It might be your tennis elbow that is preventing you from getting dressed every morning. Or, your knee is preventing you from walking around the grocery store.
If you’re considering taking the next steps in your orthopedic journey, consult a qualified orthopedic surgeon. They will likely have a list of questions to ask you in order to decide whether you’re a candidate for surgery or for another procedure you might be considering.
Below are some of the questions, or the types of questions, your orthopedist may ask during your appointment:
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How Would You Rate Your Pain?
If your pain level is high on the scale of 1 to 10, that is obviously a cause for concern for your doctor. If your level of pain is low or moderate, this will also give your doctor an idea of how your pain fluctuates based on different treatments they may recommend.
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Have You Tried Medications?
If your doctor asks this, they might be referring to over-the-counter NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or even prescription painkillers, but this question will indicate whether they are doing their jobs or not. The doctor should ask probing questions about exactly which painkillers you’re taking and how long you’ve been taking them.
Taking over-the-counter painkillers for too long and too often may cause long-term liver damage or gastrointestinal damage, which just creates another issue in the place of your orthopedic pain. If prescription medicine is not doing the trick in alleviating your pain, it’s time to talk to your doctor about moving on to another alternative.
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Have You Tried Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy can help you heal by strengthening the muscles and ligaments around your injury, but therapy itself is not always a miracle worker. If a muscle, ligament, or major cartilage is torn in your body, and physical therapy hasn’t helped you thus far, you probably need further orthopedic treatments.
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Is the Pain Affecting Your Daily Life and Activities?
Your injury doesn’t necessarily have to be significant for it to still impact your daily life. If your torn or strained rotator cuff is affecting your ability to get dressed, make breakfast, and drive to work each day, this would be classified as an injury that is affecting your activities and your quality of life.
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Have You Considered Surgery?
Though it is a last resort, your doctor may suggest that you consider surgery for your orthopedic issue if all other alternatives have been exhausted. While surgery requires recovery time and is far more invasive than medication and physical therapy, it might be the best course of treatment for a torn ligament or joint injury.
Some types of surgery are minimally invasive, and these tend to require much less recovery time. Your doctor will explain all of the options available to you for treating your condition, and the pros and cons of each option.
Contact a Skilled Orthopedic Surgeon Today
To discuss all of your orthopedic options and your best course of treatment, contact Movement Orthopedics today for a consultation. We’re located right here in Clinton Township, Michigan, offering ultimate convenience for our clients.
Call us to schedule your appointment at (586) 436-3785, or fill out our online appointment request form now. We look forward to helping you live the active, pain-free lifestyle you enjoy.
