The specialty of orthopedics used to be focused only on treating children with leg deformities and other musculoskeletal development issues – thus the “ped” root word, which means “child.” The field has since blossomed into treating people of all ages, and handling everything from a full knee replacement to arthritis pain to a sprained ankle.
An orthopedic surgeon, or orthopedist, is a physician who specializes in the musculoskeletal system. These surgeons deal with both traumatic and age-related injuries to the bones and muscles, and they try the least-invasive treatments possible. If noninvasive and minimally invasive treatments don’t work to heal your injury or relieve your pain, the doctor will try more invasive treatments such as surgery.
The orthopedic surgeon is therefore responsible for making you feel as pain-free as possible, restoring as much physical ability as possible, and causing as little damage as possible while treating you. Let’s talk about some of the most common ailments orthopedic surgeons treat.
Pain Treatment
After completing their orthopedic boards, many orthopedic surgeons continue their education to further specialize. Some of these physicians focus on certain areas of the body, such as the shoulder, hip, knee, or spine, and others focus on pain management.
Most orthopedic surgeons have patients who suffer from pain, especially if they are older and have arthritis. Even young athletes can develop arthritis pain if they do not rest enough between practices. An orthopedic surgeon can help minimize your joint pain or muscle pain so you can enjoy an active lifestyle, regardless of your age.
Joint Reconstruction Surgery
Whether your joint was badly injured due to a car crash, an ACL tear in the knee, a torn rotator cuff in the shoulder, or osteoporosis causing a bad fall, an orthopedic surgeon is responsible for repairing the damage and minimizing the pain. This may require partial or total joint reconstruction of your injured knee, shoulder, hip, or another joint in the body.
Revision Surgery for Joint Prosthetics
If you have had a joint replacement in the past but are now experiencing some of the same painful or debilitating issues you had with that joint before the surgery, it may be time to have joint revision surgery. Your orthopedist will conduct scans to evaluate the condition of your joint prosthesis; if a joint revision is necessary, the physician can perform revision surgery. This involves repairing the damaged prosthesis by replacing some or all of it with new materials.
Orthopedic Surgeons in Greater Detroit
In orthopedics, it is critical to find an orthopedic surgeon who is highly skilled in the specific musculoskeletal issue you are experiencing. Whether you have been injured in a car accident, have severe pain in your knee that may be from a torn ACL, or are suffering from chronic pain in your hip or spine, the experienced orthopedic team at Tri County Orthopedics is here for you.
Contact our friendly staff today to schedule a consultation by calling us at (248) 474-5575 or request an appointment online now. We look forward to seeing you and helping you get back to enjoying life again!
