As a medical specialty, orthopedics focuses on diagnosing, correcting, preventing, and treating patients with deformities of the bones, joints, tendons, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and skin, which make up the musculoskeletal system.
 
The musculoskeletal system is composed of bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves, and it allows you to move, work and be active. Orthopedists practice all aspects of musculoskeletal health care, including medical, physical, and rehabilitative methods. It is a specialty that encompasses a great deal of variety and breadth. Orthopedics is a profession that once focused on treating children with spine and limb deformities. Orthopedics now treats patients of all ages, from newborns to young athletes undergoing arthroscopic surgery to the elderly with arthritis. Orthopedic surgeons or orthopedists are physicians who specialize in this area.

An orthopedic surgeon diagnoses orthopedic problems, performs, or prescribes treatment, and assists with rehabilitation. Additionally, they can assist you with long-term strategies to treat bone, joint, ligament, tendon, and muscle illnesses, disorders, and problems.
 
This type of doctor can perform a wide range of procedures, including ankle, knee, hip, spinal, hand, and neck surgeries. They will usually try to treat an issue holistically and minimally intrusively, avoiding surgery if possible. Typically, an orthopedist’s practice consists of 50 percent non-surgical treatment and 50 percent surgical treatment. An injury or disease to bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, or skin may require surgery to restore function.

Many orthopedic surgeons specialize in different areas of the musculoskeletal system because the body’s musculoskeletal system is so vast. The foot/ankle and spine are two of these areas. If you have a musculoskeletal issue, you should choose an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in your type of surgery.
 
In order to restore function and reduce pain in patients, orthopedic surgeons perform hundreds of musculoskeletal surgical procedures. Common procedures performed by orthopedic surgeons include fusions, internal fixation, joint replacement and arthroscopy, osteotomy, and soft tissue repair. That’s just to name a few of the many procedures an orthopedic surgeon may carry out, when you suffer a musculoskeletal problem it is likely there is a treatment option for you.

You should see an orthopedic surgeon if you suspect you have a traumatic or repetitive motion injury to a bone, joint, tendon, or nerve. A common reason why people seek medical care from orthopedic surgeons is persistent pain. An orthopedic surgeon should be consulted if your pain persists for more than three months or is severe and does not subside with home treatment.

The orthopedic surgeon needs to examine your medical history to determine the status of your health and the possible causes of your joint pain. Your specialist will also be able to determine how much pain you are experiencing and how it is interfering with your daily routine based on your history.
 
In addition to analyzing your standing posture, gait (your walking style), and how you sit and lie down, your physician will ask you to perform a number of other physical activities during the physical examination, which will confirm the diagnosis and eliminate any possible mistakes. Also, your doctor will be able to assess how your knees and hips are doing during the physical exam. Hip pain is often the result of problems in the lower spine, so if you experience hip pain, your back may also need to be examined.
 
A physical examination is usually followed by an X-ray to determine a diagnosis. You will be able to see the degree of joint damage or deformity with an X-ray.
 
Orthopedic surgeons are available at the Reconstructive Orthopedic Center of Houston. For more information, contact us today or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 1200 Binz St, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77004. We serve patients from Houston TX, Midtown TX, Montrose TX, MacGregor TX, South Central Houston TX, Old Braeswood TX, and surrounding areas.