Blog Post

Chronic pain affects almost one-quarter of adults in America, often making ordinary things like walking, bending, or lifting difficult. Potentially even worse, it can wear on you emotionally and mentally, making every aspect of life feel frustrating and miserable. 

At Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, our experienced team of orthopedic surgeons understands what chronic pain can do to your life, and we’re here to make it easier for you to help restore movement, build strength, and get your body working the way it should. 

Unfortunately, many people with chronic pain try to struggle through without medical care. Maybe it seems too inconvenient or too complicated to see a doctor, or maybe you feel anxious about facing the unknown. Some people delay getting medical care for chronic pain because they’re unsure what type of doctor to see for this complex challenge. 

No matter what has held you back from getting the help you need in the past, it’s important to know that the right doctor can make all the difference. 

Orthopedic medicine specialists are chronic pain experts, and our elite team has the unique skills needed to treat the full range of pain throughout the body. Here are four compelling reasons why you should see an orthopedist for chronic pain.

1. Specialized training

Orthopedists focus on the musculoskeletal system: the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments where chronic pain starts. 

They spend at least 13 years in training between their undergraduate degree, medical school, and a five-year orthopedic medicine residency. In addition, many continue on with fellowship training in their specific subspecialty, for example, joint replacement or sports medicine, for another year or more. 

At Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, our surgeons are all board-certified or board-eligible and fellowship-trained. That means you get the benefit of highly focused care, attuned to the specific cause of your chronic pain. 

Here, you get care from specialists who understand how your body moves and how to fix it when it doesn’t. Whether you’re dealing with a sports injury, arthritis, or wear-and-tear over time, our doctors have the expertise to treat your pain at its source.

2. Advanced diagnostics

Before you can fix a problem like chronic pain, you need to know exactly what’s wrong. Orthopedic specialists combine physical exams and their deep knowledge of the musculoskeletal system with highly advanced diagnostics like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to pinpoint the problem. 

In addition, orthopedists can use procedures like arthroscopy, a minimally invasive approach to viewing joints from within to diagnose — and, sometimes, treat — the source of pain.

We use state-of-the-art tools to diagnose your condition correctly, the first time. We don’t believe in guesswork. Accurate diagnosis means a better plan, faster results, and fewer setbacks. It’s the first and most important step toward recovery, and we’re here to guide you through it.

3. Comprehensive treatment options

Orthopedists are also known as orthopedic surgeons, but that doesn’t mean surgery is the only solution for chronic pain — far from it! Our orthopedists draw upon a full spectrum of pain management options.

We provide comprehensive treatment solutions, from physical therapy to joint injections to joint replacement. By coordinating the full range of treatments in one place, we help you focus on healing, not the hassle.

Seeing an orthopedist means you can focus on what helps your body function the best, free from pain.

4. Long-term solutions

Pain that lasts for months or years can wear you down. We’re here to repair the damage and stop your chronic pain from taking over your life. 

Our experienced orthopedists focus not only on immediate relief but setting you up for living without the pain. We know that you need to function well at work and home, and we believe that you deserve to enjoy normal activities like exercise, playing with the kids, and traveling without chronic pain dragging you down. 

We have some of the highest Medicare quality scores in the area and a longtime reputation for exemplary orthopedic care, so you can trust us to not just manage pain but help you heal. To find real relief from chronic pain, connect with us online to visit one of our convenient locations in Schertz, Live Oak, or San Antonio, Texas, and get back to living life on your terms.