Live a Life Free From Chronic Pain

Your ability to move depends on the health of your bones, joints, tendons, muscles and nerves. Even the most routine tasks can become challenging if you struggle with chronic joint pain or a severe injury. A customized orthopedic care plan created by our orthopedic doctors can ease your pain.

Embrace a Pain-Free Future

The longer a patient ignores chronic conditions, the higher the chance they may need more invasive surgery. Do not delay checkups with an orthopedic doctor in Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, as non-invasive chronic joint pain treatment may be possible if your condition is diagnosed early.

Our focused, multidisciplinary team includes internists, anesthesiologists, orthopedic surgeons, nurses and occupational and physical therapists. We will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan, from diagnosis to recovery. Whether it’s a torn rotator cuff, herniated disk or a badly damaged knee that needs total replacement, we have the technology and experience to help you.

Why Do My Joints Hurt?

Joints are where your bones meet, allowing you to move your hips, elbows, knees and shoulders. If your joint hurts, it may be caused by any of the following:

• Bursitis
• Cancer
• Chondromalacia of the patella (breakdown of cartilage in the kneecap)
• Fibromyalgia
• Gout
• Infection of the bone or joint
• Infectious diseases, such as mumps, influenza and hepatitis
• Injury
• Lupus
• Osteoporosis
• Overuse of the joint
• Rickets
• Sarcoidosis
• Tendinitis (inflammation of the tendon)

What Does Orthopedics Mean?

Orthopedics is the diagnosis, treatment and management of conditions concerning the human musculoskeletal system. These include injuries, chronic illnesses and congenital disorders that affect the joints, bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons.

What Is an Orthopedic Doctor?

Orthopedic doctors are physicians who focus on caring for your musculoskeletal system. If you are injured due to sports or other physical activity, our orthopedic doctors are the ones to consult for proper diagnosis and treatment. They can help you manage arthritis, back pain and other musculoskeletal system conditions that usually worsen when neglected.

What Does an Orthopedic Doctor Do?

An orthopedic specialist has gone through years of clinical training and education to diagnose, treat, manage properly and prevent musculoskeletal illnesses, conditions and injuries. An orthopedic doctor may further specialize in one or more of these areas:

• Arthroscopy and sports medicine
• Hand and upper extremity
• Joint replacement surgery
• Pediatric orthopedics
• Podiatry (foot and ankle)
• Trauma and spine surgery
• Tumor (musculoskeletal oncology)

What Types of Conditions Are Diagnosed in Orthopedic Hospitals?

Our orthopedic surgeons are dedicated to diagnosing, treating, preventing and managing a long list of musculoskeletal conditions, such as:

• Arthritis
• Back pain
• Bone cancer
• Bone fractures
• Bone tumors
• Bursitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Knee pain
• Hip pain
• Ligament, muscle or tendon injuries
• Limb abnormalities
• Osteoporosis
• Shoulder pain
• Scoliosis
• Sports injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Tendonitis
• Wrist pain

An orthopedic doctor may ask you about the symptoms and other signs you experience and your medical and family history to provide you with the necessary treatment. You may also need to undergo a physical exam. Based on your initial medical assessment, an orthopedic doctor may recommend further screenings to get a clearer picture of your condition, such as:

• Arthrogram (joint X-ray)
• Blood tests
• Bone scans
• CT scans
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
• Nerve conduction studies
• X-rays
• Ultrasounds

What Is Orthopedic Surgery?

At first, orthopedic doctors may recommend nonsurgical approaches to treat your condition. These procedures may include:

• Braces, casts, boots or sleeves
• Complementary therapies (i.e., acupuncture, yoga, etc.)
• Home exercise programs
• Ice or heat therapy
• Massage therapy
• Muscle relaxants
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy
• Prescription medications
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Ointments
• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers
• Steroid injections

When nonsurgical procedures still do not treat your pain or condition, our orthopedic surgeons may recommend specific surgical treatment options for your case. Here are some of the treatments we offer:

Artificial Disc Replacement

Some people with chronic low back pain may have a damaged spinal disc or damaged cushioning between the series of small bones that make up the backbone (vertebrae). These discs maintain spine stability, provide absorption and give the backbone “pivot points” for movement. However, certain types of pressure can irritate and strain the discs, resulting in back pain that non-invasive procedures may not be able to relieve.

Artificial disk replacement may not suit all patients with low back pain, so a thorough diagnosis must be made to assess whether a patient is a good candidate. A surgeon will have to remove the problematic disc and replace it with an artificial disc in this surgical procedure.

Arthroscopic Surgery

Arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that allows orthopedic surgeons to inspect the interior of a problematic joint in order to plan treatments for it. In this surgery, a surgeon will make a small incision in the patient’s skin and insert small, specialized instruments with a camera and lighting. The surgeon will view the inside of a joint on a video monitor.

Bone Grafting Surgery

In bone grafting surgery, a surgeon will take a bone from other parts of a patient’s body and transplant it to the damaged or diseased bones.

Fracture Repair Surgery

Fracture is the term for a broken bone. If not treated immediately, the bone may not heal correctly. In a fracture repair surgery, a surgeon will place each bone into its normal anatomical position.

Joint Replacement Surgery

Also known as arthroplasty, this surgery uses prosthetics to replace and reconstruct damaged joints. It is commonly performed on the knee, hip and shoulder.

Orthopedic Director Nurse Navigator

Rest assured that you will have an orthopedic director nurse navigator to partner with your primary care physician and orthopedic surgeon to guide you throughout your orthopedic treatment. This is to ensure your care is efficient, compassionate and individualized. From diagnosis and treatment to rehab and follow-up, you can get all your orthopedic care needs at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.

The Orthopedic Director Nurse Navigator will:

• Guide you through the healthcare system
• Advocate on your behalf to enhance your communication experience with healthcare staff and providers
• Work with you to find the resources and support you need
• Coordinate services through the continuum of orthopedic care

Your successful recovery is our goal. It is our mission to exceed your expectations. Your satisfaction and patient experience are our top priorities.

Why Choose Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center

Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center has been named a Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities that show a commitment to delivering high-quality patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.

Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers® for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions.

Orthopedic Director Nurse Navigator

Need orthopedic urgent care? Fill out the contact form below, and we’ll connect you to our Orthopedic Navigator.