Orthopedic treatment keeps evolving, and there are major advances recorded in the past decades. Nowadays, you can go for different surgeries to fix joint problems, and many other orthopedic treatments are available. Your doctor will recommend what fits your diagnosis and treatment goals. However, you may need a second opinion from a Second Opinion Orthopedic Doctor about your diagnosis for there may be alternative treatment options to consider.
Here are some common Orthopedic surgeries to know:
- Back surgery
Back surgeries are common treatment options, and you may need one if other treatment options have failed. You may also need back surgery to fix intense pain, and this may result from pinched nerves in your spine. Although you may have been going for physical therapy, back therapy may be available option for dealing with serious injuries, mostly ruptured discs or herniated discs and overgrowth bone.
The different types of back strategies include discectomy, which fixes or removes a damaged disc in the spine. Laminectomy is yet another example, and it removes a part of the back and spinal bone to create more room for your spinal cord and nerves. Fusion is also expected and removes joints affected by arthritis.
- Ankle surgery
Ankle surgeries are a great way to fix repeated ankle sprains and foot deformities. These can cause loose ligaments, leading to an unstable ankle, thus a need for surgery. Although you can opt for physical therapy sessions to get relief, an ankle surgery would be viable. For instance, you can opt for tendon repair surgery to fix a tendon tear, chronic ankle tendinopathy, or tendon instability. The procedure can help tighten loose ankle ligaments and relieve pain. However, you can also manage some ankle injuries without surgery, and a second opinion orthopedic will open your eyes to alternative treatment options available.
- Joint replacement
Joint replacement is a great way to alleviate severe joint damage. It can help ease chronic pain associated with joint conditions like arthritis. Your doctor may recommend joint replacement surgery to restore range motion, which is usually performed on the knees, hips, or shoulders. During surgery, the surgeon will remove part of the affected joint and install hardware to ease
pain and mobility.
- Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a procedure that treats various joint conditions affecting the elbow, knee, hip, wrist, etc. It involves attaching a narrow tube to see view inner part of the joint and can repair various types of joint damage. Examples include knee pain, torn ligaments, dislocated shoulders, arthritis, etc. In most cases, it’s recommended for patients who have tried non-surgical treatments such as braces, splints, medications, and physical therapy and they haven’t worked.
Final thoughts
The best way to deal with orthopedic issues is to get the correct diagnosis and choose the most suitable treatment plan. Although your doctor may recommend surgery, you can always get a second opinion from a different health provider. Discuss your treatment goals and the associated risks, and find out if there’s different diagnosis to your condition.