If you have never had joint or bone related injuries or pain, you may not be aware of when it is necessary to see an orthopedic specialist and what necessitates a trip to the clinic. Here are four examples of when you need to book an appointment:
Recent Injury
If you have recently suffered an injury, sports related or otherwise, it is important to visit an orthopedic specialist to assess your current condition and plan for a long term treatment strategy. While it is hopeful that there will be no persistent and negative repercussions from the injury, the sooner an appropriate treatment protocol can be enacted, the less likely it is that this will happen. Visiting a specialist, explaining your injury, and having appropriate diagnostics completed is the first step towards this prevention.
Pain or Discomfort
Prolonged pain or discomfort in your hips, knees, joints, or other areas of bone within your body is an important thing to be aware of and pay attention to. While everyone experiences pain now and then, chronic pain, which persists and disrupts your daily functioning, is undesirable and can indeed be managed with the right treatment protocol. If this is something you suffer from, speaking to an orthopedic specialist about options for resolving it or adopting a management protocol is an important step toward maintaining your quality of life, despite the chronic pain.
Arthritis
Individuals who suffer from arthritis are often familiar with regular bouts of pain and discomfort when it comes to the joints and physical mobility, but this does not mean you can’t receive further assistance and guidance from an orthopedic specialist. In fact, many people who have arthritis regularly visit a specialist to stay up to date on the latest treatment options and to manage their disease progression to ensure it does not become debilitating to their day-to-day functioning.
Aging
A natural part of getting older, with time, the joints, bones, and parts of the body that facilitate mobility do not continue to work as well or are not able to work together as successfully as they once could. Whether you are experiencing pain or are just interested in learning more information from a preventative perspective, as you get older, it is advisable to visit an orthopedic specialist to ensure you are on track for staying healthy. The specialist will be able to evaluate joints such as your knees and hips and warn you of potential need later in life for a knee or hip replacement.
While it is hopeful that you never have to go through an injury or issue that requires the use of an orthopedic specialist, if you do, timely attention is important. Reach out today to get the care you need. To request a consultation with one of the bone, joint, muscle, or spine 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.
The Orthopedic & Sports Institute 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.
Additionally, OSI now offers a Walk-In Clinic at its Appleton location for new, acute orthopedic injuries.
OSI is a proud member of NOVO Health.