Orthopedic Care FAQs

Orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons are doctors – MDs or DOs who have completed four years of medical school, five to six years of surgical residency and an additional year of fellowship training in foot and ankle care. By comparison, a podiatrist (or DPM) is required to complete four years of podiatry school, followed by two years of residency training.

As a result of this rigorous training, orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons are not only well qualified to care for both common and complex foot and ankle issues, but possess extensive knowledge of the entire human body and its relationship to lower extremity issues. While pain may present in your foot, it’s not uncommon for the root cause of this pain to originate in your hips or back.  A comprehensive understanding of the body’s entire musculoskeletal system allows an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon to take the context of your entire health into account when diagnosing and treating problems.

Click here for a complete list of Orthopedic ONE fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeons.

Consider seeing an orthopedic specialist when pain persists, limits your movement or interferes with daily activities. A specialist can identify the cause and discuss surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. Traumatic bone or joint injuries caused by an accident or fall may require immediate orthopedic trauma and fracture care.

An orthopedic surgeon treats conditions affecting the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons and can perform surgery when necessary. Sports medicine focuses on preventing and rehabilitating activity-related injuries.

Orthopedic ONE’s sports medicine program includes primary care sports medicine physicians, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers and physical therapists. The right provider depends on the condition and whether surgical expertise may be needed.

A referral is generally not required to see an Orthopedic ONE physician. However, your insurance provider may require one. Review your plan’s requirements before you request an orthopedic appointment.

Pain while using stairs may need an individual evaluation because several knee conditions can cause similar symptoms. Orthopedic ONE’s knee specialists diagnose and treat conditions associated with overuse, patellofemoral pain syndrome, patellar tendinitis, muscle strains, ligament sprains, arthritis and cartilage injuries.

Not every meniscus tear automatically requires surgery. Orthopedic ONE offers both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for meniscus tears. A knee specialist can evaluate the location and nature of the injury and recommend an appropriate treatment plan. Learn more about the conditions treated by Orthopedic ONE’s knee specialists.

An ACL injury can destabilize the knee and may cause instability during sports or everyday activities. Sports such as soccer, volleyball, basketball, and lacrosse place repeated stress on the ACL due to frequent jumping and changing direction. However, ACL injuries are rarely caused by contact and are not limited to competitive athletes. Adults can experience ACL tears during recreational activities, low-intensity sports, and even awkward falls. Because other knee injuries can cause similar problems, an evaluation is needed for an accurate diagnosis. Orthopedic ONE’s sports medicine specialists treat ACL injuries and other activity-related knee conditions.

Lingering shoulder pain or pain that keeps you awake at night may be a sign of a rotator cuff tear, particularly in adults over 40. Tendinitis, bursitis, arthritis and shoulder impingement can also cause pain, so an orthopedic shoulder specialist should determine the underlying cause.

Nonsurgical treatment options may include personalized exercise, weight management, physical therapy, activity modification, corticosteroid injections and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Depending on the extent of joint damage, other options may include biologic therapies, cartilage restoration, osteotomy, partial knee replacement or total knee replacement. Orthopedic ONE’s joint preservation specialists work to preserve the natural joint and delay replacement whenever appropriate.

Hip replacement may be considered when advanced arthritis or significant joint deterioration causes ongoing pain and reduced function. Younger or active patients with early-stage arthritis, labral tears or structural hip conditions may be candidates for treatments designed to preserve the natural joint.

An orthopedic hip specialist can assess the condition and determine whether joint preservation or hip replacement should be considered.

Recovery varies according to the patient and treatment plan. The Orthopedic ONE patient education library provides a Step-by-Step Guide to Total Knee Replacement and Recovery, preoperative education and home-exercise resources. Your physician and care team will provide instructions based on your procedure and individual needs.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition caused by cartilage breakdown. It can lead to chronic pain, swelling, stiffness and structural changes within a joint. Orthopedic ONE provides joint preservation treatments intended to relieve symptoms and slow joint deterioration.

