Referred to an Orthopedic Specialist! What’s next? Surgery?
Receiving a referral to an orthopedic specialist from your family physician can stressful and leave you with many questions. What’s next? Will I need surgery? What about recovery? The numerous amounts of questions and concerns can be overwhelming to anyone. We will discuss some of these concerns so you can have a better understanding of what’s next.
Meeting with a board-certified orthopedic specialist is always the first step to coming up with an appropriate treatment plan. Diagnostic test like x-rays, MRI, are often used to determine if surgery is inevitable along with a physical exam. Many physicians first exert a conservative approach, this approach means treating their patients with less invasion treatments as with medication therapy, physical or occupational therapy, and changes in diet or lifestyle. If this method of treatment fails to improve your condition than you may need to consider the next step, surgery.
This can be a hard decision and with many variables to consider, do you need surgery now or later, length of recovery, effects on current life style? Discussing these things with a specialist can help you work together in deciding if surgery is the BEST option for you at this time. There are cases where conservative treatments like the use of medications and injections could postpone the need for surgery but unfortunately, not always indefinitely.
So be sure to ask your doctor what treatments are available other than surgery and understand that each patient’s needs are different.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
