There is some confusion when it comes to finding a medical specialist. Many different fields of medicine have a certain degree of overlap, making it difficult to decide which specialist to go to. At Paris Orthopedic, some of our specialties include bone and joint health, making our field of orthopedic medicine coincide with some elements of rheumatology. To help you make the best decision for your health, we’re explaining the key differences between these two disciplines of medicine to help you discern whether to see a rheumatologist or an orthopedic doctor.

What Does a Rheumatologist Do?

One of the most significant differences between a rheumatologist and an orthopedic doctor is their specialty when it comes to treating arthritis and joint pain. Rheumatologists focus on the internal medical aspects of inflammatory autoimmune disorders, including the causes, the impact on the body, and any necessary treatments. While rheumatologists are experts in all types of arthritis conditions, they also research and treat other conditions, including fibromyalgia, gout, and lupus. Because many of these autoimmune disorders attack the body’s connective tissues, musculoskeletal system, and organs, a rheumatologist can make a diagnosis and provide applicable non-surgical treatments. 

What Does an Orthopedic Doctor Do?

Orthopedists, on the other hand, specialize in the disorders, injuries, prevention, treatment, and repair associated with the skeletal system. Both orthopedic doctors and surgeons are specially trained in the diagnosis and treating bone and joint disease. Treatments administered by orthopedists include but are not limited to non-surgical options such as physical therapy and prescription medication. In certain cases, surgeries like joint replacement procedures can relieve pain and improve mobility. If surgery becomes necessary, an orthopedic specialist is the provider for the job. 

Deciding What’s Best for You

Deciding between an orthopedic doctor and a rheumatologist starts by identifying the root of the issue. The most significant overlap between these two specialties is arthritis’s role as both an inflammatory autoimmune disorder and an effect on the musculoskeletal system. While a rheumatologist may help identify what is causing your joint pain and help discern whether the cause is arthritis or a different autoimmune disorder, an orthopedic doctor can provide more treatment options. Orthopedic doctors are especially knowledgeable when it comes to joint pain following trauma or helping to treat joints that have suffered prolonged wear and tear from arthritis or other conditions. 

The Paris Orthopedics Difference

At Paris Orthopedics, we prioritize exhausting all non-surgical options before proceeding with surgical treatments. This means that there may be additional overlap between the treatments provided by a rheumatologist, such as physical therapy, bracing, cortisone injections, and anti-inflammatory drugs. If your condition doesn’t respond to these initial treatment methods, our team can discuss surgical options with you, ranging from minimally invasive procedures to open surgery. If joint replacement is ultimately the most effective option, you can rest assured that you’ll receive the best care at Paris Orthopedics. With this procedure, you can look forward to less pain, improved mobility, and restored joint function.

Consult an Orthopedic Specialist

The team at Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you have questions about bone health, arthritis, or whether to see a rheumatologist or an orthopedic doctor for your joint pain, call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.

Arthritis is a prevalent joint condition that affects nearly a quarter of all adults. While a large portion of the population deals with arthritis, there are many forms that develop from various causes. Fortunately, there are a couple of different treatment options available to best suit individual cases of arthritis. Depending on the type or severity of arthritis, treatments typically range from medication to surgical procedures. To help give you an idea of what may work best for you, we’re explaining three different treatment options for arthritis.

Medication

Arthritis can attack different areas of the body, which means that there are many kinds of remedies within each treatment category. This is certainly the case when it comes to medication. Depending on the type and severity of your arthritis, medications such as NSAIDs, painkillers, DMARDs, corticosteroids, or counterirritants may help. These medications come in various forms, including creams, ointments, injections, and pill forms. If you’re experiencing chronic pain associated with arthritis, contact your doctor to see if medication is the right option for you.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy is also an effective way to increase mobility and range of motion in various areas of the body. Depending on your arthritis, a physical therapist may help teach you proper posture and body mechanics to reduce pain in your day-to-day life. They may also teach specific exercises to improve strength and flexibility. Working one on one with a physical therapist allows for an opportunity to discuss your specific form and severity of arthritis. These appointments also allow for personalized suggestions when it comes to extra support materials, such as braces or shoe inserts, in addition to specific instructions on hot and cold therapy practices to ease joint pain and stiffness.

