Consult Top Orthopedic Online

Basic information of an Orthopedic. 
The body contains numerous bones and muscles that help us to move from one place to another and also gives us support while performing any function. The other structures that help in this function are ligaments and tendons. Each individual bone is an organ composed of several different tissues, epithelium, blood-forming tissue, adipose tissue and nervous tissue. The skeletal system consists of bones and their cartilages. The study of bone structure and the treatment of bone disorders is termed osteology. 

Skeletal system serves numerous functions. The basic functions include:

1. Support:
It serves as the framework by supporting the soft tissues, protecting the visceral organs from damage and provide points of attachment for the tendons.
2. Movement: 
The skeletal muscles contract and work in coordination with the bones thus initiating the process of locomotion.
3. Mineral balance: 
Several minerals are stored in the bone tissue, especially calcium and phosphorous. Whenever body needs these minerals, the bone releases them into blood thus distributing to different parts of the body.
4. Blood cell production: 
The red bone marrow present in certain bones produces the blood cells like the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. This process is called hemopoiesis
5. Triglyceride storage: 
The yellow bone marrow consists mainly of adipose cells that store triglycerides. These serve as a significant reserve of chemical energy. At birth, all the bone marrow is red and is involved in hemopoiesis. As the age increases, much of the bone marrow changes from red to yellow. 

The doctor that specializes in diagnosing and treating the diseases of the skeletal system is called orthopedician. Various diseases affect the musculoskeletal system. Differential diagnosis is of utmost importance as this helps to get an accurate diagnosis and avoid excessive diagnostic testing and unnecessary treatment. Several diseases need immediate diagnosis to avoid major complications. These include septic arthritis, acute crystal-induced arthritis (gout) and fracture. The symptoms that become the suspects of these diseases include acute onset and monoarticular or focal musculoskeletal pain. Majority of the complaints can be diagnosed by taking thorough history and doing comprehensive physical and musculoskeletal examination. It is very important in the first encounter to determine if the complaint is of an origin that require immediate medical attention like that of septic arthritis, gout or fracture or is not that serious. The following concerns regarding the complaint should be addressed

  • If the origin is articular or non-articular
  • If the condition is inflammatory or non-inflammatory
  • If it is acute or chronic
  • If it is localized (monoarticular) or widespread (polyarticular) in distribution
The correct diagnosis is very important as the symptoms of various musculoskeletal disorders resemble and may take quite a long time to evolve into a recognizable diagnostic entity. 

The most common conditions that occur in an individual involving multiple joints and causing pain is usually related to advanced age. These are degenerative conditions and the pattern of joint involvement differ with the diseases. The conditions include

  1. Osteoarthritis
  2. Rheumatoid arthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA):
It is the most common type of arthritis. It is highly prevalent in the elderly population. It causes negative impact on physical function and thus is the leading cause of disability in the elderly. With modern sedentary lifestyles and increase in average lifespan, the prevalence of OA is in the rise and has become a major concern. One of the major risk factors is the development of obesity causing increased loads on all the joints of the body.

OA is defined as the failure of the joint and is a progressively degenerative disease. The degeneration of cartilage leading to structural and functional failure of synovial joints is the main characteristic of OA. The two bones that form a joint each have a thin rim of tissue called cartilage. The surface across which the two bones move is rendered almost frictionless by the presence of synovial fluid that provides lubrication. The cartilage has a compressible stiffness compared to bone and this property provides the joint impact-absorbing capacity. The cartilage is the major site where the disease affects. The role that cartilage plays is lost and thus the two bones slide against each other causing inflammation and pain. Joint deformities can develop over time, but unlike rheumatoid arthritis, fusion does not occur.

The joint involvement pattern is unique in OA. It affects some joints badly sparing others. The most common joints that are affected are:

  • Hip
  • Knee
  • First metatarsal phalangeal joint
  • Cervical and lumbosacral spine
  • Distal and proximal interphalangeal joints and base of the thumb in the hands

The joints that are usually spared are the wrist, elbow and ankle. Evolution has designed our joints according to the needs of the brachiating apes, the animals that still walked on all the four limbs. Thus the development of OA is usually common in the joints that were ill designed for human tasks such as pincer grip (OA in the base of thumb) and walking upright (OA in knees and hips). The articular cartilage of some joints like the ankles are uniquely resistant to loading stresses and are thus spared.

