When to See a Sports Medicine Surgeon Near Montvale

Learn About Sports Injuries and Whether You Need to See a Surgeon

The anticipation, the rush of adrenaline, the crowd cheering in the distance—sound familiar? If you are a passionate athlete, you live for these moments. Engaged in your sport, whether it be playing on the field or skating in the ice rink, swimming in the pool or hiking in the mountains, you feel unstoppable at your best.

But what about when you’re not at your best? When an injury strikes and prevents you from participating in your sport, it can feel devastating. But you don’t have to feel this way for long.

Injured athletes in North Jersey, we have great news: a Sports Medicine surgeon near Montvale is available to see you. The Sports Medicine team at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute is dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries of all kinds. Our surgeons perform more than 10,000 Sports Medicine surgeries per year, which speaks to our expansive experience in the field of orthopaedics! If you believe you may need Sports Medicine physician, you have come to the right place.

Sports Injuries: Levels of Severity

The first thing you should know about athletic injuries is every case is unique. Athletes who have the same type of injury may have different levels of pain due to numerous factors, such as the conditions of the incident or body type. Because of this, our Sports Medicine doctors approach each patient’s injury with an individualized treatment plan that suits both the injury and the patient.

Sprains, for example, are graded by level of severity. Grade One indicates slight stretching with minimal damage to the ligament; Grade Two signifies partial tearing of the ligament; Grade Three demonstrates a complete ligament tear. This grading system helps doctors broadly determine the type and amount of treatment that is required for healing.

Below are some common sports injuries our doctors diagnose and treat frequently. Many of these are diagnosed with imaging tests, not only as a way of confirming the type of injury, but also to observe the amount of damage.

• Tendonitis: inflammation of a tendon, attached to the bone or muscle. Tendonitis commonly impacts athletes’ elbows, shoulders, and knees.

• Bursitis: inflammation of the jelly-like sacs located between bones and soft tissues. Overuse can cause bursa in the elbow, knee, hip, shoulder, or ankle to swell.

• Sprains and Strains: sprains affect ligaments, whereas strains refer to muscles and tendons. These injuries vary from uncomfortable stretching to tears.

• Fractures: partial or complete break in a bone. Fractures can occur in any sports but are more commonly in contact sports or during a collision.

Severe injuries, such as a Grade Three sprain or a complete fracture, will likely require a surgical procedure to heal properly.

Ask a Sports Medicine Surgeon Near Montvale

You cannot determine whether you need surgery based on your level of pain alone. Always see a doctor for a physical examination. If your doctor does recommend surgery for your sports injury, she or he should help you prepare for the procedure by explaining what you should do the night before, the steps of the procedure itself, and recovery details. Above all, your doctor should be comforting and clearly communicate their expectations for the procedure.

Rothman Orthopaedic Institute is a world-renowned, trusted orthopaedic practice. Our Sports Medicine specialists are highly-trained, passionate physicians and surgeons who strive to get their athletic patients back to playing the sports they love. For more information about our services in North Jersey, or to schedule an appointment with a Sports Medicine surgeon near Montvale, please visit us here or contact us at 1-800-321-9999.