Some pain is normal after long hours of training or working. However, chronic pain that doesn’t subside should be evaluated and treated by an orthopedic doctor, as this type of physician specializes in treating joint pain and muscle pain in both physically active individuals and others.
Orthopedic doctors know how to assess and treat your injury or pain efficiently, without wasting your time. These are the physicians who can easily move into the role of a sports doctor for an athletic team, and so they are thoroughly versed in all things involving the musculoskeletal system – the muscles, bones, and all ancillary structures. Plus, they can also address sports injuries such as concussions and develop tailored treatment plans.
Let’s talk about some of the main things that orthopedic doctors can diagnose and treat, including chronic conditions such as arthritis, and where you can go here in Raleigh for world-class orthopedic care.
Conditions Frequently Diagnosed by Orthopedic Doctors
Some of the most common conditions that your orthopedic doctor can easily diagnose include the following:
Arthritis
The most common musculoskeletal condition is arthritis, and there are many types of arthritis. Usually, people with arthritis experience pain, swelling, and/or stiffness in one or more joints.
The most common type by far is osteoarthritis, also often called just “arthritis,” and this can occur in young athletes as well as older active adults because it develops due to wear-and-tear of the protective cartilage in a joint. Your medical history and lifestyle play a role in its development.
Arthritis is technically defined as loss of the cartilage cushion in a joint, which leads to joint inflammation and pain in various parts of the body, but some types of arthritis can spread to other areas of the body – such as in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is an autoimmune condition that usually first appears in the joints and can also affect the eyes, skin, and heart.
Repetitive-Strain Injuries
Workers or athletes who overuse certain areas of their bodies are more prone to developing a repetitive-strain injury, or repetitive-motion injury. It is imperative to take breaks to give your muscles and joints a rest in order to avoid developing this type of injury.
Some of the most common overuse injuries that orthopedic doctors diagnose include the following:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist and hand injury)
- Jumper’s knee
- Rotator cuff tears (shoulder injury)
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Sever’s disease (heel pain in young athletes)
- Shin splints (lower-leg injury)
These conditions involve excessive or repetitive physical pressure on the tendons, muscles, bones, and/or nerves to cause pain and decrease range of motion. Your orthopedic doctor will give you precise advice regarding how to enable this injury to heal as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Spine Conditions
Neck and back pain can signal debilitating spine conditions, such as a pinched nerve or a ruptured or slipped disc. Your orthopedic doctor can diagnose and treat these conditions before the back pain or neck pain becomes worse, and your treatment options may include physician-administered pain-relief injections into the spine. This treatment may provide immediate and long-lasting relief.
Orthopedic Doctors for Joint Pain Treatment in Raleigh, North Carolina
An orthopedic physician specializes in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating issues involving the musculoskeletal system – which comprises the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and other adjacent supportive structures. Our own Dr. Brett Gilbert is one of the most highly skilled and experienced orthopedic doctors in Raleigh who you can rely on for a proper diagnosis and treatment that works for you.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gilbert, contact our caring staff today by calling us at (919) 788-8797 or you can request an appointment with Dr. Gilbert using our appointment request form, or you can self-schedule your appointment here.
