Orthopaedic disorders are conditions that affect your muscles, bones, joints, and the tissues that attach bones to other bones and muscles (tendons and ligaments).
Conditions in this category include broken bones, a wearing down of the joints (arthritis), a weakening of the bones (osteoporosis), muscle strains or sprains, damage to the nerves in the wrists (carpal tunnel syndrome), injured ligaments such as a torn ACL, and inflamed tendons such as tennis elbow.
If you have an orthopaedic disorder, you may experience:
Many orthopaedic disorders develop due to injury or overuse. They also sometimes develop with age. For example, osteoarthritis, a condition in which tissues in your joints break down, affects most older adults, and osteoporosis is common in older women.
Some orthopaedic disorders are autoimmune diseases. This means that your immune system attacks your joints, muscles, or other tissues.
Some people are also born with abnormalities in their bones or muscles due to genetics, unusual growth patterns, or other unknown factors.
You are more at risk for experiencing orthopaedic disorders if you:
Your doctor may perform various tests to measure inflammation and check for underlying health conditions. Imaging tests such as X-rays or computed tomography (CT scans) can look for bone breaks, joint damage, muscle tears, or other abnormalities.
Orthopaedic disorders can affect your ability to walk or move. If your symptoms are severe, you may have trouble taking part in the activities you normally enjoy. This can affect your overall well-being.
An injury or disorder that affects a particular part of your body may require you to rest that area. For example, you may have to stabilize a joint with a brace or avoid moving in certain ways. Using a heating pad or ice pack and elevating the affected area may also help you feel better and boost healing.
Over-the-counter medications can treat some common symptoms of orthopaedic disorders such as pain and swelling. If you have more severe symptoms or ongoing problems, your doctor may recommend stronger medications such as steroids.
Different types of surgery may help heal severe problems. You may be able to get damaged joints replaced or fused together.
Lifestyle changes such as losing weight and getting more physical activity may improve your condition. However, make sure to first clear any exercise with your doctor to make sure that you won’t further injure yourself or create additional damage.
Physical therapy or occupational therapy may help you strengthen the affected tissues and teach you how to do old activities in new ways that won’t worsen your condition. For example, learning to walk with a cane or other mobility device can help you heal.