What to Expect with an Orthopedic Doctor
There are many reasons why you might see an orthopedic doctor for back pain. Back pain can be caused by a sudden injury, wear and tear on the body over time, or even illness and disease. No matter what is causing your back pain, an orthopedic doctor can help. Orthopedic doctors know how to address all kinds of pain, injury, and disease from head to toe. When a musculoskeletal injury or illness is causing you pain, an orthopedic doctor can help.
Consultation
You might be interested in scheduling an initial consultation with an orthopedic doctor before deciding if they are the right back doctor for you. You may have tried waiting to see if the pain will go away on its own, but if it hasn’t then it’s time to talk to the professionals. A consultation with an orthopedic doctor is a great way to get a better understanding of the orthopedic approach to back pain. While all orthopedic doctors can perform surgery, it isn’t always the best option. In fact, most orthopedic doctors will want to talk you through more conservative treatment options before resorting to a more invasive procedure. A consultation is also a great time to learn more about their approach to treatment plans and whether or not they provide comprehensive care.
Diagnosis
Orthopedic doctors will often utilize diagnostic imaging tools to support the diagnosis of your back pain. These types of diagnostics can provide your doctor with clear images of what might be causing your back pain and how your entire musculoskeletal system can be affected. X-rays are the most common diagnostic imaging tools and provide back doctors with images of the bones in your body to help locate fractures, spinal disc problems, arthritis in the joints, and abnormal curvature of the spine. MRIs and CT scans are types of diagnostic imaging tools that will provide your back doctors with a closer look at a back injury or identifying the source of your back pain. While X-rays provide images of your skeletal system, MRIs and CT scans also show soft tissues like your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.
Treatment
Once your back doctor has diagnosed what is causing your back pain, they will be able to develop a treatment plan that best suits your needs. Many orthopedic doctors are also considered spine specialists because they can provide all types of treatments for back pain, from noninvasive treatments like manual therapies to minimally invasive options like injections or nerve blocks. Other examples of non-surgical procedures include fluid drainage, joint manipulation, bracing, casting, and ultrasound therapy. Orthopedic doctors may also specialize in other types of innovative treatment approaches like therapy for treating degeneration of joints and arthritis pain. The orthopedic approach to back pain involves developing a treatment plan that will address the root cause of your back pain while also addressing your current symptoms. Pain medications, injections, and massage therapy might provide short-term relief to back pain while improving strength and range of motion in the area will provide long-term relief.
When to Call an Orthopedic Doctor
If your back pain starts to impact your ability to go about your day and complete your activities then it’s time to take steps on how to treat and diagnose chronic back pain. Chronic back pain can really wear you down and even affect your mental health. It can also cause you to experience greater instability when performing certain movements, and you might even start to experience progressive weakness in your body. Our back doctors at AICA Orthopedics provide back pain relief for a wide variety of illnesses and issues. Our team of orthopedic doctors also works with chiropractors, physical therapists, and neurologists all in one convenient location so you can get the care and treatment you deserve.
