Orthopedics

Orthopedics is the branch of medical science that deals with functioning, disorders, and treatment of the human skeletal system. The human skeletal system comprises 206 bones with ligaments and tendons as connective tissues. The doctors who specialize in this field are called orthopedists. They can use both surgical and non-surgical methods as per the requirement of the patient. An orthopedic team has a complete list of doctors, nurses, and physical trainers for physiotherapies.

Orthopedics treats patients with diseases concerning the musculoskeletal system. The diseases treated through orthopedics are sports injuries, joint pain, arthritis, spine diseases, and back problems. The orthopedist usually performs X-rays to check the bone condition to proceed with treatment further.

Diseases Treated through Orthopedics

1. Arthritis

Arthritis causes inflammation, stiffness, and tenderness of the joints. It causes wear and tear of different joints in the body depending upon the patient's condition. Arthritis can cause severe pain and immobile joints due to some infection or accumulation of uric acid in the joints.

There are two main sorts of arthritis - Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms

The common symptoms of arthritis are as follows:

• Severe pain in the joints, ankle, back, fingers, hands, muscles, or wrist
• Immobility in the joints and muscles
• Stiffness and swelling
• Redness in the affected region

Treatment

The treatment of arthritis depends upon the type of it. It can vary as per the part under concern. The doctors will check the mobility and inflammation of your joint to recommend the treatment. Several oral medications are given with the physical therapies too. The drugs common in treating arthritis are Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), counterirritants, Corticosteroid, and DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs).

In several cases, doctors recommend physical exercises to ease the joint and increase its mobility. However, in some extreme cases, doctors also recommend surgeries, such as joint replacement.

2. Ligament Tear

A ligament is the connective tissue joining bones and joints. Sometimes, it gets injured due to sudden movement or sports. The most common cause of ligament damage is injuries during athletic activities. During such activities, the ligaments are already much stressed, and any sudden pull or twist breaks them.

The ligament tear can of the ankle, knee, and wrist depending upon the part injured. Neck and back ligament tears are not-so-common and can happen due to excessive weight lifting.

Symptoms

The symptoms of ligament tear of any part are:

• Popping sound during the injury
• Chronic pain
• Immobile joint
• Unbearable pain
• Swelling in the affected part

Treatment

The ligament tear can be easily treated with proper care of the joint. The treatment for ligament tear includes R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation). The person must get complete bed rest. Provide ice bags and compression over the affected area. Compression can be through a bandage. Elevation of the area will increase blood flow and reduce the swelling.

You must contact your doctor in case of a ligament tear instead of treating it on your own.

Request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Sector 8, Gurugram

Call: 18605002244

3. Spinal Stenosis

In spinal stenosis, the area of the spine becomes narrow. This causes high pressure over the nerves of the spine. The main parts affected by the disease are the neck and back. It is common in people with old age due to the wear and tear of joints.

Symptoms

• Pain in the neck or back
• Stiffness
• Restricted movement
• Muscle weakness

Treatment

The treatment of the disease includes medications prescribed by orthopedics. Moreover, physical exercise is also advised. For extreme cases, the option of treatment is surgery.

Conclusion

Orthopedics refers to the part of medical science dealing with bones and bone-related disorders. It also includes connective tissues joining bones and muscles. The specialist in the field is an orthopedist. Their treatments mostly include oral medications with physical exercises.