Mission Viejo Orthopedics

The Orange County Orthopedic Center specializes in quality care regarding Mission Viejo orthopedics. Patients visiting the center have access to the area’s best orthopedic doctors, who are able to:

• Make an accurate diagnosis
• Treat a wide range of orthopedic conditions

What differentiates an orthopedic surgeon from a typical doctor?

In addition to the standard medical school graduation, orthopedic doctors go on to graduate from a specialized orthopedic surgery residency program, with plenty of time spent in emergency rooms and operating rooms, and often complete subspecialty training in their area of interest. This allows the unique focus of orthopedic medicine to be learned directly. The focus of orthopedic medicine is on the musculoskeletal system. Often, orthopedic surgeons are trained beyond operative treatment – they also focus on total health care for athletes. Their surgical skills are advanced due to the precision required to treat several different orthopedic conditions.

Why is orthopedic medicine important?

At our Mission Viejo orthopedics center, we provide quality care that is very important when it comes to overall health. We handle issues in the musculoskeletal system and we place our focus on non-invasive procedures to provide relief. At our center, we see patients for conditions all over the body, from traumatic injuries to strained muscles and everything in between. Our patients also range from young athletes to older patients struggling with arthritis and chronic pain.

As orthopedic specialists, we can treat sports injuries, spinal cord trauma, car accident injuries, damaged nerves, compressed nerves, and more. We can also provide complete joint replacements to treat issues with elbows, hips, shoulders, and knees.

Without orthopedic medicine, many patients would suffer from invasive procedures attempted by other doctors. Instead, our intense knowledge of the entire musculoskeletal system allows us to diagnose challenging conditions, including problems in the body that can result in pain in a totally different area of the body.

Which conditions do you treat?

At our Mission Viejo orthopedics center, we see patients of all ages for a wide range of orthopedic conditions and injuries. Since orthopedics has to do with anything relating to the musculoskeletal system, there are many potential problems that fall under that umbrella of health care. Here is just an example of some of the conditions we see patients for:

• Achilles tendonitis – Pain and stiffness in the heel, located near the Achilles tendon
• Broken bones – Caused by a direct blow or fall, we see broken arms, legs, fingers, and even collarbones
• Bursitis – This can develop in more than one place on the body, such as the hip. The bursas are small sacs that reduce friction between tissue and bone, and they can become inflamed.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome – This condition is the compression of the carpal tunnel, which runs from your forearm to your hand.
• Golfer’s elbow or tennis elbow – Caused by overuse, these conditions are characterized by inflammation of tendons in the inside and outside of the elbow.
• Hamstring strain – This is an injury caused by overloading, and involves the muscle in the back of the thigh.
• Osteoarthritis – This is characterized by wear and tear to the joints that occurs over time, and it results in stiffness and pain.
• Plantar fasciitis – This foot condition is caused by inflammation of the band of tissue that supports the foot’s arch.
• Rotator cuff tear – Caused by injury, this condition is a tear in the group of tendons and muscles that secures your upper arm to the shoulder socket.
• Runner’s knee – A common injury among runners and other athletes, this is characterized by pain in the knee.
• Spinal stenosis – A narrowing of the spinal canal, resulting in pain.
• Sprains – A sprain (like in the ankle) occurs when a ligament’s fibers have been stretched or torn.

• Tendon tears – Your tendons attach bone to muscle. Tearing one can result in weakness and pain.
• Torn ACL – The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is located in the knee. Injuring it causes swelling, pain, and reduced range of motion.

How are orthopedic conditions diagnosed?

There are many different ways to diagnose orthopedic issues. The first step in a diagnosis is a physical examination by one of the doctors at our Mission Viejo orthopedics center. By checking your reflexes, strength, and range of motion, as well as asking you questions about your pain or discomfort, your doctor may be able to determine what the source of your orthopedic issue is.

In some cases, further testing (such as imaging tests like x-rays and MRIs) are needed in order to check out the severity of your problem, or rule out other possibilities.