Our bones, joints, and muscles make up our body and help us move, do work, and enjoy everyday activities. As time goes on, or because of injuries, damage, or health problems, important parts of our body can have issues that make it hard for us to move and work like we usually do. When this occurs, bone and joint treatment becomes very important. In this post, we will see the basics of orthopedic care.
What is Orthopedic Care?
Orthopedic care is the treatment of problems with bones, joints, and muscles. It helps people who have injuries or diseases that affect how they move or feel. It includes many types of treatments and services for bones, muscles, and joints.
Our body is made up of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They all work together to help us move and support our body. Orthopedic doctors in Ranchi are trained to identify and treat problems with bones and muscles. Not all of them perform surgery.
Orthopedic care includes both non-surgical options like physical therapy and medicine, as well as surgery if needed. These specialists can help with problems like arthritis, broken bones, muscle strains, tendon injuries, and diseases that get worse over time like osteoporosis.
Common Orthopedic Conditions
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a very common joint problem that usually affects older people. It happens when the smooth tissue that protects the joints wears away. This can cause pain, swelling, and make it hard to move the joints. It mainly impacts joints that support weight, such as the knees, hips, and back.
Fractures and Broken Bones
Fractures happen when bones break because of injuries, accidents, or diseases that make bones weak, like osteoporosis. Depending on how bad the injury is, it might need just a simple cast, surgery with pins or screws, or in very serious cases, a full replacement of the joint.
Tendonitis and Tendon Injuries
Tendons are the parts that link muscles to bones. Tendonitis happens when a tendon gets swollen, usually because of moving it too much or using it too often. Common places that can hurt include the shoulders (shoulder tendon pain), elbows (tennis elbow), and knees (knee tendon pain). People often use rest, physical therapy, and cortisone shots to help heal tendon injuries.
Back and Spine Problems
Back pain is a common reason why people go to see an orthopedic doctor. Problems like herniated discs, sciatica, and spinal stenosis can cause long-lasting pain, tingling, or weakness. Treatments can vary from simple options like managing pain and doing physical therapy to more serious methods like spinal surgery when needed.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
This happens when the median nerve in the wrist gets squeezed, usually because of repeated movements or pressure. Signs include losing feeling, a tingling feeling, and weakness in the hands. Orthopedic treatment can include using a splint, doing physical therapy, or in worse situations, having surgery to reduce pressure on the nerve.
Treatments in Orthopedic Care
Non-Surgical
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is very important in treating bone and joint issues. It helps make muscles stronger, increases movement in joints, and reduces pain. Physical therapy often involves exercises for specific muscles or joints, fixing posture, stretching, and using heat or cold treatments.
Medications
Doctors often give non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, and muscle relaxants to help reduce swelling and pain in bone and joint problems. Sometimes, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Braces and Supports
For conditions like tendonitis or ligament sprains, an orthopedic doctor might suggest using braces or supports to keep the injured area stable and help it heal. These devices can help stop more injuries while doing physical activities.
Surgical
Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a small surgery where a tiny camera is put into a joint. This lets the doctor see and fix any injured tissues. This method is often used for injuries to the knee, shoulder, and hip. Then, the doctor will give treatment according to the diagnosis.
Joint Replacement Surgery
If joints get badly damaged from diseases like arthritis, surgery to replace the joint might be needed. In this process, the hurt joint is taken out and replaced with an artificial joint. Common joint replacements are for the knee, hip, and shoulder. These surgeries can greatly help people move better and live happier lives.
Spinal Surgery
For problems like herniated discs or spinal stenosis, if simple treatments don’t work, orthopedic doctors in ranchi might suggest surgery on the spine. There are different types of surgeries. Some are simple, like taking out a small part of a disc, while others are more complicated, like fusion surgeries that help keep the spine stable.
Conclusion
Orthopedic care is important for helping us move and live well. By knowing about common orthopedic problems and getting the right treatments, either through surgery or without surgery, you can reduce pain, get better movement, and stay active and healthy. Exercising everyday, eating a healthy diet, and having good posture will help keep your bones and muscles healthy over tim