When To See An Orthopedist: 5 Symptoms Warranting A Trip To The Doctor

March 2, 2022 | By: Raleigh Orthopaedic Team

It’s not uncommon to experience aches and pains in our muscles and joints from time to time. This can be due to an injury, poor posture or overuse of specific muscles. Oftentimes the pain goes away after a few days of rest, or by using a cold and hot compress.

But what if the pain doesn’t go away or even gets worse? You may ask yourself, when is it time to see an orthopedic doctor? 

Without a doubt, anytime you experience a traumatic or repetitive motion injury to a bone, joint, or tendon, an orthopedic doctor is your best bet for effective treatment. Or, if you have chronic pain in your feet or ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbow, hand or wrists, neck or back, an orthopedic doctor has the training and experience necessary to provide you with suitable treatment. 

Here are 5 symptoms warranting a trip to the orthopedist:

  • Pain, stiffness or discomfort in muscles, tendons, or joints that lasts for more than a few days
  • Difficulty using a particular body part to perform normal functions, such as walking up a flight of stairs or lifting or carrying relatively light items
  • Diminished range of motion 
  • Joint pain that worsens during periods of rest
  • Swelling or bruising around a specific joint or injury location 

At Raleigh Orthopaedic, our orthopedic doctors are specially trained to treat injuries and diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system. They can address anything ranging from a sprained ankle to a complex surgical procedure such as a total hip or shoulder replacement. Our doctors use a conservative approach and will exhaust all other viable, noninvasive treatment options such as physical therapy before recommending surgery. However, if conservative treatments fail to provide relief for your pain and other symptoms, your orthopedic doctor is qualified to perform minimally invasive or complex procedures such as arthroscopic surgery and ankle, knee, shoulder and hip replacements.

If you’re in need of orthopedic care, schedule an appointment online by clicking here. It is always our goal to get you in within 72 hours of scheduling.Â