Receiving proper medical care is imperative for any injury or condition, so as selecting a healthcare provider. At Watauga Orthopaedics, we are proud of our exceptional orthopedic team, which includes an experienced sports medicine physician, Dr. Eric Parks.
Here are some tips to get the most out of your orthopedic treatment visits with this orthopedic specialist.
One, Tell the Sports Medicine Doctor About Your Injury or Condition
Maybe you have a sore elbow from playing tennis or plantar fasciitis from running. When you meet with Dr. Parks, be sure to tell him how long you have had pain, along with its location, intensity, and what may start or relieve it. Be very specific so your sports medicine physician can consider how your overall health, medical history, physical condition, training habits, and other injuries, may factor into your diagnosis and treatment plan.
Two, Describe What You Want from Treatment
In other words, tell your orthopedic specialist your desired therapeutic outcomes. Examples are:
- Better efficiency in training and playing (good effort for even better results)
- Helping you set realistic training goals
- No recurrence of an injury and avoidance of new injuries, including degenerative musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis
- Management of pain and other symptoms of dysfunction and injury
- How to use bracing, taping, and assistive devices to support and protect during athletic activity
Also, you should improve your diet, nutritional supplementation, and hydration methods. Your sports medicine doctor can address all these areas and ones you may have yet to think of.
Three, Ask Questions About Your Treatment Plan
Sometimes, sports injuries require surgery. Examples include rotator cuff or ACL repairs via arthroscopic (small incision) surgery. However, your sports medicine doctor would, if possible, prefer to use supportive and regenerative treatments to heal your injury or manage your condition–and so would you.
So, ask if you can avoid or postpone surgery. Also, if applicable, inquire about:
- Physical therapy (what it may involve, for how long, and what it may accomplish)
- The roles of durable medical equipment (DME)
- How much simple rest, ice, compression, and elevation would help your injury
- Regenerative treatments, such as platelet-rich plasma therapy and ultrasound treatments
- Customized orthotics to correct balance and gait problems in the foot and ankle
In addition, if you do need surgery and/or extensive physical therapy, what is your recovery timeline? How will the sports medicine specialist determine when you can return to playing your team sport or doing your usual exercise routines? Are there any motions or activities which will be off-limits, and for how long?
Remember that getting the most out of your orthopedic treatment with Dr. Parks and his sports medicine team involves education. The most successfully recovered patients we have at our orthopedic clinic are the ones who are passionate about in-depth knowledge regarding their conditions and how to manage them for the long term.
State-of-The-Art Sports Medicine in Kingsport, Tennessee
At Watauga Orthopaedics, we deliver an amazing array of orthopedic services, including convenient walk-in care and sports medicine services focused on getting you back to your active life. Dr. Eric Parks is our board-certified family medicine physician who is fellowship trained in sports medicine. He is an amateur athlete, too, so he understands the concerns and injuries active people have.
To arrange your in-office consultation, call us today at (423) 282-9011 or fill out our online appointment request form.
