Patients often wonder when they should seek care for injuries or illnesses of the bones and joints. The truth is that most musculo-skeletal problems will heal themselves in six weeks’ time. The obvious is also true; if you have a broken bone “facing north and south instead if east and west,” it is best to seek care immediately. Problems with severe pain, significant swelling, or black and blue discoloration are best evaluated sooner rather than later. Other than those kinds of obvious problems, self-directed first aid will often solve the problem. Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE) is the first aid treatment of choice for every orthopedic injury. For minor problems, allowing some time to pass will often result in healing without requiring a trip to the doctor’s office.

Should you feel the need for a visit to the doctor’s office, it is best to avoid the emergency room if possible. Again, unless there is a true emergency, most problems can wait a day or two and be treated more effectively in the office as opposed to the ER. A visit to the ER will be time consuming, expensive and may only end up in a referral to the Orthopedic Surgeons office. So if your problem is not life or limb threatening, it is best to wait and “call in the morning.”

Using a little common sense and applying first aid principals as above will help everyone manage their health care in an efficient, quality way.