MASSAGE THERAPY

Bone and joint problems aren’t just painful. They can keep you from leading a full, active life. Orthopaedic specialists diagnose and treat virtually every musculus skeletal injury and condition from the common to the most complicated and rare, including the following:

• Arthritis in the hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle and other joints
• Spinal stenosis and herniated intervertebral discs
• Fractures
• Cartilage, ligament and tendon injuries
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Bone tumors

For most patients, finding an orthopedic surgeon is a passive task since their primary care providers refer them to specific orthopedic surgeon. But just because your physician recommended you to see a specific surgeon doesn’t always mean you are going to feel that they are the right orthopedic physician for you.

If you find yourself having to select an orthopedic surgeon on your own, you may find overwhelmed by the decision-making process. After all, how do you choose the best orthopedic surgeon for your needs?

• Start With Your Your Friends: One of the most trusted ways to find an orthopedic surgeon is simply to ask your friends and family. Ask them if they would recommend their orthopedic surgeon and why. By sure to find what their experience was like, and find out if they have recovered from their operation as well. If you learn of orthopedic providers that your friends and family liked, proceed to learn more about them on your own.

• Learning More About Your Orthopedic Surgeon: The next place you can go learn more about your orthopedic surgeon is the Internet. Today, there are multiple websites dedicated solely to providing web users with information about specific physicians. Take a look at what people have said about your potential surgeon, but don’t believe everything you see online. Reviews can be fabricated or exaggerated, so use them as a tool for getting a general idea about varying experiences people have had.

• Get Referrals: To get started, ask your primary care physician for a referral list. Family, friends and other healthcare professionals are also good resources to ask for recommendations. Take the time to research the physician’s credentials and experience on Healthgrades.com. As you narrow down your list, call to make consult appointments to meet and interview each orthopedic surgeon.

• Research Your Orthopedist’s Credentials: Once you’ve taken a look at what others have said about your orthopedic surgeon, take your web research further and visit their practice’s website. On their site you should be able to find their areas of orthopedic specialty, the hospitals they are associated with, and their clinical credentials and education. If you find that all is up to par, it’s time to request a consultation.

• Consider the Orthopedic Surgeon’s Experience: When it comes to specialized care for complex orthopedic problems, the more experience a physician has, the better your results are likely to be. Ask how many patients with your specific condition the orthopedic surgeon has treated. If you know you need a specific procedure, ask how many of the procedures the physician has performed and find out about complication rates complications the physician has encountered as well as your own risk of complications.

• Request A Consultation: Most orthopedic surgeon are willing to provide you with a consultation before you decide to accept their treatment. Simply contact your desired orthopedic surgeon, and schedule a consultation so that you can discuss the problems you are having, and get clear instruction on how your orthopedist recommends they are treated. Make sure you take time to ask questions about preparing for operation, the procedure itself, as well as recovery concerns.

• Evaluate Communication Style: Choose an orthopedic surgeon with whom you are comfortable talking and who supports your information needs. When you first meet the orthopedic surgeon, ask a question and notice how he or she responds. Does he or she welcome your questions and answer them in ways that you can understand? During the first visit did you feel rushed or engaged? Find an orthopedic surgeon who shows an interest in getting to know you, who will consider your treatment preferences, and who will respect your decision-making process.

• Go With Your Instincts: Once you’ve had a consultation and you are ready to move forward with your operation, be sure to consider how your orthopedist made you feel. Did you feel at ease with your physician? Did your physician answer all your questions and concerns? Do you feel you can trust him?

Some Tips:

• Don’t try to find the ‘best’ physician.
  There are too many definitions of ‘best’ and too many great physician. Sure, look for an experienced, well-regarded surgeon, but also look for someone you work well with and who you trust.

• Stick with it.
  While seeking a second opinion is useful, too many opinions can cloud your thinking. Also, working with a physician may require many visits over months or years. Moving around will hinder this process.

Finding the right surgeon takes a little bit of work, but is well worth the effort in the end. So do your research well, and you will be able to find the perfect orthopedic surgeon for your needs.