Surgery

Joint Replacement

No matter if your joint pain is due to age, disease, or other causes, Paris Orthopedic offers joint replacement surgery to help you achieve a better quality of life. Depending on your specific needs, Paris Orthopedics provides both partial and total joint replacement procedures. Our team prefers to exhaust all non-surgical options first, but if these treatments are not effective, there are minimally invasive joint replacement procedures available. Some of these minimally invasive surgical options include joint realignment, ligament reconstruction, and arthroscopy, all of which are performed through tiny incisions rather than open surgery.

If your specific condition requires open surgery, you can be assured that you are in the hands of six skilled and experienced orthopedic surgeons. During joint replacement surgery, your surgeon will remove all or part of the damaged joint and place a prosthesis, a type of artificial joint, in its place. Before any surgery, either open or minimally invasive, you will have ample time to discuss with your provider to ensure the best possible treatment for you.

Consult an Orthopedic Specialist

The team at Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine is dedicated to helping our patients recover from a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Our services include general orthopedic medicine, joint replacement, sports injury treatment, and osteoporosis treatments at our bone health clinic. If you have questions about joint pain, arthritis, or treatment plans, call (903) 737-0000 to make an appointment.

Joint replacement surgery is often recommended for patients who are unable to perform everyday tasks, such as sleeping, without difficulty and pain. State-of-the-art technology has made joint replacement surgery more successful, resulting in increased popularity among both physicians and patients.

According to a study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery in 2014, the number of total knee replacements more than tripled and the number of total hip replacements more than doubled between 1993 and 2009. Despite booming popularity, these procedures are still considered major surgery and the decision should not be taken lightly. Here are 8 questions to ask yourself to help determine if joint replacement surgery is right for you:

1. Have I tried all recommended non-surgical treatment methods? Joint replacement surgery should only be pursued when non-surgical treatment options have been exhausted. These may include topical or oral medications, injections, holistic remedies, exercise, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or mobility assistive devices like a cane or walker.
2. Have I made all the recommended lifestyle changes? To achieve the full benefits of any treatment method including surgery, your doctor may advise you to make lifestyle changes. You may need to lose weight, stop smoking, or make adjustments to your activity level.
3. Can I live with the pain I’m experiencing now? If the level of pain you are experiencing is negatively affecting your daily life, or if the side effects from pain medication are harmful to your health, surgery may be the best option.
4. Has the pain gotten worse over time? If you’re experiencing high levels of pain, pain that has grown worse over time; or pain regardless of if you are moving or resting, joint replacement surgery may provide relief.
5. Is minimally-invasive joint replacement surgery an option? Minimally-invasive joint replacement involves joint realignment, ligament reconstruction, and arthroscopy–all of which are performed through tiny incisions. This option is an outpatient procedure with a quicker, easier recovery.
6. Am I in otherwise good health? Beyond the joint pain, it is important to be in good overall health prior to undergoing joint replacement surgery. Your physician will conduct an evaluation to determine if you are healthy enough to withstand the anesthesia and rehabilitation process.
7. Am I dedicated to the recovery process? Joint replacement surgery isn’t an instant solution–it’s a process. It’s important that you are committed to post-surgery rehabilitation in order to regain muscle strength, range of motion and good mobility. Doing too much too soon or not moving enough after surgery can both be detrimental to your surgical results.
8. What is my insurance coverage? There is more to a joint replacement procedure than the surgery itself. You will also need rehabilitation, and may even require in-home care for a short period following. Know what your insurance covers and make sure you are able to cover any out-of-pocket expenses.

Are you experiencing chronic or severe joint pain? Paris Orthopedics and Sports Medicine has six expert physicians that can help you determine if joint replacement surgery is right for you. Call 903.737.0000 to schedule an appointment today, or request an appointment online.