Pain Management Over Surgery

If the leg pain is dominantly in the knee area, it may be caused by a condition calledosteoarthritis, a chronic health condition that is the result of inflammation in the joint.

This is more common in older adults, and a knee replacement may be a treatment option that is recommended.

Dr. Rebecca Breslow, a sports medicine doctor and an instructor in orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School advises,

The goal in most cases is to avoid surgical intervention as long as possible. Instead, leg pain management using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications or cortisone shots can be used to relieve discomfort and swelling.

Which Type Of Doctors Treat Sciatica Pain

Did you know that sciatic nerve pain is one of the most common types of pain? In fact, more than 40 percent of people will experience sciatic nerve pain in their lifetime. Even with these astonishing statistics, sciatic pain is still largely misunderstood. What type of pain is sciatica? Is it back pain or leg pain? What type of specialist do I see for treatment of sciatica? This guide will answer all of these questions and so many more about sciatic nerve pain.

Are There Conditions That Put Me At Higher Risk For Musculoskeletal Pain

Some conditions can increase the risk of musculoskeletal pain, including:

• Arthritis: Arthritis causes chronic joint inflammation. Many people who have arthritis experience joint pain and stiffness.
• Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that causes all-over musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. Usually, people with fibromyalgia experience muscle, tendon or ligament pain.
• Tunnel syndromes: Some conditions cause nerve compression or pinched nerves. A few examples of these conditions include carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome and tarsal tunnel syndrome. Often, overuse injuries lead to these conditions.

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Signs Its Time To See A Doctor For Knee Pain

It may be time to visit an orthopedic doctor if you experience any of the following, especially after an incident like an injury following athletics:

• Redness, warmth, and tenderness in the knee
• Significant swelling
• Inability to bear weight on the affected leg
• Fever
• Physical deformity in the area

Chronic knee pain that is not severe enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room or urgent care may be a sign of a degenerative condition. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common conditions affecting the knee and is a result of age-related changes to the protective cartilage of joints. Osteoarthritis is progressive, meaning it will continue to get worse. If you have to take pain relievers more than a few times a month for knee pain, it is a sign that you should see a doctor.

Also seek medical attention for knee pain that is accompanied by stiffness, swelling, and a limited range of motion. These are signs that an injury or condition exists. Many people ignore such signs, especially as they get older because they think its a part of normal aging. People who are overweight also think its a normal symptom. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. Chronic knee pain, while very common, is not normal. Dont accept it as your fate. There are many treatment solutions available that can reduce or eliminate knee pain.

Blood And Urine Tests

Blood tests can be useful in diagnosing certain causes of muscle pain. These include tests called erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein that detect inflammation that can occur with certain diseases or infections.

If an autoimmune disease is suspected, there are blood tests that can check for autoantibodies. These are proteins produced by the immune system that target and attack normal tissues. An example of a test is the anti-citrullinated protein antibody assay used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis.

Thyroid function tests can also check for thyroid disease, while a creatine kinase test can check for an enzyme caused by the breakdown of muscle in people with rhabdomyolysis.

Urinalysis is also commonly used to diagnose rhabdomyolysis based on toxins and waste found in the urine.

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Orthopedic Doctors Can Make It Easier To Perform Everyday Tasks

Many people are willing to just tough it out, so to speak, and live with pain, limited range of motion, stiffness, and other symptoms that are annoying but not necessarily getting in the way of their lives. But when it becomes difficult to perform everyday tasks, like reaching to put something in a cabinet, bending over to pick something up from the floor, or even just getting out of bed or going for a walk, its time to see a doctor. Orthopedic specialists can talk with you to diagnose the cause of your symptoms and come up with a treatment plan that works for you and your lifestyle.

Types Of Doctors That Might Treat Your Back Pain

Back pain seems to be a problem that plagues so many, so it can be easy to operate under the assumption that treatment is relatively interchangeable. There are actually many different types of doctors that specialize in more specific areas of treatment when it comes to back injury or chronic pain.

It is important that you seek help from the correct type of doctor if you want your pain addressed in the most expedient and thorough fashion. Here is a more in-depth look at the most common types of spine doctors and how they might be able to help you with your pain.

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What If I Dont Want Surgery For My Back Pain

Fortunately, most people with back pain dont need surgery. We usually take a conservative approach first, using a wide variety of nonsurgical spine treatments, said Dr. Guo. For example, I might send you to physical therapy or chiropractic therapy. I might recommend medications such as anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, or some nerve-pain medications. We offer injection therapy, including epidural injections, joint injections, and nerve blocks and ablation if your back pain fails to improve with the conservative treatments. Chances are, one of these approaches will help reduce your back pain and improve your function and quality of life.

Whether To Choose An Orthopedic Doctor Or Primary Care Physician

You may wonder which type of doctor you should see first for a musculoskeletal injury or condition. If you need a referral because of insurance restrictions, you may need to first seek authorization from your primary care physician who can refer you to see an orthopedic doctor.

