There is no reason to live with unnecessary pain. When bones, joints, and muscles start to ache and break, it is important to consult a professional to get their opinion on the matter. It is much better than living with unwanted discomfort on a daily basis.
In the Fox Cities, from Oshkosh to Green Bay, there are many doctors who specialize in orthopedics and can help out when things go with bones and muscles. Such problems can arise for a number reasons, including sports related injuries, general aging, or a workplace injury. Whatever the reason, it is highly important to take care of the body and get things back on track as soon as possible.
Here are five signs that it might be time to take that sore body to an orthopedic doctor and get tended. Remember, the sooner action is taken, the quicker the pain will go away.
1. Moving around is harder and harder each day
It is normal, from time to time, to experience some trouble getting out of bed or standing up from a chair. However, if this is happening on a daily basis, it is a sign that something isn’t right. Likewise, for elderly people, it is expected that sometimes there are more aches and pains. Again, if this happens too frequently and inhibits daily actions being done, it is important to seek professional help.
2. There is chronic pain present
The definition of chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks. If the same dull ache has been lingering in the bones or muscles for more than 12 weeks, it is chronic and needs to be tended to.
3. The range of motion of limited
We all have different physical limits in how far we can stretch, run, jump, or throw. However, we all know our own limits. Therefore, we know when we’re not reaching a limit that we used to be able to before. This is a sign that something is seriously wrong inside the bones and muscles.
4. Walking or standing is less stable
If it is harder to stand up straight without wobbling or walking in a straight line is more difficult than before, perhaps something is going wrong with the bones and muscles. A good way to test this is by standing on one leg. If after less than a minute the posture becomes wobbly and unbalanced, this is a sign to go see someone in the orthopedics field.
5. An injury isn’t improving
Generally, a sprain or a soft-tissue tear will heal itself within 48 hours. After this time, the swelling and tenderness will go down significantly. If it doesn’t, consulting a professional is the best course of action. There could be some more serious damage underneath the surface.
If you would like to request a consultation with one of the orthopedic specialists at the Orthopedic & Sports Institute (OSI), please call (920) 560-1000 or request an appointment online. OSI is Northeast Wisconsin’s exclusive provider of Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery for Hips & Knees. OSI has convenient locations to serve you. In addition to the flagship facility in Appleton, you will find outreach clinics in New London, Ripon, Shawano, Waupaca, and the newest location serving the Green Bay area, inside the NOVO Health Clinic in De Pere. The Appleton location also has a walk-in clinic that provides care for new orthopedic injuries.
For post-surgical recovery and rehabilitation, Recovery Inn is located on the campus of the Orthopedic & Sports Institute in Appleton (OSI). This skilled nursing facility was the first orthopedics-only recovery facility in the nation attached to a surgery center. At OSI, you can have your surgery and recover without leaving the building. Physical and occupational therapy take place steps from your room, where you will be rehabbing with the nationally recognized therapists from Advanced Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine.
For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact Recovery Inn Executive Director Shaena Van Handel at (920) 560-1066.
OSI is a proud member of NOVO Health.