An orthopedic doctor — also called an orthopedist — focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing problems with the bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons. These parts of your body make up the musculoskeletal system. The word “orthopedic” originally meant “straighten children,” as the field first helped children with bone and spine issues. Today, orthopedic doctors care for people of all ages, treating everything from broken bones and joint pain to sports injuries and long-term conditions like arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Your primary care doctor might refer you to an orthopedic doctor if you have problems with your bones, joints, or muscles that require expert care. This could be due to an injury, such as a broken bone or torn ligament, or a chronic condition like arthritis or back pain. You might also see an orthopedic doctor if you’re experiencing pain, swelling, stiffness, or difficulty moving part of your body. They specialize in diagnosing and treating these issues and may suggest treatments like physical therapy, medication, or surgery to help you heal and regain strength.  

“Orthopedic” is the branch of medicine that focuses on treating the musculoskeletal system. An “orthopedist” is a doctor who practices in this field. For example, if you have a broken bone, you might see an orthopedist (the doctor) who specializes in orthopedic (musculoskeletal) care. Think of it this way — orthopedic describes what they do, and orthopedist describes who they are. 

Orthopedic doctors (orthopedists) and orthopedic surgeons both treat musculoskeletal conditions, but only surgeons perform surgeries. Orthopedic doctors focus on non-surgical methods. Surgeries include: 

• Joint replacement surgeries: These replace worn-out joints, such as the knee or hip, with artificial ones. This is often done for arthritis patients to relieve pain and improve movement. 

• Arthroscopy: This minimally invasive procedure uses small tools and a camera to repair problems inside a joint, such as torn cartilage or ligament damage. 

• Fracture repair: Orthopedic doctors can stabilize broken bones using screws, plates, or rods to help them heal correctly. 

• Spinal surgeries: These include procedures like fixing a herniated disc, stabilizing the spine, or correcting scoliosis. 

• Tendon or ligament repairs: These surgeries fix injuries like a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee or a ruptured Achilles tendon in the ankle. 

Some surgeries are outpatient, meaning you can go home the same day, while others might require a hospital stay for recovery. 

There are various reasons why you may want to see a specialist, such as: 

• Your primary care provider recommends it. 

• Your condition requires expert knowledge and specialized care. 

• Your symptoms persist or worsen despite treatment. 

• You need specialized testing or procedures. 

• You want a second opinion.  

It’s important to see a provider with expertise in your specific condition. Each provider profile in MediFind’s doctor database includes information on which conditions they treat, years of experience, research contributions, languages spoken, insurance plans accepted, and more.  

You can find an Orthopedic Doctor in any of the 10 largest U.S. cities by clicking below:

Orthopedic Doctor near New York, NY
Orthopedic Doctor near Los Angeles, CA
Orthopedic Doctor near Chicago, IL
Orthopedic Doctor near Houston, TX
Orthopedic Doctor near Phoenix, AZ
Orthopedic Doctor near Philadelphia, PA
Orthopedic Doctor near Atlanta, GA
Orthopedic Doctor near Boston, MA
Orthopedic Doctor near Dallas, TX
Orthopedic Doctor near San Jose, CA

MediFind’s rankings are based on a variety of data sources, such as the number of articles a doctor has published in medical journals, participation in clinical trials and industry conferences, as well as the number of patients that provider sees for a given condition. Note that MediFind’s provider database is not based on user reviews, and providers do not pay to be included in the database. 

Most profiles in MediFind’s doctor database include a list of insurance plans accepted by that provider. However, it’s a good idea to contact the provider’s office to make sure they still accept your insurance, then doublecheck by contacting your insurance plan to confirm they’re in network. 

MediFind offers direct scheduling for certain providers using the “Request Appointment” button on that provider’s profile. If the schedule option is not available for a provider, tap the red “Show Phone Number” button on their profile to get their contact information. If you prefer to find providers who offer online scheduling, select “Schedules online” under the “Availability” category of the filter feature on the left side of the Orthopedic Doctor search results page. 

Second opinions are an opportunity to confirm a diagnosis and its root cause, learn about alternative treatment options, or simply gain peace of mind. Many people, especially those with serious diagnoses, get second opinions so they can understand all their options and make informed decisions, so don’t hesitate to get one if you have any doubts or need more information or clarification regarding your care. Note that some insurance plans require second opinions, while others don’t cover second opinions, so be sure to confirm with your insurance provider first.   

Prepare for your appointment by gathering the following items: 

• Copies of medical records (dating back at least one year) 

• Your medical history, including illnesses, medical conditions, surgeries, and other doctors you see 

• Family history of disease 

• List of current prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal remedies or supplements including names and doses 

• Allergies to medications, food, latex, insects, etc.  

• List of questions and concerns 

• Your insurance card 

You might also contact the provider’s office to see if they offer transportation or childcare services or if you’re allowed to bring a loved one for support or to take notes during your visit. 

Here are some sample questions: 

• Can you explain in simple terms what this condition is and how it’s treated? 

• What symptoms or side effects should I watch for? 

• What tests will be involved, and when can I expect results? 

• Are there other specialists I need to see? 

• What’s the best way to reach you if I have follow-up questions? 

MediFind’s Clinical Trials tool asks you a series of questions to help you narrow down your search by health condition, age, gender, location, how far you’re willing to travel, and more. Each question you answer filters down the number of trials until you find the ones that are most relevant to you. 

MediFind’s Latest Advances tool features summaries of recent articles published in medical journals. We use cutting-edge technology to scour medical publication databases for the latest research advancements on any given condition, then we simplify this information in a way that’s useful and easy to understand. 

Look for the filter feature on the left side of the Orthopedic Doctor search results page. Select “Female” or “Male” under the “Gender” category to search for female or male providers exclusively. If the “Any” option is selected, it will pull results for both male and female providers. 

Arthritis
Bone Tumor
Bursitis
Chondrosarcoma
Gout
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Osteoarthritis
Osteomalacia
Osteomyelitis
Osteoporosis
Osteosarcoma
Psoriatic Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Scleroderma
Tendinitis
Tenosynovitis

Look for the filter feature on the left-side of the Orthopedic Doctor search results page. Select “Offers telehealth visits” under the Availability category to search for providers who offer virtual appointments (video calls). 

Reviewed on: 11/07/24  

By: MediFind Medical Staff 

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