If you suffer an acute trauma or sports injury, you need to see an orthopedic surgeon immediately. Broken bones, dislocations, or a tendon or ligament tear should be treated by an orthopedic surgeon for optimum results.

Orthopedic surgeons treat pain, injury, and joint problems using the least-invasive method that would work in each patients case. Medications like anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, steroid injections, and muscle relaxers are all interventions that an orthopedic doctor may use to address pain before recommending surgery.

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Conditions Treated By Orthopedic Doctors

Your orthopedic doctor will treat your condition with a variety of key goals in mind. They will diagnose your issue and develop a treatment plan for you as an individual. The field of orthopedics focuses on controlling pain, treating injuries , correcting deformities, and improving your strength and range of motion.

With joint pain or bone pain, you will naturally participate in fewer activities due to the pain. You can therefore become sedentary, which can lead to other chronic health conditions.

You should see an orthopedic doctor if you suspect you have sustained a traumatic injury or have chronic pain in a joint or extremity. Some common conditions treated by orthopedists are:

• Arthritis
• Scoliosis or kyphosis
• Trauma

This is a list of the common injury-related conditions an orthopedic surgeon treats, but some orthopedic conditions can be congenital. Clubfoot, bowlegs, and deformities of any extremity including the need for leg lengthening are conditions that are treated mainly in children.

Orthopedic Doctors Can Help Reduce Pain

Pain is one of the most common reasons people visit orthopedic doctors. These doctors specialize in the entire musculoskeletal system, understanding the various types of joints and how they work. This includes muscles, nerves, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and other connective tissue. There are many musculoskeletal conditions and injuries that can cause pain, and often, orthopedic specialists can help reduce or eliminate pain.

If you have pain, consider making an appointment. Orthopedic doctors diagnose and treat many types of pain all over the body, including:

• shoulder, elbow, wrist or hand pain
• ankle or foot pain

Whether your pain is dull or sharp, chronic or acute, an orthopedic doctor may be able to help.

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Interventional Leg Pain Treatments

Epidural steroid injections for leg pain

Leg nerve pain that emerges from irritation or injury to spinal nerves may be effectively managed using epidural steroid injections. These injections deliver targeted analgesic medication directly to the area within the epidural space surrounding the affected spinal nerve. The analgesic medications used for this procedure are corticosteroids. These medications are believed to provide relief from neuropathic pain owing to the anti-inflammatory effects of the drug.

Watch an epidural steroid injection procedure now to learn more.

Other injections for leg pain

Conditions of leg pain that emerge as the result of injury or damage to the sciatic nerve may wish to consider another injection technique for pain management known as the sciatic nerve block, which delivers the analgesic medication directly to the affected area along the sciatic nerve.

Sacroiliac joint injections are used to treat joint pain by directing the pain relieving medication to the sacroiliac joint.

Radiofrequency ablation for leg pain

Several other non-surgical and minimally invasive techniques that utilize the stimulation of the spinal cord are available for treating neuropathic pain. For instance, radiofrequency ablation is a technique that uses electro-thermal methods for disrupting neural function.

You can learn more by watching this radiofrequency ablation procedure now.

Lysis of adhesions for leg pain

Why Does My Back Hurt

There are various causes of back pain, including muscle pain with or without muscles spasms, disc pain, joint pain, or nerve pain. In most cases, these are not harmful or dangerous.

Muscle pain is the most common acute back pain. The period of acute pain is usually limited and may be treated at home or by primary care doctors. Sometimes, these patients may be referred to doctors who specialize in back pain. Some back pain can be a symptom of a more serious problem, like a fracture, infection, or cancer in the spine, said H. Michael Guo, MD, a Duke physiatrist who specializes in spine care. These patients should be seen by spine doctors. Fortunately, spine infections and cancer are very rare and usually only affect people with special risk factors. Spine fractures are also rare and may be associated with thinned spine bones or injuries.

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Which Doctor Deals With Neuropathy

If you suspect you have neuropathy, youll want to be seen by a neurologist, a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating, and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system. In most cases, youll need to visit your primary care doctor first, who will then refer you to a neurologist for testing.

Family Doctor Or General Practitioner

Most back pain problems are first addressed in the office of an individuals general practitioner or primary care doctor. This is because it is often a pain problem that goes on for a length of time prior to the individual asking for help with it.

The most likely course of treatment if your family doctor is prescribing it will be medication therapy and/or physical therapy regimens. Your general practitioner will likely not be as well appraised of treatments for specific back pain problems as their specialist counterparts, so they might opt to order some tests to confirm their suspicions and then use those findings to refer you to one of the specialists listed below.

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Treatment Approaches For Leg Pain

Mild to moderate leg pain may be treated initially with self-care and lifestyle changes. Pain that is severe, does not improve in a couple of weeks, progressively increases, and/or interferes with daily activities must be treated by a medical professional.

