Many people are reluctant to visit a doctor when they experience shoulder problems because they are afraid about what will happen there and the final outcome of their experience. What they do not realize is that most of the times, by waiting, they are only making their condition worse. To this extent, this is what happens during a regular consult of any experienced orthopaedic surgeon Sydney:

You will be asked about your medical history
This is a crucial step in correctly assessing a patient’s condition and it will help your surgeon determine the root of your problems. He may ask you how your problems started, where it first hurt, if you treated the pain with anything and other questions that will help him diagnose you successfully. This is the part where you have to be completely opened with your doctor and not hold anything back. Usually, shoulder problems are aggravated by specific activities, so make sure you tell your shoulder surgeon Sydney exactly what caused your pain.

The Physical examination
After having reviewed your medical history, the next thing any orthopaedic surgeon in Sydney does is a physical exam. Your doctor will look for any abnormalities in your shoulder such as swelling, muscle weakness, deformity or anything else that might reveal your problems. He will also check your shoulder strength and motion range.

The tests
Even though nobody likes to be poked around, everything is necessary to establish a correct course of treatment, which is why you should follow the indications of your doctor thoroughly. The tests for a shoulder problem can vary from one case to another, but usually they can involve X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and ultrasounds and electrical studies. These are all non-invasive tests that will not make you uncomfortable. Your doctor may also require an arthrogram or an arthroscopy to determine if you have soft tissue injuries or asses the condition of your muscles and tendons.

These are the main steps of any shoulder examination that you should expect when visiting a shoulder surgeon in Sydney. After having completed these steps, your doctor will determine if your problems can be solved through physical therapy and medication or if you need to undergo surgery. Most people are afraid that their doctor will immediately recommend surgery, when in fact most cases can be solved without ever needing it. The point is that the sooner you visit your doctor, the less likely you are to need surgery.

Even though visiting the doctor can be a very stressful experience, you have to keep in mind that everything is for the best. Shoulder problems can be very painful and uncomfortable so the sooner you visit a specialist, the sooner you will get better. The recovery process of any patient varies from one case to another, but you will discuss all the details with your doctor and he will tell you what you can expect and how long it will take before you start to notice improvements.

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