Noticing Common Orthopedic Conditions Early

Our bodies are finely tuned machines capable of doing some incredible things. At our most fundamental level – our musculoskeletal level – we’re held together by a network of muscle, tendons and joints and this is where the world of orthopedics exists. Let’s have a quick look at some of the common orthopedic conditions and how to notice them early on, so you can avoid exacerbating these injuries.

Treatment Basics for Orthopedic Conditions

Orthopaedic conditions and treatments of orthopaedic conditions will usually start with an x-ray or MRI to determine the extent of the damage or issue and inform your orthopaedic doctor on how best to treat your specific condition. This might be as simple as rest, stretching and physical therapy, or wearing an elbow sleeve for tennis elbow, for instance. If it is more serious, it might also involve a surgical intervention to correct. Orthopaedic conditions and treatments of orthopaedic conditions will usually start with an x-ray or a private MRI scan to determine the extent of the damage.

Back Pain

Your back quite literally supports your entire upper body and as such is also susceptible to strain and is a common complaint of pain in the body. Usually, back pain is associated with abnormalities, inflammation or damage to the tissues, nerves, discs or vertebrae that make up the spine. The list of specific injuries that might cause back pain is long and extensive and you can learn more at Yale Medicine to see what they entail. The most common include pinched or compressed nerves, bone spurs and inflamed or damaged discs.

Back pain can be very limiting and depending on the severity usually requires medical intervention to return to a normal way of life. Visiting a chiropractor like this Fakhoury Medical and Chiropractic practice can help with spinal pain, whilst visiting a masseuse can relieve muscle pain.

Foot Pain

We spend a lot of time and put a lot of strain on our ankles and feet, so it’s no surprise that orthopedic conditions involving the foot are quite common. These might include physical injuries and conditions like fractures, sprains and strains that are caused by physically damaging your foot through sports, exercise, or accidents, but there are also more latent issues to be aware of. Arthritis, for example, can affect your feet just as it can your hands, and chronic inflammation problems like plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis might also see you seeking the help of an orthopedic specialist.

Hand and Wrist Pain

When it comes to our musculoskeletal system, another common area of complaint is hands and wrists. The most common condition associated with the hands, particularly as we age, is arthritis, but it’s not the only orthopedic condition that may cause hand or wrist issues. Arthritis is a serious condition that needs to be monitored by an Arthritis Specialist if you have any symptoms. If you’re ever unsure or worried about a pain in your hand/wrist, speak to a doctor.

However, there are other serious hand and wrist injuries too. Office workers and those who work long hours on a keyboard might suffer from conditions like repetitive strain injury or carpal tunnel syndrome, both of which are severe disorders. These issues might eventually end up needing surgery to correct. There are also many tendons in the hands that make them susceptible to conditions like tendonitis.

Additionally, with the growing popularity of gaming, as a hobby and career, gamers can also confront severe injuries related to hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. Some of the common gaming injuries seen are sore joints, hands sensitivity, torn and inflamed tendons and ligaments in thumb as well as in wrist, etc.

There are a good number of different musculoskeletal conditions that you might encounter in your lifetime and each pose different challenges and treatment options. While there is a host of information online that you can use to help you, nothing will ever beat the expertise and experience of a healthcare professional.