The musculoskeletal system is made up of complicated structures that are usually prone to injury or pain. These structures include bones, ligaments, tendons, joints, muscles, and nerves. Seeking musculoskeletal care can help eliminate or prevent pain in connective tissues and joints in your body. It can also help manage musculoskeletal conditions such as tendonitis, bursitis, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and gout. Through a Scottsdale az comprehensive musculoskeletal care specialist, you can receive a proper diagnosis and treatment depending on the severity of your condition. If you are considering musculoskeletal care, the following medical experts can diagnose and treat your condition or refer you for more specialized treatment.
Physiatrists
Physiatrists are doctors who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation. They treat severe chronic pain and mobility problems. Physiatrists are trained to treat both the physical and mental aspects of pain.
They majorly use a combination of treatments such as exercise, massage therapy, acupuncture, and other therapies that can help relieve your symptoms and get you back to your daily activities.
They also work closely with other physicians because their knowledge of anatomy helps them understand how injuries occur during treatment sessions. As a result, they can recommend appropriate post-surgery care plans based on your medical condition.
Rheumatologist
Rheumatologists treat musculoskeletal conditions and rheumatic diseases affecting muscle, joints, skin, bones, and other tissues. They also help treat or manage autoimmune diseases such as lupus or psoriasis.
Rheumatologists can recommend various conservative or surgical treatments for these conditions. They may also provide pharmacological treatment options for conditions with no specific diagnosis or cause as identified by your primary care physician or internist.
If you have musculoskeletal pain or disorder, seeing a rheumatologist would be your best option before seeing any other specialist. This is because they can treat your condition without knowing what caused it.
Orthopedic Surgeon
Orthopedic surgeons are experts in treating musculoskeletal conditions. They are highly trained in orthopedic surgery, which involves surgical procedures that can repair or reconstruct bones and joints. Orthopedic surgeons can perform various surgical procedures, including arthroscopic knee and hip replacement surgery. They are also trained to provide general and specialized orthopedic care.
Pain Management Specialist
Pain management specialists can help you with chronic, acute, and even temporary post-surgical discomfort. They also specialize in helping patients who are experiencing musculoskeletal pain. They can also help you relax before any surgical procedure. Before receiving treatment for chronic, acute, and musculoskeletal pain, your pain management specialist determines the cause before providing a proper diagnosis.
Neurologist
A neurologist is a medical specialist who provides operative and nonoperative treatments for conditions or disorders affecting the nervous systems, including the spinal cord, nerves, and brain. Since certain musculoskeletal conditions can cause a malfunction in your nervous system, seeing a neurologist might be your best option.
Neurologists also work hand in hand with neurosurgeons who practice various surgical procedures for conditions affecting your spinal cord, such as herniated disks, spinal stenosis, and disk degeneration. Therefore, consult a neurologist for more comprehensive treatment if a musculoskeletal condition has affected your nerves or overall body function, such as mobility.
Whether you have a strain or sprain, a herniated disc, arthritis, or another musculoskeletal condition, any of the above-mentioned skilled professionals can help. These experts have the experience to diagnose and treat conditions specific to your body type. They can also assess your symptoms and suggest appropriate treatment options for you so that you get quick relief from your pain.