A fall on the court, a nagging pain in your leg, or a variety of accidents and injuries may have you considering a call to an orthopaedic specialist. So, what to expect after you make that appointment?
Endeavor Health sports medicine specialist Shaheen Jadidi, DO, highlights what’s likely to occur at the visit and how he and his colleagues diagnose and treat a range of issues.
“More than 80 percent of the injuries we see can be treated without surgery. A big part of our job is to figure out who needs surgery and who doesn’t,” said Dr. Jadidi.
X-rays and MRIs
Imaging is often the first step to rule out or confirm many common conditions including fractures, dislocations and arthritis. X-rays are usually done first for a look at bones, and MRIs can follow for soft tissue imaging and diagnosis.
A physical examination will help determine if you have full range of motion, relatively good strength and if there is any asymmetry that could indicate an injury. You will also be asked to describe any accident or history of trauma as well as to characterize the level of pain or instability you are experiencing.
Shoulder injuries like rotator cuff tears are a fairly common injury and an MRI can reveal a serious tear if that is suspected on exam. “For a full thickness tear you don’t want to let it smolder too long. You will often need to operate sooner rather than later, or it can degenerate to the point where surgical repair is no longer an option,” explained Dr. Jadidi.
Nonsurgical treatment
For a less serious injury like a strain, the course of treatment often begins with anti-inflammatory medication, rest and ultimately physical therapy to help regain full range of motion and strength. Sport-specific conditioning can also be important for athletes and injuries sustained during sport, said Dr. Jadidi.
Even when surgery is not needed, obtaining an accurate diagnosis is critical to the right treatment. For example, knee pain can actually be referred pain from an issue with the hip or thigh. Similarly, pain in the groin can be referred from the hips or low back, and pain from the shoulder can refer down the arm.
“Listening to the patient and getting a really good history is vital to making the right diagnosis,” said Dr. Jadidi. “A lot of our job is to suss out what’s important and what’s not.” Learning when a patient first began experiencing pain, what they have already tried for treatment and what the pain feels like can all provide important clues.
For common complaints like back pain, most people will get better with physical therapy and sometimes other nonsurgical treatments like injections, added Dr. Jadidi.
In cases where there is an acute trauma like a serious fall or accident, it’s a good idea to see a physician and rule out serious problems, rather than waiting for pain to increase and the possibility of a bigger setback.
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