Syracuse Area Health – Strasburger Orthopaedics

When To See An Orthopaedic Doctor

Have you suffered a bone injury in your arm or leg? Do you suffer from chronic joint pain? Injuries to your bones, joints, cartilage, tendons, muscles, nerves or ligaments indicate the need to see an orthopaedist. This type of specialist treats both acute injuries and chronic issues, and can help repair damage and relieve pain.

In some cases, your primary care doctor may refer you to an orthopaedist after examining you and arriving at a preliminary diagnosis. At other times, you may go straight to an orthopaedic office if you have suffered a specific type of injury. Your orthopaedic specialist should be able to bring a wide range of treatments to the table, including non-surgical and surgical procedures.     

When to See an Orthopaedic Doctor

The following symptoms indicate you need to go see an orthopaedist for evaluation:

A new soft tissue injury that fails to improve over a 48-hour period:

  • Sports injuries (twisting, impact, or a fall)
  • Trauma (car or bike accident, or a fall)

Chronic joint and bone problems:

  • Pain that is constant or intermittent (neck, knee, elbows, and/or back)
  • Joint issues (stiffness and reduction in range of motion) 
  • Mobility issues (inability to perform everyday tasks) 

Orthopaedic Treatment Options

Your first visit to our office will allow Dr. Strasburger to evaluate your injury or condition and create a treatment plan. He’ll ask questions, perform a complete exam, and order any tests he feels will provide more information about the source of your pain or loss of mobility.  

Dr. Strasburger believes in conservative treatment when possible. We offer a full range of therapies and treatment options that are non surgical and minimally invasive. Many therapies can be combined for a complete treatment plan designed to focus on the root of your problem while relieving symptoms like stiffness, swelling, and pain. One example is platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP, which uses the healing properties in your own blood to boost the recovery process. 

If necessary, Dr. Strasburger will perform surgery to repair damage to joints or bones. In many cases, joint surgery can be accomplished using arthroscopy. This type of procedure allows surgery to be completed through tiny incisions using very small tools guided by a camera mounted on a flexible scope. Arthroscopic surgery provides excellent results for many common orthopaedic injuries and for arthritic conditions that require surgery, and typically has a short recovery time.

If you need more significant surgery, like a joint replacement, Dr. Strasburger will work with you to create a solid preoperative and postoperative care plan. This can include administering iovera° cryotherapy injections to “freeze” nerves in your knee prior to surgery, delivering weeks of postoperative pain relief. 

Dr. Strasburger is also trained in the CORI◊ robotics-assisted surgical system for knee replacement, which can make your knee surgery go faster and shorten your recovery time while giving you more range of motion and flexibility post-op.   

If you have suffered an injury or are experiencing chronic pain, contact our office to make an appointment. Dr. Strasburger can provide you with the orthopaedic care you need to restore your mobility and relieve your pain. 

◊ is a trademark of Smith & Nephew

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *