Okay, let me give you first an overview of what is an orthopedics? Orthopedics is a branch of medicine dealing with problems and treatments of the musculoskeletal system. Bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints and nerves comprise our musculoskeletal system. A doctor who specializes in the field of orthopedics is orthopedic specialist.

As you can see, our musculoskeletal system encompasses three major anatomical groups of our body: muscles, bones, and nerves. If you suffer injuries, diseases and abnormalities to your musculoskeletal system, you need an orthopedic specialist. An orthopedic specialist may use surgical or non-surgical procedures to treat degenerative diseases, infections, congenital disorders, sports injuries, tumors and musculoskeletal trauma.

Degenerative diseases are diseases wherein tissues or organs of the body progressively cease to function over time, either due to normal bodily wear or one’s lifestyle. The most common degenerative diseases which claim the lives of millions of people around the world each year, include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.

Most common musculoskeletal trauma includes polytrauma (a medical term for multiple traumas at a time), head injury, chest trauma, abdominal trauma and extremity trauma. The spinal cord injury is another form of musculoskeletal trauma that is also a serious medical problem.

Sports injuries can be traumatic or overuse injuries among athletes or among people who are active in sports and other physical activities. Muscle strain, sprained ankle, pulled hamstring, tennis elbow, dislocated shoulder, ligament sprain, bone fractures and head injuries are just some of the injuries one may experience in sports.

If you have medical problems as demonstrated above as well tumors, congenital deformations, and of course cancer, you need to see a qualified orthopedic specialist immediately. While most injuries and infections exhibit symptoms in patients which greatly affect their day-to-day lives, many degenerative diseases may not show at all in early stages. In any case, consult an orthopedic specialist the earliest time possible.