Have A Sports Injury? How To Prepare For A Visit To An Orthopedic Surgeon
Posted on: 28 January 2019
Having a sports injury can be really devastating. You want to make sure that you take proper care of the injury so that you can get back out there and engage in the sport that you love. That is where an orthopedic surgeon comes in. If you have a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon, there are a few specific things that you can do to prepare for the meeting.
#1 Find a Surgeon Who Specializes in Your Problem
First, make sure that you are seeing the right surgeon. Try to find an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the type of problem that you have. There are numerous sub-specialties within the overall umbrella of orthopedic surgery, so make sure that you see an orthopedic surgeon whose specialty matches with your injury. Your primary care doctor can help you identify and find a doctor with the right specialty to treat your injury.
#2 Bring Your Doctor's Notes
If you have been seen by other doctors for the injury that you are going to the orthopedic surgeon for, ask for the notes from those other visits. For example, if you were seen at an emergency room or urgent care facility, get those doctor's notes. If you went to your primary care doctor or consulted with another specialist, get those notes as well.
Providing your orthopedic surgeon with complete medical records will help ensure that they know everything that has been examined, tested, and considered at this point. It will allow them to have a fuller picture of your health and your specific situation.
#3 Bring Copies of X-Rays & MRIs
If you have already had X-rays or MRIs or CTs taken of your injury, ask the office where they were taken if they can burn the images onto a CD for your orthopedic surgeon. This will allow the orthopedic surgery to get a quick, up-close look at the injury and really see what they are dealing with. It can also save you from having to get repeat images taken. That way, if the orthopedic requests more images, they will really know what they are asking for and what they are looking for.
#4 Create a Timeline
It can also be helpful to create a timeline of your injury and treatment. This is really useful if you are seeking treatment for an ongoing injury or issue. It doesn't have to be perfect, but try and write down when the injury started, what you have noticed about the injury, and the treatments you have tried. Writing this information down before you go to your appointment can help you remember details when you are on the spot.
If you have a sports injury and you need to see an orthopedic surgeon, find one who specializes in the problem you are facing, bring doctor's notes, and copies of X-rays and MRIs, and create a timeline of your injuries. All of this information will help you make the most of your first appointment and should help speed up the process of addressing your injury.
For more information, get in touch with a company such as El Camino Center for Sports Medicine.
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