Q
Does recurring pain or injury
mean I have to give up my favorite
sport?
A
Maybe not. But pain and injury are a
body’s way of saying, “Get an evaluation
and see what’s going on.”
A thorough exam might uncover
whether:
w
An injury needs treatment.
w
A temporary shift to other activities
could allow your body time to heal.
w
A new conditioning regimen could
lessen the pain.
What you want to avoid is letting pain
stop your exercise altogether. Staying
active is a vital way to take care of your
overall health and prevent or manage
health conditions, such as diabetes,
high blood pressure and cancer. It’s also
essential for mental well-being at every
age.
Q
What is an Orthopedic Surgeon?
A
An Orthopedic Surgeon is an expert
doctor for your musculoskeletal health.
We are devoted to the prevention,
diagnosis, and treatment of disorders
of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons
and muscles. Although we are highly
trained surgeons, surgery is not all that
we have to offer as we receive extensive
training in the proper diagnosis and both
operative and non-operative treatment of
musculoskeletal diseases and injuries. We
regularly manage our patients’ problems
by recommending physical therapy,
medications, injections, braces or other
treatments. We do perform surgery, but
often it is only as a last resort.
Orthopedic Surgeons treat patients of
all ages—from newborns to the elderly.
Not only do we treat broken bones, we
also treat a wide range of other problems
from the collarbones to fingers, hips to
toes, including sports injuries, carpal
tunnel syndrome, arthritis, injured
muscles and tendons. If your shoulder,
hip or knee is worn out from arthritis we
can replace it with an artificial joint to
help you move with less pain and effort.
(Sorry, we do not treat neck or back
problems in our office, but we would be
happy to provide a referral.)
Our goal is to get you back to work, to
family, and to doing the things you love
to do.
Q
When should I see a doctor about
joint pain?
A
Joint pain may be caused by
something as simple as weight gain.
However, it could also be a sign of
arthritis or another serious condition.
That’s why it’s important to see a doctor
if you have joint pain, redness, warmth,
tenderness or swelling that lasts more
than two weeks. These symptoms could
indicate a certain type of arthritis—such
as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or
gout.
A primary care doctor or an
Orthopedic Surgeon can diagnose and
manage these conditions, which can be
improved with treatment. That’s why
the sooner you get help, the better. Your
doctor might prescribe exercise, physical
therapy or medication. If early treatments
aren’t effective, surgery may be an option
for pain relief.
Gary Benedetti, MD
Michele Prevost, MD
NEED AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON?
To make an appointment, call Langlade
Orthopedic Clinic at
715-623-9346
.
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