Consult Our Orthopaedic Doctor Today

If you experience any of the following conditions, it is a good idea to seek the services of a Singapore orthopaedic doctor:

• If you feel it is difficult to carry on with your usual daily activities such as getting out of bed, climbing stairs, pushing the trolley in a supermarket, carrying grocery bags, doing laundry, etc.
• If you experience pain that has not resolved for the past several weeks. Some pain is expected in case of an acute injury, but if the pain becomes chronic and persists after 6-8 weeks, you need to see an orthopaedic doctor.
• If you feel stiffness in your joints and your range of motion is restricted. These symptoms can point towards a degenerative condition or arthritis, which needs to be treated by a specialist doctor.
• If you experience joint pains that seem to worsen even at rest, it can point towards severe degenerative conditions and needs to be checked by an orthopaedist.
• If you feel unstable while walking, standing, sitting down, and standing from a sitting position, there might be some problem with your joints that needs to be examined by a specialist.
• If you feel inflammation, redness, or warmth in a particular area of your body, it can indicate an infection. If any of these symptoms are accompanied by fever, do not waste time and get yourself checked by an orthopaedic specialist.
• If you have sustained a soft tissue injury that does not involve any bones and joints, and the pain and inflammation do not seem to subside after two days of doing home remedies and applying the RICE protocol, it is an indication that it could be something serious.
• If you experience any pain in the bones, joints, or soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system that keeps you awake at night, it means you need to get it checked.

If you visit an orthopaedic surgeon in Singapore, you can expect the following from the doctor:

• The doctor will ask about your medical history and any pain or inflammation you may feel.
• He may ask you how long you have been experiencing the symptoms.
• He will ask you about any treatments you have ever had.
• The doctor will then ask more questions which he feels are necessary to assess your condition and devise a treatment plan accordingly.
• The doctor will also perform a physical exam to locate and assess the area of injury and determine whether the pain increases or reduces with specific movements.
• The doctor may ask for previous reports of any tests you may have had.
• The doctor may order additional tests to ensure the correct diagnosis is made.
• He may prescribe any medication or other remedies until your tests have concluded, after which the proper treatment will commence.

Depending on your particular problem, your doctor will recommend if and when you can continue with your normal daily activities or when you can start your sports activities. Most orthopaedic conditions require the patient to avoid activities that can aggravate the condition. Your orthopaedic doctor can guide you regarding the resumption of activities and that recommendation should be followed.

Depending on your particular problem, your doctor will recommend whether to manage your pain through conservative measures or if surgery is required. Some orthopaedic conditions, like disc bulges and herniation, can cause severe pain, which may be managed conservatively or through surgery. In some cases, surgery provides faster pain relief than conservative treatments. Nevertheless, some injuries like fractures require immediate surgery and cannot be managed traditionally. Your doctor is the best judge of your problem, and his recommendation should be followed.

Preventing orthopaedic problems calls for proactive measures to create a robust musculoskeletal system. The following steps, if integrated in your lifestyles, can help prevent orthopaedic issues in the future:

• Regular Exercise: Regular exercise can go a long way in ensuring strong bones, muscles, and joints. Cardio exercises like walking, running, swimming, and yoga can significantly improve joint health and flexibility, which are crucial in preventing bone and joint-related problems. 
• Healthy Nutrition: A well-balanced diet that offers the right amount of nutrition daily helps build a strong and resilient body. The right amount of protein, dairy, fats, and vitamins can aid in building stronger bones and joints. 
• Warm-up and Cool-down: Warming up before starting a physical activity or exercise and cooling down at the end can prevent stiffness and reduce the risk of injury. 
• Avoid Overexertion: Giving your body enough time to rest and recover and avoiding strenuous activities and overexertion can also help prevent orthopaedic injuries and damage.  
• Regular Sleep: A good sleep schedule is also essential to give the body enough time to rest and rejuvenate itself. A sleep-deprived body is more prone to musculoskeletal and orthopaedic problems and injuries. 
• Good Posture: Finally, maintaining a good posture is crucial in preventing pain and damage to bones, muscles, and joints.

• Shoulder: Shoulder pain can manifest when you have underlying conditions like frozen shoulder, tendonitis, rotator cuff impingement, and other joint and connective tissue problems.
• Hand: Repetitive use of the hands and wrists can put them at risk of developing painful conditions that may involve the joints or nerves.
• Foot & Ankle: Foot and ankle injuries can arise because of sprains and nerve issues and result in conditions such as plantar fasciitis, ankle sprain, bunion etc.
• Spine: The spine is one of the most important structures in our body that supports the whole body. Injuries to the spine, bad posture, and trauma can cause severely painful and dangerous problems, including nerve pain, slipped or herniated discs, scoliosis, and others.
• Hip: Trauma to the hip in case of a fall and other injuries of the hip can severely restrict one’s mobility and make doing even simple tasks complicated.
• Knee: Knee pain can present itself when suffering from orthopaedic conditions such as ACL tears, meniscal tears, tendons and ligament damage, and other knee problems.
• Elbow: Common orthopaedic problems associated with the elbow are golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow.