A throbbing knee, a painful hand or an aching back are a few common musculoskeletal issues that make sufferers wonder: “Do I need surgery, physical therapy or a steroid shot?”
The answer isn’t always simple according to
Dr. Joseph Burns,
Wellstar chief musculoskeletal officer.
Many patients assume that the source of their pain is in the area where they feel it, and they may diagnose themselves or choose to “wait and see” what happens.
However, pain is a warning sign, not a GPS.
How do I know it’s time to see an orthopedist?
Your first stop for joint pain may be your primary care provider or an urgent care center. They may suggest rest, using ice or heat, or taking anti-inflammatory medications. They may also refer you to an orthopedic specialist.
It’s wise to see an orthopedic specialist when:
- Rest or initial treatment isn’t lessening the pain
- You feel numbness, tingling or weakness
- You’ve been injured at work, in an accident or while playing a sport
- Your ability to move is limited
- You had a previous injury in the affected area
- Pain has lasted more than a few weeks or is interfering with sleep
What to expect at an orthopedic exam
An orthopedic exam starts with a medical history, including medications, past surgeries and any health conditions. Your provider will then zero in on what’s causing your pain, asking questions such as:
- When did the pain start?
- Were you injured?
- What activities make the pain worse?
- What have you been doing to relieve the pain?
Next your provider will do a physical exam, checking for pain, tenderness, strength and range of motion, and may refer you for an imaging test, such as an
X-ray
or
MRI.
This helps determine whether the pain is from structural damage, such as a break or sprain, or from a condition like arthritis, bursitis or tendonitis.
With a diagnosis in hand, your provider will discuss a treatment plan with you. Sometimes patients assume a visit to an orthopedist will put them on the fast track to the operating room. Not so, said Dr. Burns.
Most orthopedic care starts with nonsurgical options, such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory treatments and injections. Physical therapy can improve strength, flexibility and joint function, and in many cases, it can relieve pain without the need for surgical intervention. Surgery is a possible next step if those therapies fail or there is structural damage.
The risks of treating joint pain without an orthopedic evaluation
According to Dr. Burns it’s best not to put off getting an orthopedic evaluation and possibly second opinions. Misdiagnosis or starting the wrong treatment can delay healing and make underlying conditions worse.
Some patients who do their own research find a variety of options not supported by medical evidence. Those include cannabis-based (CBD) creams and stem cell treatments.
CBD can provide “a nice, moderate amount of relief,” said Dr. Burns. “Unfortunately, what we’ve seen is that those products help at first, but then less and less.”
Stem cells are in a class of biological treatments that are not FDA-approved for any orthopedic condition, such as arthritis or tendon injury. Treatments that are marketed as “stem cell therapy” typically use concentrated bone marrow aspirate, which contains very few true stem cells. Patients should ask their care team about stem cell therapies so that they can be properly educated and protect themselves before purchasing these expensive therapies.
Start with expert orthopedic care at Wellstar
Our orthopedic specialists deliver evidence-based care and personalized treatment plans. Wellstar patients have access to:
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