# What type of doctor am I looking for?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-doctor-am-i-looking-for/316312>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 9, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-doctor-am-i-looking-for/316312 "2005-08-09T18:29:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-doctor-am-i-looking-for/316312/1 "2005-08-09T18:29:01Z")

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This is not soliticing medical advice. This is trying to help me actually _go_ to a doctor.

Long story short: I was diagnosed with tendonitis in my knees about five years ago, and have been having problems on-and-off with them ever since. The past few months, it’s gotten really bad, and I’m finally ready to swallow both pride and phobia and actually see a doctor.

However: I don’t have a ‘primary’ physician. I’m assuming that an orthopedist is the type of doc I’d want to go and see. My health-insurance provider’s website has “Surgeon, orthopedic” listed as a category in their directory, but not just orthopedist. Is this significant? Is there sucha thing as non-surgery orthopedist?

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**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-doctor-am-i-looking-for/316312/2 "2005-08-09T18:38:28Z")

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Well, there’s a [physiatrist.](http://www.aapmr.org/condtreat/what.htm)

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**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-doctor-am-i-looking-for/316312/3 "2005-08-09T18:39:27Z")

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You should try a Rheumatologist (sp?). Here is a [page](http://www.healthtouch.com/bin/EContent_HT/showAllLfts.asp?lftname=ACR035&cid=HT) about Tendonitis I found on the American College of Rheumatology site. Or, see if you can find a joint specialist. Otherwise, yeah probably an orthepedist. I had a primary care physcian who was also a joint specialist, and I believe there are also things like Orthopedists/Rheumatologists who are joint specialists. (Not sure what the title means exactly, but my doctor had it as well as MD.) Look into “sports physicians” as well. Good luck, hope you get your joints back into shape.

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**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-doctor-am-i-looking-for/316312/4 "2005-08-09T19:01:18Z")

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You know the motto of orthopedic surgery? “We may not make you better, but we will certainly make you different”.

Uh oh, maybe that’s not helping…

Seriously, though, I just let one carve on me, and would do it again.

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**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-doctor-am-i-looking-for/316312/5 "2005-08-09T19:28:38Z")

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A lot of orthopedic surgery is about avoiding surgery. I’d go to the best orthopedic surgeon - knee specialist - in the area.