Physio, Podiatrist or Orthopaedic Surgeon? Who to See for Pain
When pain arises, it’s natural to seek the advice and help of a professional. No matter whether your pain is from a temporary or chronic condition, your search for guidance is just as important. But understanding exactly who is the best person to see can be confusing.
If you are struggling to know whether you should reach out to a physio, podiatrist or orthopaedic surgeon, you’re not alone. But rest assured that we have you covered. Here’s everything you need to know.
Understanding Each Specialist’s Role
Let’s start by breaking down each specialist’s role.
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists specialise in restoring proper movement and reducing pain after injury, illness or surgery. They can diagnose and treat a variety of conditions using a large number of techniques including stretching and strengthening exercises, massage, hydrotherapy, joint manipulation and more. Their work covers the entire body, focusing on the areas that are causing you the most pain and discomfort.
Podiatrists
Podiatrists specialise in the feet, ankles and lower legs to ensure that your body is properly supported, aligned and balanced. They too address a wide range of issues, working to diagnose and treat your pain. Their treatment could include a range of approaches from prescribing orthotics to performing minor surgery.
Orthopaedic Surgeons
Orthopaedics is the medical speciality that is devoted to the musculoskeletal system. They focus on allowing your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles to work optimally together to reduce your pain. They are qualified to perform surgical procedures, including major surgeries to treat a variety of conditions including knee and hip replacements, spine and limb deformities, reconstructive surgeries and more.
When to See a Physiotherapist
A physiotherapist works to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions that impact your bones, muscles, nerves, joints, tendons and ligaments. For many types of musculoskeletal pain, a physiotherapist may be able to help. They offer a range of treatment options that will aid the following:
- Pain that is made worse with movement or activity
- Pain that is ongoing with no signs of improvement
- Pain that is severe and affecting your ability to move
- Pain that is affecting your quality of life
- Rehabilitation from a recent sports injury
- Rehabilitation from a recent surgery
When to See a Podiatrist
If you are experiencing pain or discomfort particularly in the feet, ankles or lower legs then a podiatrist should be your first point of call. They specialise in these areas and will have the requisite knowledge, experience and technology capabilities to diagnose and treat your condition. If you are experiencing any of the following, it’s time to schedule an appointment:
- You suffer with bunions
- You’ve noticed corns or calluses
- You suspect that you have an ingrown toenail
- You have plantar fasciitis
- You suffer with a fungal toenail
- You have unexplained pain in your foot, ankle or lower leg
When to See an Orthopaedic Surgeon
If you are have a musculoskeletal condition then an orthopaedic surgeon is a good place to start. Consider making an appointment if your pain or discomfort aligns with the following:
- You have a limited range of movement
- Your symptoms are affecting your daily function
- You have difficulty standing or moving around
- You have tried traditional pain medications without improvement
Some musculoskeletal injuries are considered emergencies, so although an orthopaedic surgeon can treat your condition, it’s important to seek emergency help if you suspect that you have broken a bone or your pain is intense and accompanied by other concerning symptoms.
Collaborative Care
When it comes to pain management, every person’s journey is unique. So although you may start at one of the professionals outlined above, collaborative care could be the most effective approach. For example, a physiotherapist will often help with physical rehabilitation after a surgery. In a similar manner, the pain that has landed you in the physiotherapist clinic could require orthotics to treat, in which case you would benefit from seeing a podiatrist as well.
Your care isn’t mutually exclusive which enables you to receive the best combination of care for your needs. When it comes to restoring movement, reducing pain and restoring your quality of life, it’s often a collaborative approach.
But rest assured that you don’t need all of the answers straight away. If collaborative care between a physiotherapist, podiatrist and orthopaedic surgeon is needed, they will advise of this during your appointments. Simply seek the advice of the professional that you think best suits your needs and they will assist with any collaborative care.
Referral Pathways
If you want to seek the advice of a professional to treat your pain there are a number of options available to you.
GP referral
As with any illness or injury, you may begin your journey at your GP surgery, seeking the advice from your doctor. They may perform some examinations and arrange for scans, or they could refer you straight to a physiotherapist, podiatrist or orthopaedic surgeon. This will depend on the outcome of their assessment and who they think will best treat your needs.
Emergency care
Another way that you may end up needing the care of a physiotherapist, podiatrist or orthopaedic surgeon stems from emergency care. Perhaps you have broken a bone or had an accident. Regardless of the reason for your pain, you may need physical rehabilitation afterwards to get you back to proper movement and restore your quality of life.
Personal referral
If you are more informed about your illness or injury, or have a prior diagnosis, then you may opt to reach out directly to a clinic and refer yourself. This is mostly the case for injuries such as muscle strains, and smaller aches and pains. The majority of physiotherapists and podiatrists can be accessed personally without the need for a GP referral.
If you are looking to refer yourself for diagnosis and treatment, get in touch with the experts at Optimise Health. Offering both physiotherapy and podiatry care, you’ll enjoy internal referrals where needed for efficient and fast collaborative care. Get started today by booking a consultation.
