A mother notices her teenage daughter's shoulders are uneven; the left is higher than the right, and the teenager has complained of back pains. Halfway around the world, an observant brother wonde...

A mother notices her teenage daughter's shoulders are uneven; the left is higher than the right, and the teenager has complained of back pains. Halfway around the world, an observant brother wonders at the strange bent shape of his baby brother's foot. Both guardians may guess what condition may be afflicting their loved one, and will begin to ponder their choices of who to approach for sure diagnosis and treatment if there is.

Almost surely, there is an orthopedic doctor in their locality, and he is the man to ask for concerning ailments and diseases of the musculo-skeletal system. Orthopedists have long been known in treating crippled children, which presumably led to the name of this medicinal field. Orthos means straight or correct, while pais means child. These doctors perform surgical and non-surgical treatments for bone-muscle problems and conditions.

One good way to be referred to a good orthopedic doctor is through a family physician or primary care doctor. That is how you will know for sure if a daughter has scoliosis, or kyphosis perhaps, and if the baby has clubfeet or another condition. This doctor will also tell you how urgently treatment is needed, since some treatments may cost or may not be ideal for a child's other conflicting condition or tender age.

A grandmother's arthritis, an athlete's injuries, or bone tumors are also treated by an orthopedic doctor. This doctor, probably like other doctors in other fields, would tell you that surgery is only for last-resort, irresponsive or recurrent situations. Mostly, medicines or bracing the bones solve the problem. Part of an orthopedist's routine is minimally invasive procedures for checking joints for arthritis, so it is advisable to avail of this service as well.

While orthopedia is already a specialized field of medicine, many doctors opt to specialize further, such as specializing in treatment of particular joint, or in orthopedic rehabilitation, or in pediatric orthopedics. Approaching these experts ensures a more certain positive result of the treatment or consultation being sought. It is likely that these fields the doctors specialize in are their forte and favorite branch, and we all know that someone who enjoys his work does it well.

At any rate, for conditions not involving vital organs but the spinal, skeletal and muscular systems, you now know what type of specialist to look for in your locality. If you're wealthier than middle class, you could even look up renowned orthopedic experts in the country. Whatever the case, doctors are community helpers (this we learned at an early age), and are there to be consulted, and even questioned if one needs a second opinion. What's important is to establish with whichever specialist you need an open, honest communication. That pretty much solves every problem on the planet, starting with your or your loved one's health.

Article Tags: Orthopedic Doctor