According to a study on Medicare data, timely prosthetic and orthotic patient care saves Medicare $231 million a year compared to costs associated with patients who didn’t receive orthotic and prosthetic services for the same diagnoses.
However, it isn’t always easy to know when you need to contact a sports orthopaedic center. The following three signs are good indicators it may be time to contact your local center for sports medicine.
- You’re suffering from chronic pain. Chronic pain is pain that lasts for 12 weeks or longer. A few days of discomfort may be worrisome, but after weeks of substantial pain it may be worth seeking professional help. Chronic pain is also associated with symptoms such as swelling, joint pain, aches, night pain, tendonitis, and fatigue. If you’re experiencing chronic pain alongside one of these symptoms, consider contacting your local center for sports medicine for treatment.
- You’re unstable on your feet. A common sign of joint problems, or developing joint problems, is that it’s difficult to perform basic tasks such as standing, walking, or running because you feel shaky or wobbly. Instability can be inconvenient and may even become painful later on. Contact an othopaedic clinic as soon as possible if you’re experiencing instability in your joints.
- Your range of motion is limited. Arthritis can cause your joints to feel tighter as time goes on. Tight joints can limit your range of motion and make it difficult to perform daily tasks without pain. Don’t wait until your daily activities are hindered by joint pain and tightness. Contact an orthopaedic doctor as soon as possible for a diagnosis and treatment. Discomfort may be common as you age, but it’s never normal for your joint pain to inhibit your daily activities.
It isn’t always easy to know when to seek the help of an orthopaedic doctor. If you or a loved one meet one or more of the criteria above, it may be in your best interest to contact a center for sports medicine for orthopaedic treatment.
