The bottom line        

Orthopedic surgeons diagnose and treat conditions affecting your bones, muscles, and joints.

Treatment can include conservative measures, such as exercise and medication, or in some instances, operations like total knee replacement.

Orthopedic doctors can also assist with rehabilitation and help prevent the symptoms of an existing condition from getting worse.

Some examples of conditions that orthopedic doctors treat include:

bone fractures

arthritis

back or joint pain

You may also find that some orthopedic doctors subspecialize in a specific area of orthopedics, such as:

sports medicine

hand surgery

orthopedic trauma

To find an orthopedic surgeon, you can ask your primary care doctor for a referral or search an online database like the one provided by the AAOS.

To minimize any out-of-pocket expenses, ensure that the physician you choose is part of your health insurance company’s network and plan.