The Joy of Working Out

At the age of 16, I started exercising regularly. This decision drastically changed my life for the better. I lost an enormous amount of weight and went down three dress sizes. Unfortunately, I had to undergo orthopedic surgery 8 years ago to remove torn cartilage from my left knee. After my surgery, I was afraid to work out due to the continual swelling in my knee. Thankfully, I made an appointment with my orthopedic doctor to talk about this issue. This medical professional prescribed a comfortable and protective knee brace for me to wear while exercising. On this blog, I hope you will discover how an orthopedic doctor can help you exercise again.

Low Back Pain: Should You See An Orthopedist?

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It is not uncommon, in today's world where people are far less active and spend more time sitting than ever before, for people to suffer from low back pain. This type of pain can have all kinds of causes from poor posture to more serious underlying skeletal conditions. And, while a good rule of thumb is to see an orthopedist any time you are suffering from unexplained low back pain, there are definitely some special situations in which you should absolutely see an orthopedist as soon as possible. It is important to know when low back pain is this serious and to seek help right away if your pain falls into the severe category.

Other Options Aren't Working

First things first, if you have tried other options to ease your lower back pain to no avail, then it's time to get serious and call in an orthopedist. General doctors will often provide you with pain medications and other generalized treatments, such as exercises that can be performed to help strengthen the lower back, thereby reducing pain.

If you've already seen a general doctor, though, and followed the treatments advised to you but you still aren't getting better, an orthopedist is your best bet. These professionals may suggest surgery or other more specialized treatments to finally get rid of your pain for once and for all.

You Feel Bad In General

When you only have low back pain, you probably just have a minor spinal issue or concern. When your pain, however, is coupled with other pain or an overall sense of being unwell, something more serious could be at play, meaning that it is time to see an orthopedist.

While it is rare, low back pain that doesn't go away and that seems to get worse when you put weight on it or at night can sometimes be the sign of a tumor that is putting weight and pressure on the spine, causing the pain. In some cases, this tumor could even be cancerous.

Obviously, conditions like this are rare, but it's always better to be safe than sorry, which is why in cases of pain that doesn't go away paired with not feeling great in general, it's definitely wise to see an orthopedist right away.

As you can see, low back pain can sometimes be a real cause for concern, and, when it is or even when you think it may be, remember that you have nothing to lose from seeing an orthopedist for help.

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26 July 2017