Leg pain may be treated by a primary care physician or a specialist doctor. Depending on the underlying cause, nonsurgical or surgical treatment may be required.

What Type Of Doctor Treats Leg Pain Behind The Knee

There is more than one type of doctor that treats pain in the leg or knee area including an orthopedist, an internist, a rheumatologist or a pain management specialist, notes HealthPages. Knee pain that must be treated with surgery requires an orthopedic surgeon for knee replacement or knee arthroscopy.

An orthopedist treats many conditions that affect the skeletal system and most often specializes in a certain part of the body, such as the foot or knee, states HealthPages. An internist focuses on diagnosing and treating health problems that do not require surgical intervention. A rheumatologist focuses on treating diseases of the joints such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and some sports injuries. A pain management specialist helps treat pain that lasts more than three months. This may include massage, medications and physical therapy.

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Causes Of Leg Pain Handled By A Leg Doctor Specialist Near Me

If you are experiencing leg pain, you might be wondering where this pain is coming from. What are some of the reasons why your leg might be hurting?

In one category falls acute injuries. It is possible that you may have suffered an acute injury that is leading to leg pain. For example, you might have rolled your ankle, leading to a sprain. Or, you may have been involved in a traumatic accident, which could lead to a leg fracture. There are other situations where you might have suffered a torn ligament as well. For example, your leg might be hurting if you have torn one of the many ligaments in your knee, such as your ACL or MCL. Acute injuries should be handled by a leg doctor specialist near me.

In other situations, you might be experiencing leg pain due to a chronic injury. A chronic injury is one that has been sustained over a prolonged amount of time. For example, you may have a genetic condition that predisposes you to leg pain. Or, you may have sustained an injury a long time ago that did not completely heal. For example, you may have chronic inflammation in or around your leg. If you have a chronic leg injury, then you should be consulting a leg pain specialist for this.

Who Can Help With My Joint Pain Or Arthritis

Your PCP will guide you in the right direction regarding which specialist you need to see in further treating your health concerns. Many health insurance plans require that a PCP first refer the patient to a consulting specialist before a visit to this specialist is covered by your medical plan.

If you suffer pain and disability due to arthritis, body trauma, injury, or an accident , an orthopedist can help. The staff at Orthopaedic Associates utilizes both cutting-edge therapies and traditional treatments to address a variety of orthopedic conditions.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 892-1440 or fill out our easy-to-use online appointment request form. We look forward to hearing from you.

Causes Of Sciatica Pain

The majority of sciatica pain is caused by the nerve becoming pinched due to compression of the lower back. This can occur by either a herniated disc, bone spur or even a tumor compressing on the nerve. Only a medical doctor or specialist can make a qualified diagnosis. If you suspect you have a damaged sciatic nerve, which type of specialist should you seek out to treat your sciatica pain?

When To See A Doctor For Muscle Pain

Not all muscle pain is minor. Sometimes it can indicate a serious condition, meaning you need to see your doctor or other health professional. Some muscle pain can even be a sign of a critical problem, requiring you to seek emergency help.

Experts recommend that you call 911 or go to the hospital for immediate help if you have any of these symptoms in addition to your muscle pain:

How Long Does A Calf Strain Last

The time it takes for a calf strain to heal will depend on which muscle is involved, and the type and severity of the injury. Adequate rest, while elevating the injury and applying ice, are among the fastest ways to relieve calf pain. Many calf strains heal on their own within a few weeks, but see your healthcare provider if you’re not seeing improvement with home treatment.

Symptoms Of Deep Gluteal Syndrome:

• Gluteal pain nearby retro greater trochanter pain
• Tingling numbness at the back of the thigh and leg along the sciatic nerve area
• Pain present mostly one side, however it can be seen both sides
• Pain increased with prolonged sitting position like office working or long driving
• Pain during stepping at the end
• Limping gait when Patients walking
• Neurological motor-sensory changes in severe cases
• Severe night pain with difficulty in sleep

Finding Relief From Leg Pain

There are several symptoms of PAD. If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms it is important to seek medical attention. Treating leg pain caused by PAD could save your life. If you experience none of these symptoms but have high cholesterol, genetic predisposition, diabetes, obesity, are over 40 or use tobacco, you should still be screened for PAD.

• Leg pain
• Pale skin or reduced color on one or both legs or feet
• Nonhealing wounds on legs or feet

Do not let anyone tell you that there is no hope for relief from chronic leg pain. Center for Vascular Medicine may be able to help you find relief. If you are experiencing the above symptoms, be sure to get screened for PAD. Early diagnosis of PAD can help patients avoid peripheral artery blockages, and prevent risk for stroke and heart attack. We offer personalized and comprehensive treatment plans that are tailored to your health and needs for your optimal comfort. Contact our location nearest you to find out how the physicians at Center for Vascular Health can help you find relief from PAD.