Sports injuries are generally related to overuse, repetitive activity, collisions or falls. They may include strains, sprains, fractures, dislocations and tendon or ligament tears. These conditions are evaluated through Orthopedic ONE’s sports medicine program.

Yes. Physical therapy is often a first-line treatment for musculoskeletal pain and injuries. A treatment plan may include therapeutic exercise, manual treatment, pain-relief techniques, activity changes and injury-prevention education.

For some patients with osteoarthritis, physical therapy and other conservative treatments may help delay or avoid joint-replacement surgery. Learn more about Orthopedic ONE’s approach to joint preservation.

Plan to arrive approximately 15-30 minutes early to complete paperwork and registration. Your physician will evaluate your condition, review relevant medical and imaging information and discuss appropriate treatment options.

Review Orthopedic ONE’s complete first-visit instructions before your appointment, and consider these 5 Questions to Ask During your First Appointment.

Depending on the condition, an orthopedic evaluation may involve X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans or bone scans. Orthopedic ONE offers convenient, on-site X-rays, MRI suites and fluoroscopy. EMG and nerve-conduction studies are available for certain nerve-related conditions.

If you have already received imaging elsewhere, Orthopedic ONE’s first-visit guide explains how to bring those images to your appointment.

Many orthopedic conditions may have nonsurgical treatment options. Examples include certain meniscus, MCL and PCL injuries; low back pain; early osteoarthritis; plantar fasciitis; some Achilles tendon injuries; tennis or golfer’s elbow; and elbow bursitis.

Treatment may include physical therapy, exercise, activity modification, medication or injections. Orthopedic ONE begins with a conservative approach to orthopedic treatment when appropriate.

Traumatic bone or joint injuries caused by accidents or falls typically require immediate attention from a trained orthopedic trauma specialist. Orthopedic ONE provides specialized trauma and fracture care for complex injuries. If you’re unsure whether your injury requires immediate care, our “Can It Wait?” resource can help you understand when to seek urgent orthopedic treatment.

Urgent appointment requests should be made by phone rather than through the online appointment form.  If you have a life or limb-threatening condition or injury, you should immediately call 911 or head to your nearest Emergency Department.

Bring the following items:

• Completed medical history and registration forms
• A list of prescription and over-the-counter medications
• Your pharmacy’s name and contact information
• Your insurance card and copayment
• Any referral required by your insurance plan
• Relevant X-rays, CT scans, MRI films or bone scans completed elsewhere

Additional preparation details are available in Orthopedic ONE’s first-visit checklist.

5 Questions to Ask During Your First Orthopedic Appointment.

Urgent appointment requests can be made by calling the Orthopedic ONE office most convenient for you. Urgent requests should not be submitted through the online form.

The appointment request page does not guarantee same-day availability, so patients should call the office directly to discuss scheduling options. Orthopedic ONE offers several convenient locations throughout central Ohio.

Select a specialist based on the affected area or type of condition:

• Hip specialists treat hip pain, arthritis, labral tears and related conditions.
• Knee specialists treat ligament injuries, meniscus tears, arthritis and other knee conditions.
• Shoulder specialists treat rotator cuff injuries, instability, arthritis and shoulder pain.
• Foot and ankle specialists treat conditions affecting the foot, heel and ankle.
• Hand and wrist specialists treat hand, finger and wrist conditions.
• Elbow specialists treat elbow injuries, bursitis and overuse conditions.
• Sports medicine specialists treat athletic and activity-related injuries.
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians provide nonsurgical treatment for musculoskeletal, spine and nerve-related pain.
• Trauma and fracture specialists treat complex injuries caused by accidents and falls.
• General orthopedic physicians can evaluate all musculoskeletal pain, and when the appropriate specialty is unclear.

*Not every physician or service is available at every Orthopedic ONE office.

Unsure of where to start? Give us a call, or complete our online appointment request form and a member of our scheduling team will contact you directly.