injury, such as a sprain or strain, that has not shown any signs of improvement 48 hours after the injury

Podiatrists treat orthopedic and skin issues of the foot and ankle, while orthopedists treat orthopedic problems of the entire body. With that in mind, it is better to see an orthopedist than a podiatrist for any musculoskeletal issue that does not involve the foot or ankle. With that being said, if you have a musculoskeletal concern that does affect the foot or ankle, you may want to see a podiatrist if your condition requires in-depth treatment. However, an orthopedist is thoroughly trained and qualified and can provide excellent services for any foot or ankle-related musculoskeletal injury or condition.

At The Orthopedic Group, we have podiatrists and orthopedists at our clinics to provide you with excellent care for any musculoskeletal condition you are dealing with!

At your first orthopedic visit, you will need to fill out a medical history form that details any pre-existing medical conditions or allergies you have, past surgeries you have had, medications you are taking, and any serious illnesses or conditions in your immediate family. After filling out this form, your orthopedic doctor will look over it and put it on record for reference when providing treatment to you.

In addition to a medical history review, your orthopedic doctor will most likely conduct a thorough physical exam, possibly involving diagnostic imaging and a particular evaluation of any problem areas you would like to have addressed.

With that in mind, they will likely assess your vital signs and also examine your reflexes, the strength, flexibility, and range of motion of your spine and various joints throughout your body, as well as bone and strength.

For more information about what to expect at your first orthopedic visit at The Orthopedic Group, we encourage you to give us a call!

We also welcome you to schedule an appointment with us through our website or by calling us. We have clinics located in Lansdowne, Leesburg, and Stone Springs, VA. We serve patients from Leesburg VA, Lansdowne VA, Stone Springs VA, Dulles, VA, Ashburn VA, Sterling VA, Aldie VA, South Riding VA, Herndon VA, Winchester VA, Reston VA, and Chantilly VA.