In today’s world, patients have access to an extensive amount of information through their electronic medical records. This can be a blessing and a curse.
Dr. Gobezie discusses how an MRI shoulder scan is simply a tool that doctors use as a possible starting point for determining a patient’s plan of care. The MRI scan alone is not a diagnosis. MRI’s can under or over estimate a patient’s problem.
If a patient wants proper treatment, it is best to consult an orthopedic specialist for a physical examination and a discussion of symptoms. A typical orthopedic examination includes questions about a patient’s medical history, current symptoms, pain location, activity level, previous injuries, and details about the specific joint or area causing concern, often accompanied by physical tests to assess range of motion, stability, and potential points of tenderness.
A doctor may ask questions like: “When did your pain start?”, “What activities aggravate your pain?”, “Can you describe the quality of your pain?”, “Do you have any clicking or popping sensations in the joint?”, “What is your current level of activity?” and depending on the situation, specific questions about potential injuries like “Did you hear a pop when you were injured?” or “Have you had any recent falls?”. An in-person assessment would also include range of motion, stability, tenderness and muscle strength testing.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Gobezie, call us at 844-746-8537.