Orthopedic medicine is an area of medicine that focuses on diseases and injuries to the musculoskeletal system. This system is very complex and includes bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Orthopedic surgeons complete a minimum of 14 years of formal education and that is just before going through any specialty training or becoming board certified. After all this training, an orthopedic surgeon is required to go through a rigorous re-certification process every 10 years. This ensures that the surgeon keeps up to date with current orthopedic knowledge.
When Should You See an Orthopedic Surgeon?
Your primary care doctor can treat you for many things. But it is usually best to seek orthopedic care when you experience an injury to a bone, joint, tendon or nerve.
If you experience pain in your back, shoulders, hips, knees or ankles, you should consider seeking orthopedic care for symptoms, including:
- Difficulty walking up your stairs or unloading grocery bags from your car
- Pain in your joints that increases while resting
- Bruising or swelling around where the injury has occurred or near a joint
- Pain in a joint, muscle or tendon that lasts more than a couple of days
- Decreased range of motion
- Deformity of a joint
- Signs of an infection, including redness, inflammation or heat coming from a joint or injured area
Conditions an Orthopedic Surgeon Treats
An orthopedic surgeon is best suited for treating such conditions and diseases as:
- Bone Fractures
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles Tendinitis
- Shoulder Impingement
- Runner’s Knee
- Bone Spurs
How Orthopedic Injuries and Conditions are Treated
Not all orthopedic injuries require surgery. Dr. Howard Marans first works with his patients to treat injuries and orthopedic conditions with non-invasive treatments whenever possible. After determining the extent of the injury through x-rays or other diagnostic testing, Dr. Marans creates an individualized treatment plan for each patient. In many cases, rest, NSAIDs and physical therapy will provide pain relief and allow injuries to heal. If conservative treatment fails to resolve your pain, then surgery may be recommended.
Expert Orthopedic Care in Orange County
Do not delay treatment. Your best option for a fast recovery from an orthopedic injury is to seek prompt medical care from an expert in orthopedic care. Dr. Marans is known as a skilled orthopedic surgeon who has successfully treated thousands of patients over the past 20 years in Orange County. For prompt orthopedic care, please click below or call Dr. Marans’ office at 714.979.8981 to schedule your consultation.
