Orthopedic specialists or orthopedists are medical professionals who practice orthopedics – a branch of medicine focused on treating, diagnosing, and preventing injuries and conditions of the muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, and nerves.
Orthopedic specialists are capable of treating a vast array of injuries and conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system. Arthritis and osteoporosis are the two most common conditions that an orthopedist treats.
Let’s talk about what arthritis and osteoporosis are, how an orthopedic specialist treats them, and where you can go for comprehensive orthopedic care in Fort Lauderdale.
Arthritis
Arthritis refers to a group of conditions that cause swelling and stiffness in joints, with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as the most common form.
Osteoarthritis is when the protective cartilage at the ends of the bones wears down, causing the bones in the joint to rub each other. Osteoarthritis can result in symptoms like pain, swelling, and stiffness at the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is another common form of arthritis in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints.
How is It Treated?
Although the damage to the joints cannot be reversed, there are many ways to manage arthritis and improve joint function.
Orthopedic doctors may use the following treatments alone or in combination to manage arthritis.
Medications
In addition to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen, an orthopedic specialist may suggest corticosteroid medication (which may be given as a pill or injected into the joint) to ease joint pain and inflammation.
Luckily, some other drugs, i.e., disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), can also be recommended to slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis.
Physical Therapy
An orthopedic specialist may also recommend physical therapy exercises to ease joint stiffness and improve the range of motion. These exercises may also strengthen the muscles around the arthritis joint to improve mobility.
Platelet-rich Plasma Therapy (PRP)
PRP uses the healing components of your blood (platelet and plasma) to trigger a healing cascade.
Your orthopedic specialist may recommend PRP for the arthritis of the shoulder, hip, knee, and spine.
Surgery
Surgical treatment is only recommended when conservative measures don’t help. The surgical treatment of arthritis may include joint repair (joint surface is smoothed and realigned), joint replacement (the damaged joint is replaced with an artificial one), and joint fusion (the ends of the bones are removed, and bones are locked together).
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bone density decreases with aging, making the bones fragile and brittle. Fragile and brittle bones are more likely to break or fracture from falls or other stress injuries.
How is it Treated?
Early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis allow the orthopedic specialist to retain as much bone mass as possible and help control the condition’s progression.
In addition to recommending lifestyle changes, an orthopedic specialist may recommend a variety of treatments to control osteoporosis, including:
Medications
An orthopedist may recommend medication to treat and manage osteoarthritis, including biphosphates (a group of drugs that work by slowing bone loss and thereby reducing the risk for fracture) and denosumab (a drug that increases bone density and reduces the chances of fractures).
For severe osteoporosis, an orthopedic specialist recommends bone-building medications like teriparatide and abaloparatide.
Hormone replacement Therapy
Having too little or too much of certain hormones can also contribute to osteoporosis. For example, too little sex hormone-like estrogen and testosterone, may contribute to bone loss.
So, orthopedic specialists may recommend hormone replacement therapy (man-made estrogen and testosterone) to preserve bone health.
Bone Specialists in Fort Lauderdale
If you have pain in your bones, joints, muscles, or other musculoskeletal parts and seek a lasting solution, visit us at Total Orthopaedic Care.
We specialize in diagnosing and treating bone issues and joint problems of all kinds, including arthritis and osteoporosis, so that you can return to your active lifestyle again. We also offer biologics and PRP therapy to boost your healing after an injury or arthritis.
To know more about our comprehensive services or schedule a consultation, callus today at (954) 735-3535 or fill out our appointment request form online.We are conveniently located in Pembroke Pines and Lauderdale Lakes.
