General
Firstly, the doctor will do a physical examination to locate the area of pain and gauge the mobility and strength of the affected area. They will also go over your medical history to see if the injury was caused by an underlying condition such as a previous injury or a disease. In some cases, they may run diagnostic tests like X-rays to assess bone problems or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to look at soft tissue. We also have an ultrasound in clinic to help with your evaluation. This way, the doctor will get a clear picture of your condition and advice treatment accordingly.
Orthopaedic conditions and injuries can be divided into two categories: acute and chronic. Acute injuries are those that happen suddenly or is the result of a strong external force being applied to the body. In most cases, pain and immobility are almost immediate. In these cases, you should consult a doctor to receive medical attention right away.
Chronic injuries are those that occur over a long period of time, such as repetitive muscle strain. Acute injuries that have not been treated properly may also cause chronic injuries. They are usually less painful but do cause some discomfort when performing daily activities such as walking, sitting, and running. However, if they are ignored for too long, they may develop serious complications. As such, whenever you experience pain or discomfort while carrying out day to day activities, you should see a doctor so that your condition can be properly treated.
Yes, we can prescribe medications, knee brace, crutches, and other walking aids. Our clinics are ultrasound equipped, and we can also administer injections (steroids, PRP, hyaluronic acid, Autologous Protein Solution etc).
Xrays can be done in the same building and on the same day, and our doctors can review the Xrays once done.
MRIs can usually be done within the same day and review of the MRI results can usually be done the following day.
Yes, our doctors are fully accredited Orthopaedic Specialists, under the Specialist Accreditation Board of Singapore. This means that they have completed the Orthopaedic Specialty training in Singapore and also the FRCS Ed (Fellowship of Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh) (Orthopaedics and Trauma) examinations. Thus our doctors are well equipped with the knowledge to treat all orthopaedic conditions including foot and ankle conditions, shoulder and elbow and spine conditions.
- Stop blood thinners – check with us and best to give us the latest list of medications you are on so that we can advise accordingly.
- Stretch and strengthen muscles around the hip and lower limb
- Stop smoking/alcohol
- Ensure non-slip mats in bathrooms/bathtubs. Consider grab bar installation, getting a shower chair and toilet seat riser to facilitate bathroom activities, if the existing ones are too low.
- Raise height of bed mattress and chairs to facilitate getting in and out of bed/chairs.
- Remove tripping hazards around the house.
- Prepare for slip on sandals or long-handled shoe-horn to facilitate shoe wearing after the surgery.
Recovery
- Your general health – the healthier you are before the injury, the faster you can recover from it
- Your age – suffering from age-related conditions (e.g. osteoarthritis) may impact your recovery time
- Type of treatment – if surgery is needed to treat your injury, healing from surgical wounds and going for physical therapy to restore strength and mobility will prolong your recovery period
Our musculoskeletal system is an important part of our body. They protect vital organs such as the lungs, heart, and brain and ensure that we have the strength and mobility to carry out daily activities like walking, sitting, and standing. As such, we should take proper care of them so that we can continue with our daily functions and also limit the chances of degenerative bone conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis. Some things that we can do to ensure healthy bones and joints are:
- Staying active – Exercise helps to strengthen muscles and maintain the flexibility of joints. If you are new to exercise, you can start by working out for 10-15 minutes every day and gradually increase from there.
- Proper nutrition – A diet rich in calcium, vitamins, minerals, and proteins help protect our bones, cartilage, ligaments and provide them with the necessary nutrients to repair themselves.
- Get injuries treated immediately – no matter how small the injuries are, they should be treated properly so that they do not develop into chronic ones that can cause long-lasting disability.
- Limiting the consumption of alcohol and tobacco – excessive alcohol and smoking has been linked to increasing the risks of muscle injury and osteoporosis.
Payment
Consultation charges, Xrays and medications can be claimed up to 85% with 15% co-payment from patient under CDMP (Chronic Disease Management Programme). However, the clinical diagnoses must fall under a certain list of medical conditions. As we are an orthopaedic specialist clinic, the common diagnoses that can be used to activate CDMP are Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis.
Minor procedures can be claimed through Medisave under Day Surgery.
Our clinic is on most of the corporate and personal shield panels. If you have a corporate insurance e-card, you may forward it to us so that we may be able to check through the appropriate e-portals what is the coverage for your outpatient bills. For procedures either done as day surgery or inpatient admission overnight stay, we facilitate the pre-authorisation and application for LOG (Letter of Guarantee) by liasing with your insurers.
*Approved LOG only means that there will be a waiver of deposit upon admission. The final amount that will be paid by the insurance will depend on submission of final bill and thereafter subjected to approval by the insurance.
