Injuries happen whether you are moving a piece of heavy furniture or while exercising. In the aftermath, you would wonder what to do next.
Should you head to the emergency immediately? Visit an orthopedic doctor at a care clinic the same day. Schedule an appointment the next day. Or, leave it as it is?
These are some of the important questions that people have in their minds when faced with orthopedic injuries. Getting in touch with an ortho specialist is not an easy decision to make always. However, certain signs would indicate that it is the right time to consult an orthopedic doctor.
Important steps to take following an injury:
It does not matter whether you are hurt while you are outside or at home, deciding what to do next can be stressful. On most occasions, you may continue to push your body through the pain. Keep in your mind that when you continue to move your body with the injury, it results in further damage.
Besides, the recovery time gets extended. Therefore, it is important to consider the injury as a sign that you have pushed your body too hard. And, now you have to give your body the much-needed rest. Below listed are the steps that you can follow after an injury.
- Give rest to the injured area and avoid further damage
- Apply ice to minimize swelling
- Protect the area by wearing a brace or cast, or use crutches instead
- Try to look out for signs that might be serious enough to see an orthopedic doctor
How would you know if the injury needs immediate treatment?
1. Ability to bear weight
Finding out whether or not your joint can bear weight is extremely important. If you are walking while limping resulting from an ankle or knee injury, you should visit a reputed clinic.
An ortho specialist would evaluate the depth of the situation with X-rays. Moreover, if you cannot bear weight, you have to use crutches and visit a doctor immediately.
2. An injury that triggers swelling
Any kind of injury that triggers swelling on your knee or ankle needs to be evaluated in the doctor’s clinic. Still, a majority of those injuries may not require to be evaluated immediately at a hospital.
If you have doubts regarding the treatment that you received from a regular clinic, it is wise to consult an orthopedic specialist. But how long you should wait for the swelling to go away?
Typically, when you observe a joint swelling erupting rapidly and is connected to one or more warning signs that are mentioned below, you have to seek treatment immediately. That way, you can rule out the possibility of a fracture or something quite serious.
3. Warning signs
Whether it is about a minor dislocation, inured tendon, broken bone, or strained muscle, you should evaluate and treat injuries right away. In that case, you have to seek specialized medical help from a trained physician.
Check out these warning signs that tell you how serious the injury is and whether it needs medical evaluation immediately without delay.
- Having trouble bearing weight
- Noticeable deformity of the limb
- Continuous joint pain
- Feeling weak when moving a muscle or limb
- Rapid swelling of a joint
- Inability to move toes or fingers along with swelling
Why you should see an orthopedic doctor regularly:
Orthopedic doctors cater to bone health. They are responsible for resolving issues that may impact joints, bones, and the ligaments connected to them. Furthermore, they can operate on patients to treat chronic bone-related injuries.
There are many good reasons to check with your orthopedic doctor at least every six months. Keeping your spine healthy is important. So, you would want to make sure that there are no spinal-related injuries.
If you suffer repetitive strain injuries because of your profession, visiting an ortho doctor is a must after specific periods. Patients suffering from arthritis should check with an orthopedic doctor regularly. As such, people can enjoy a good life with the recommended treatment.
Conclusion:
Most people do not realize that they should schedule an appointment with an orthopedic doctor at least two times a year. That way, you can give your body a regular checkup and discuss things that you are worried about.
When you are dealing with any kind of pain in your joints or bones, you might be facing orthopedic problems. Hence, you should schedule an appointment with an ortho specialist as soon as possible.
The sooner you address the problem, the less you may have to deal with serious consequences resulting from the injury. Schedule an appointment with the best orthopedic doctor at Kasper Multi Speciality Clinic and get relief from your suffering.