The structural abnormalities and the resulting symptoms can help in the diagnosis of OA. The study of elderly cadavers (dead human bodies) has shown that the structural changes that develop in OA are nearly universal. This include cartilage loss and osteophytes. The prevalence of OA increases with increasing age. It is uncommon in adults aged less than 40 years and highly prevalent in those aged greater than 40 years. In middle-aged and elderly persons, it is more common in women than in men. Even though X-ray evidence of OA is common in the lower back and neck, back pain and neck pain have not been found to be caused by OA.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA):
It is an autoimmune disorder with the exact cause unknown and is characterized by symmetric polyarthritis, the most common form of chronic inflammatory arthritis. Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are necessary because it destroys the articular cartilage and bone, leading to functional disability caused by the extensive damage. It can also lead to bone fusion, a process called ankylosis. Since it is an autoimmune disorder, it results into a systemic disease and may also lead to a variety of extraarticular manifestations. These include problems related to 

  • Skin
  • Heart
  • Blood vessels
  • Lungs

The symptoms that are caused by these extraarticular manifestations may overlap with other autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma. The symptoms of articular involvement include that result from the inflammation of the joints, tendons and bursae. In almost half of the patients, these usually develop after weeks to months of developing the disease. The initial symptoms are malaise, fatigue and generalized musculoskeletal pain. The pattern of joint involvement is generally symmetrical and affects small joints before the larger ones. It usually starts in the hands and feet, followed in decreasing frequency by the wrists, ankles, elbows and knees. The metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints are involved in the hands which is in contrast to OA and which can help in differential diagnosis. 

The chief complaint includes that of morning stiffness that lasts more than 1 hour that eases with physical activity. The joints that are involved are swollen, warm and painful. Morning stiffness do not usually subside with activity which is in contrast with OA. 

The chief complaints of pain that are of skeletal system origin include
  • Hand 
  • Shoulder
  • Hip
  • Knee

Hand:
If the pain is only in one of the hands, then there are chances that one might have experienced trauma, overused the hand, may have an infection or might have developed crystal-induced arthritis. If both the hands are involved, there are high chances of the presence of a degenerative disease like that of osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OA usually causes pain in the proximal and distal interphalangeal joint and the base of the thumb. RA causes symmetric, polyarticular involvement of the proximal interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal, intercarpal and carpometacarpal (wrist) joints. In psoriatic arthritis, the pain mimics the pattern of OA but there is presence of inflammatory signs like redness of skin due to increased blood flow, warmth and synovial swelling.

Other less common causes of hand pain include:
  • Dactylitis
  • de Quervain’s tenosynovitis

Shoulder:
Shoulder is a very complex joint and pain can arise due to many reasons depending on the structure involved. Any history of trauma, fibromyalgia, infection or cervical disease should be ruled out. If arthritis is the reason for the pain, then each movement of the shoulder will be affected but if the pain is due to non-articular reason, then specific movements will be affected and it is very important to take this into consideration while making a diagnosis. Shoulder pain is also frequently referred from the cervical spine. The major causes of pain include

  • OA and RA
  • Rotator cuff tear
  • Rotator cuff tendinitis
  • Glenohumeral pathology

Hip:
The hip is a joint that bears most of the weight of the upper body. There are many causes that can cause hip pain. Some of them include:

  • Sciatica
  • Trochanteric bursitis
  • Enthesitis
  • Iliopsoas bursitis
  • OA


Knee:
Knee is one of the most common joints that is subjected to a lot of stress and is often the cause of pain. The causes can be varied and can include trauma or diseases that affect the knee. The intraarticular reasons include OA and RA while the periarticular reasons include anserine bursitis, collateral ligament strain, etc. Other reasons include gout, neuropathic arthropathy and psoriatic arthritis.

  • Why choose online doctor consultation?
By opting for an online consultation, the patients, from the comfort of their homes, can choose from a variety of doctors selected from the best available in India. In this way, the patient can at least get a fair amount of idea related to the problem he/she is having and can visit a nearby doctor if advised by the doctor consulting online or meet the same doctor if that is viable.

  • How does it work?

(Step wise) Eg: https://www.askapollo.com/online-doctors-consultation/speciality/cardiology/new-delhi

 Read more..
Select Your Convenient Date & Time:

Finding Best Doctors

Frequently asked questions about Orthopedic

What is the role of an orthopedic?

Orthopedic doctors treat all the diseases that are related to the organs and the structures that are associated with the skeletal system. These include problems that are associated with the knee, wrist, shoulder, hip, back, hands and legs. They diagnose and treat the causes of pain and do surgeries if the same are needed. Also the traumatic injuries like the fracture of the bones are also treated by the orthopedic doctor.

Should I go to an orthopedic doctor for back pain?

Yes. One should consult an orthopedic doctor for back pain. The doctor does various tests and procedures to arrive at a definite diagnosis and treat the same.

What happens on the first appointment with an orthopedic doctor?

The doctor will try to evaluate toyour symptoms and then conduct various tests and procedures to arrive at a definite diagnosis and treat the same. 

Is MediFlam good for online orthopedic consultation?

Mediflam has a stringent process of checking the qualifications of doctors that are taken on the platform so that the patients get access to the best qualified doctors to get the best possible diagnosis. Mediflam has a panel of some of the best orthopedic doctors available in India. We at MediFlam make sure that our platform provides hassle free experience to the patient as well as the doctor at the best cost possible. Our doctors work in close conjunction with the patients so as to provide them quick diagnosis, treatment and regular follow ups. 

Can I chat with an orthopedic doctor online?

With the advent of modern technology, it is very possible for the patient experiencing any symptoms that affect the bones, muscles and associated structures to at least get a probabilistic diagnosis by connecting with the leading orthopedic doctors on an online platform. Then the doctor can advise the patient for further process to confirm the diagnosis and get treated at the earliest.

