As a sports orthopedic surgeon with over fifteen years of practice, I’m often asked a version of the same question: “What exactly do you fix, and when do I really need to see someone like you?” It’s a fair question. The world of sports medicine can seem like a maze of specialists, and the line between pushing through pain and causing serious damage is frustratingly thin. My world revolves around the musculoskeletal system—the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles that allow for movement. But specifically, I focus on the injuries and conditions that arise from athletic activity, whether you’re a weekend warrior, a collegiate athlete, or a professional. The goal isn’t just to get you back on the field; it’s to restore function, optimize performance, and prevent future issues. I like to think of my role as part mechanic, part engineer, and part coach.
So, what do I treat on a daily basis? The list is extensive, but it clusters around a few key areas. Acute traumatic injuries are a big part of it. Think of the football player who plants their foot and feels a pop in their knee—that’s often an ACL tear, one of the most common surgeries I perform. Shoulder dislocations in swimmers or baseball pitchers, ankle fractures in basketball players, and torn meniscus cartilage from a awkward twist are all in my wheelhouse. Then there are the overuse injuries, the slow burns that creep up over time. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), runner’s knee (patellofemoral pain syndrome), rotator cuff tendinitis in overhead athletes, and stress fractures in distance runners. These are often about repetitive micro-trauma, where the body’s repair mechanisms can’t keep up with the demand placed on it. We also deal with degenerative conditions accelerated by sports, like early-onset arthritis in a weight-bearing joint of a former lineman, or a torn labrum in a hip that’s seen decades of rotational force. The common thread is that the injury is interfering with an active lifestyle or athletic pursuit. I’ll be honest, I have a particular fascination with complex knee reconstructions and shoulder instability cases. There’s a precise, almost architectural challenge to restoring stability that I find deeply satisfying.
Now, the million-dollar question: when should you see one of us? This is where I see the most patient hesitation, and sometimes, costly delays. The simple answer is: when pain or dysfunction persists despite reasonable initial care. If you’ve rolled your ankle, tried the R.I.C.E. protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) for a week, and you still can’t walk without a significant limp, it’s time. If you have shoulder pain that wakes you up at night or prevents you from lifting your arm overhead, that’s a signal. Persistent joint swelling, locking, catching, or giving way of a joint are all red flags that warrant a professional evaluation. I always tell my patients that pain is information; ignoring it is like ignoring a check-engine light. A specific example from my practice involved a young soccer player with recurring knee pain. She’d been told it was just “jumper’s knee” and to rest. When she finally came in, advanced imaging revealed a subtle but significant osteochondral defect—a piece of cartilage and bone had been damaged. Early intervention saved her joint surface. Waiting could have meant a much bigger problem down the line. On the other hand, I also caution against rushing in for every tweak. A mild muscle strain often just needs time and smart rehab. The key is listening to your body and recognizing when something is structurally wrong versus when it’s simply irritated.
This brings me to a concept I emphasize constantly: the team approach. I am not a lone operator. The best outcomes happen when I work in concert with physical therapists, athletic trainers, sports physiologists, and yes, the patient themselves. Surgery is just one tool, and frankly, it’s not always the right first tool. In my experience, a significant percentage of patients referred to me for surgical opinions never go under the knife. We succeed with targeted physical therapy, activity modification, injections like corticosteroids or viscosupplementation (think of it as oil for your joints), and other modalities. I’d estimate that for conditions like meniscal tears or rotator cuff tendinopathy, we can effectively manage nearly 60-70% without surgery initially. But when surgery is necessary, modern techniques are truly remarkable. Arthroscopy, for instance, allows us to repair tissues through tiny incisions, dramatically reducing recovery time. An ACL reconstruction that might have required a year of recovery two decades ago now often sees athletes returning to sport in 8-9 months with robust rehabilitation.
Let me share a perspective that frames this all together. In sports, we talk about a team being prepared for a big matchup with or without a key player. The mentality is one of adaptability and depth. I think about patient care in a similar way. My job is to prepare your musculoskeletal system for the “matchup” of life and sport, with or without a major surgical intervention. Can we win—can we restore your function—with conservative play-calling (therapy, injections, rest)? Or is the injury so significant that we need to bring in the surgical “star player” to secure the long-term win? That decision is a collaborative one, based on imaging, physical exam, the patient’s goals, and yes, a bit of clinical art. The worst thing you can do is ignore an injury until your only option is a major, salvage-type procedure. My strong preference is always for early, accurate diagnosis. It opens up more options and leads to better, more predictable outcomes. So, if you’re an active person dealing with something that just isn’t getting better, don’t tough it out indefinitely. Seek an evaluation. The goal isn’t to find a surgeon; it’s to find an expert who can map out the entire playing field of your recovery, ensuring you’re prepared to return to the activities you love, stronger and more resilient than before.
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