If you have joint pain or any other orthopaedic condition, it’s important to consult with an orthopaedic specialist. This will help ensure that the right treatment plan is in place, which will help you get back on your feet faster and also prevent further damage to your joints. With this in mind, this article will outline some of the reasons why visiting an orthopaedic specialist is a good idea.
Pain in the Bones or Joints
If you’re experiencing pain in the bones or joints, an orthopaedic specialist can help determine if it is related to a medical condition. Some of these conditions include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Gout
- Osteoporosis
Pain that occurs due to an injury or overuse usually does not need treatment at all. However, if the pain is severe and has lasted for more than two weeks, then seeing your doctor may be beneficial.
Muscle Aches
You may be experiencing muscle aches that are not explained by any injury. If you have no-reason muscle aches, it could be a sign of an underlying health issue. However, if your pain is caused by overuse, it's possible that you're doing too much physically and need to take rest breaks throughout the day.
If you experience both kinds of muscle pain—the kind that comes for no reason and the kind that comes from overuse—you should see an orthopaedic specialist right away to get treatment options for each type of pain, so they don't get worse.
Swelling of a Joint or Muscle
Swelling is an important symptom of many orthopaedic conditions. It can be a sign of a problem in the joint or musculoskeletal system, and it’s important to see your doctor if you notice swelling.
Swelling is when fluid builds up inside a part of the body, causing its size to increase. It does not always mean that something has gone wrong with your body—it’s normal for some parts of your body to swell after exercising or getting hurt. For example, your ankle may swell after you stubbed it on something hard and bruised it. But sometimes swelling is a sign of an underlying medical condition that needs treatment by an orthopaedic specialist.
An Unusual Lump Near a Joint
A lump near a joint can be caused by an infection, cancer, or injury. Lumps are usually painless but may be painful if there is inflammation of the surrounding tissues.
Lumps that show up near joints can be hard or soft, depending on how they develop. They can also appear as a mass of cells (tumours) or inflamed tissue (abscesses).
In any case, visiting an orthopaedic specialist is important to determine the cause of your lump and whether or not it is serious.
The Sound of Popping and Cracking Upon Moving a Joint
If your joints make a popping or clicking noise when you move them, it's likely that they're inflamed. This can be an early sign of arthritis, but if it's mild and consistent with normal movement, it's probably nothing to worry about. If your joints pop and click often in response to everyday movements—or if they pop when you don't move them at all—that could mean something else is going on.
If you're dealing with chronic pain in one or more of your joints (or just want to keep things healthy), don't waste any more time before searching for an orthopedist near you.
Conclusion
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important that you consult an orthopaedic specialist. They will be able to assess your condition and provide treatment options for managing pain or restoring mobility by performing surgery on your joints.