What can an orthopedic doctor do for Arthritis?

The doctor will evaluate the extent of damage caused by arthritis. If it can be treated my medication, exercise and other conservative treatments, then the doctor will advise the same. If surgical intervention is required, then the advantages and disadvantages of the same will be explained to the patient so that the patient can take an informed decision.

How to consult an orthopedic doctor on MediFlam?

Mediflam has a stringent process of checking the qualifications of doctors that are taken on the platform so that the patients get access to the best qualified doctors to get the best possible diagnosis. Mediflam has a panel of some of the best orthopedic doctors available in India. We at MediFlam make sure that our platform provides hassle free experience to the patient as well as the doctor at the best cost possible. Our doctors work in close conjunction with the patients so as to provide them quick diagnosis, treatment and regular follow ups. 

How often should I consult an orthopedic doctor?

There is no thumb rule for the frequency of consultations to be done with the orthopedic doctor. Depending on the severity of the symptoms and its frequency, the patient can consult the orthopedic doctor and get treated for the same.

What is the most common orthopedic injury?

Most common injury is the fracture of the trauma associated bone. The other sports injuries include ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury, tennis elbow, rotator cuff injury (shoulder), etc.

Are all orthopedic doctors surgeons?

Yes, most of them are surgeons. Then depending on the expertise that they possess, they have preference either for diagnosis or for particular surgery.

Does an orthopedic treat sports injuries?

Yes they do treat sports injuries if surgical intervention is required or there is injury to other areas also. Some of the injuries can be treated by physiotherapists and orthopedic doctor might not be required.

Brief information about orthopedic.
The doctor that specializes in diagnosing and treating the diseases of the skeletal system is called orthopedician. Many diseases affect the bones and the associated structures. The orthopedician, by means of various tests and procedures, makes a differential diagnosis to get the accurate diagnosis of the cause of the problem and then treat the same.

  • When should I see and orthopedic?
Whenever you have a pain that you feel is due to the involvement of bones, muscles or associated structures, then you can consult an orthopedic doctor. Some of the common reasons people consult an orthopedic doctor are pain in the back, knee, shoulder, neck, legs, etc.

  • What do the orthopedic doctors treat?
Orthopedic doctors treat all the diseases that are related to the organs and the structures that are associated with the skeletal system. These include problems that are associated with the knee, wrist, shoulder, hip, back, hands and legs. They diagnose and treat the causes of pain and do surgeries if the same are needed. Also the traumatic injuries like the fracture of the bones are also treated by the orthopedic doctor.

  • For what problems can I see an orthopedic?
Orthopedic doctors treat all the diseases that are related to the organs and the structures that are associated with the skeletal system. These include problems that are associated with the knee, wrist, shoulder, hip, back, hands and legs. They diagnose and treat the causes of pain and do surgeries if the same are needed. Also the traumatic injuries like the fracture of the bones are also treated by the orthopedic doctor.

  • What are the signs one needs to see an orthopedic?
Signs and symptoms that suggest musculoskeletal diseases are the ones that need orthopedic doctor consultation. These include pain in any of the joints and other musculoskeletal pain that may occur in knees, elbows, lower back, shoulder, etc. Also other symptoms like tingling or numbness that radiates from the site of origin.

  • What are some of the common orthopedic disorders?
Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis are some of the most common disorders that occur in the elderly. These are major causes of loss of physical function. Other disorders that may occur are related to occupations. These include ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury, teenis elbow, etc. that usually occurs in sportspersons. The other most common are ankylosing spondylitis and spondylosis.

  • Can Arthritis be prevented?
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that usually occurs in people above 50 years of age and Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. So preventing them can be challenging. Regular physical exercise, healthy eating habits and prevention of obesity are some of the things that can help prevent the development of the disease.

  • Is Arthritis genetic?
Osteoarthritis is not genetic but is a progressive degenerative inflammatory disorder that occurs due to various reasons. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that attack the articular cartilage that are present in the joints. It can have a genetic component and may become hereditary.

  • Does family history play a role in Osteoporosis?
Yes it does play a role in osteoporosis. If your grandparents or parents had osteoporosis, then there are high chances that you might develop the same.

  • Does consumption of soft drinks affect bones?
All the soft drinks are acidic that have a detrimental effect on the health of bones. Thus it is better to avoid them. Also it contains sugar to a great extent which can cause diabetes and other metabolic diseases that ultimately affect all the organ systems of the body.
 Read more..
Latest from the Medical Industry
Sign up for treatment knowledge base

Contact Us

Mediflam Pvt. Ltd.

206, Siddhraj Zori, Next to Essar petrol pump, Sargasan, Gandhinagar: 382421. Gujarat, India.

Customer Care
Call Us Now  +91 82006 37521   Email Us  [email protected]

QUICK LINKS

KEEP IN TOUCH

Other Concerns

Consult Online

Wellness

Top Treatments

Top Hospitals

Privacy Policy | Terms & Condition | Terms of Use
Copyright © 2021 Mediflam Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.