Bone Doctor: Types And Their Specialization
Your bones are the foundation of your body and support you from head to toe. They protect your vital organs, allow you to move in many different ways, and provide structure for your muscles.
When you get injured, you should look for a doctor who specializes in treating bones. There are different kinds of bones doctors (orthopedic doctor) with their specialties and areas of expertise. Here we have a brief overview of some of the most common types of bones doctors:
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Orthopaedic surgeons (bones doctor) are those doctors who specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. That includes bones, joints, muscles and soft tissues like ligaments, tendons and nerves.
They use surgical and non-surgical methods to treat their patients. They also work closely with other healthcare professionals like physiotherapists, to create comprehensive treatment plans for you.
They usually perform the following procedures:
1. Arthroscopy
Arthroscopic surgery is also called arthroscope where they use a camera to visualize and treat problems inside joints. It is a minimal surgical procedure.
2. Joint Replacement Surgery
In Joint Replacement Surgery your orthopaedic surgeon will replace your damaged joint with an artificial implant.
This surgery usually aims to relieve pain and improve function in patients with arthritis or other conditions that damage the joints.
Orthopaedic Physicians
Orthopaedic physicians are also known as orthopedists, they specialise in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. Every orthopaedic surgeon is known as orthopedists, but not all orthopedists are surgeons.
Orthopedic physicians who are not surgeons will treat their patients with non-surgical methods. They can only-
- Prescribe medications
- Administer injections like cisco supplementation and corticosteroids
- Recommend physical therapy
- Perform minimally invasive procedures like joint aspiration
- Perform conservative treatments like casting, bracing and splinting.
1. Foot And Hand Doctors
The wrist, hand, ankle and foot all have delicate and complicated structures. These body parts contain tiny muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and blood vessels. This is because we use our hands and feet all day and every day, they are vulnerable to injuries.
Hand and foot doctors are responsible for diagnosing and treating injuries, particularly in their area of expertise. Hand surgeons treat deformities and vascular conditions of the wrist and hand, including carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injury. Foot surgeons treat ankle and foot injuries, including plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis.
2. Sports Medicine Doctors
Sports Medicine Doctors are known as orthopaedic physicians specializing in diagnosing and treating injuries that are caused by physical activity. They usually work with athletes of all levels, from amateur to professional.
Some of the sports medicine doctors use both surgical and non-surgical methods for their patients. They usually work closely with other healthcare professionals, like physiotherapists, to create comprehensive treatment plans.
Non-surgical procedures they usually perform are:
- Joint aspiration
- Trigger point injections
- Platelet-rich plasma therapy
- Cisco supplementation
Surgical procedures they usually perform are:
- Arthroscopic surgery
- Joint replacement surgery
- Ligament reconstruction surgery
3. Rheumatologist
Rheumatologists are specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases are those conditions where your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues.
Rheumatologists generally treat their patients with arthritis, lupus, and other diseases that affect the joints. They use both lifestyle changes and medication to treat their patients. They may prescribe you the following:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Corticosteroids
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
- Biologic agents
They will also recommend you change your lifestyle, like exercise, sleep regulation, weight loss, and stress reduction.
How to specialize in orthopedic medicines
If you are interested in pursuing a specialty in orthopedic medicine, follow these steps:
1. Get a Bachelor’s Degree
Students who are pursuing orthopedic medicine require a bachelor’s degree in science. This provides a baseline knowledge of chemistry, anatomy, and biology. It will be useful for you to take pre-med classes and start to develop skills to get into medical school. Earning a bachelor’s degree typically takes you four years of study.
2. Enrol in a Medical School
To get accepted into medical school, you can take the MCAT exam, which evaluates your knowledge of biological, physical, and psychological science. Since orthopedic surgeries are a high-level specialty, it’s important to score high on your MCAT exam so that you can also get accepted into a residency program later on in orthopedics.
Orthopaedic surgeons earn a medical doctorate and study anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology in medical school. They also complete clinical rotations in surgery, gynaecology, neurology, radiology, and psychiatry. This training will help you to develop diagnostic skills, record keeping, and learn patient interactions.
3. Complete an Orthopedic Residency
After earning your medical degree, you can apply to residency programs to specialize in orthopaedic surgeries. A residency program is of five years on the job training that provides doctors with experience in general surgery and orthopaedic surgeries. Residents work with senior physicians to learn how to perform surgeries.
4. Take part in fellowship programs
A fellowship is normally a two year program when orthopaedic surgeons (bones doctor) study a body part and its conditions. Fellowship programs enable orthopaedic surgeons (bones doctor) to specialize in a sub field like orthopedic such as spinal surgery, pediatrics or joint replacement. It is helpful to choose a sub specialty course during residency so you are able to apply to programs early.
It will be very helpful for you to take part in research projects relating to the speciality you are pursuing and to make connections with other surgeons working in that field. This may enhance your application to get acceptance into a fellowship program of your choice.
Best Orthopedic Doctor In Kanpur
There are so many different types of bones doctors (orthopedic doctor), each one with their own specialization. The type of doctor you need to see will depend on your specific condition.
If you have an injury to the musculoskeletal system, you may need an orthopedic physician or orthopaedic surgeon. You may see a rheumatologist if you have an autoimmune disease. Finally, you may need a sports medicine doctor if you sustained an injury from physical activity.
Look no further than Dr. Raghvendra Jaiswal if you need a reliable orthopaedic surgeon in Kanpur.