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When to See an Orthopedic Doctor

Whether you’re playing pickleball, picking up a toddler, or hoisting a suitcase into the overhead bin, life can be tough on your joints and muscles.

If you experience pain or stiffness when you move, you may need to see an orthopedic doctor. Specialists at NYU Langone Orthopedics offer nonsurgical treatments, including medications and injections, to relieve acute and chronic conditions of the bones, muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. When surgery is needed, our renowned team of specialized orthopedic surgeons provide excellent outcomes in joint replacements and surgical treatment for fractures, spinal disorders, and sports injuries.

With the right care plan, our specialists will help you manage your orthopedic condition or injury and get you back to the activities you enjoy.

Before seeing us, you may need to schedule an appointment with a primary care doctor or other provider for a referral to the right type of specialist for your symptoms. You can also explore our team of specialists to schedule an appointment directly. Some subspecialists, such as our spine surgeons, require a referral and imaging tests before an office visit.

When to Consider Seeing an Orthopedic Doctor

You may want to see an orthopedic doctor if you have:

  • muscle, joint, or bone pain in your hips, knees, ankles, wrists, shoulders, or back
  • instability when walking or standing
  • loss of range of motion in your hips, knees, ankles, wrists, or shoulders
  • a loud pop or popping sensation in your knees or shoulders
  • severe pain that keeps you from participating in an activity, even just walking
  • swelling of your joints
  • back pain plus other symptoms, such as loss of bladder or bowel control, fever, chills, or night sweats
  • a broken bone from traumatic injury or sports-related injuries

Which Type of Orthopedic Specialist Will You See?

The type of orthopedic specialist you see at NYU Langone depends on your symptoms and what other providers, if any, you have already seen for treatment.

Back Pain Relief

If you have back pain, your primary care provider may refer you to initially for physical or occupational therapy at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation. If this approach does not provide adequate relief or if your symptoms are more complex, your doctor may order imaging exams and refer you to a spine surgeon with specific training in treating the conditions that cause back pain, including degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, and spinal stenosis.

Shoulder and Elbow Care

If you have shoulder or elbow stiffness or pain, your primary care provider may refer you to one of our specialists in shoulder and elbow care. Advanced training allows our doctors to manage conditions such torn rotator cuff, shoulder labral tears, shoulder sprains and strains, and shoulder and elbow fractures. Medications, injections, physical or occupational therapy, or surgery may be part of your treatment plan.

Help for Hips and Knees

Hip pain may be a symptom of osteoarthritis, while knee instability or pain may be a sign of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, meniscus tear, or osteoarthritis. When medical treatment or physical or occupational therapy are no longer effective, our hip and knee reconstruction specialists can determine whether joint replacement surgery is necessary, and offer minimally invasive and other advanced procedures as part of your plan.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Relief

If you have joint pain in many joints in your body, your primary care doctor may refer you to a rheumatologist who specializes in rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that causes the immune system to mistakenly attacks healthy joints. If you need further treatment, your rheumatologist may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon for joint replacement surgery.

Specialty Care for Everyday Athletes

If musculoskeletal pain is keeping you from participating in your favorite sport or activity, your doctor may refer you to a sports medicine doctor. These orthopedic specialists treat everyday athletes with all types of sports-related injuries, such as sprains, strains, tears, and breaks—with or without surgery. At NYU Langone, sports medicine doctors work as a team with highly trained physical therapists, nutritionists, and other support specialists, who take the time to understand how your pain impacts your life and goals, and how they can help you achieve them.