Orthopedics is most often treated by an orthopedic surgeon but in some cases it is also treated by a family doctor and rheumatologists. Here we look at those who treat problems that arise with the musculoskeletal system.?/b>
Orthopedics may be something you have heard of in passing or it may be something that you have personal experience with because of an injury or health problem you have had. This is the field of medicine that deals with problems that crop up that relate to the muscles and the human skeleton. Examples of these include diseases, deformities, disorders, abnormalities and various other health conditions. Doctors who treat patients with any of these issues concentrate on the nerves, joints, ligaments and tendons of the body.?br />
Orthopedics is most often treated by a doctor known as an orthopedic surgeon or an orthopedist. This well trained professional can diagnose a problem, as well as assess the condition of it and figure out ways to treat and manage it. An orthopedist may have gone through as many as 14 years of formal medical training to get where he/she is. Once an orthopedist is granted his/her medical license he/she then must take oral and written exams offered by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery in order to become board-certified. Only then can the physician begin to practice this branch of medicine.?br />
Some problems that relate to the musculoskeletal system are not so serious that they require the attention of an orthopedist. A primary care doctor has specialized training as well as specialized education in a variety of areas including family practice and general internal medicine. He or she is the first person you will go to when a problem arises.?br />
Your doctor will provide routine types of healthcare for you such as physical exams and immunizations. He or she is able to treat any acute medical condition of this type (such as a muscle you injured playing sports). Your primary care doctor can also assess health conditions that are recurring and or have become serious and chronic over time.?br />
A primary care doctor can treat an array of diseases and disorders that affect the functioning of the muscles and/or the bones and joints. There may be times however when he would feel more comfortable referring you to someone who is well versed in orthopedic matters. Your family doctor is your first line of defense, prevention and treatment. Follow his medical instructions first to see if the condition you are experiencing shows any improvement. If it doesn抰 then he can decide what course of action should be taken. There are some medical conditions that only a specialist can treat appropriately.?br />
A rheumatologist is a doctor who has taken the training to become specialized in treating the various types of arthritis, as well as other types of rheumatic diseases that can affect bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and any number of tissues of the body. These doctors can identify problems at their earliest stages and then can work to prevent them to the best of their capabilities. For example they can determine if an individual is showing signs of or is at risk of developing arthritis, osteoporosis, musculoskeletal disorders, pain in any areas that make up the musculoskeletal and a variety of autoimmune diseases.?
