Find an orthopaedic surgeon

Orthopaedic surgeons specialise in bones, joints, muscles and ligaments, with and without surgery. Pick your state to see orthopaedic surgeons near you, then use the guide below so you walk in prepared and keep the plan going afterwards.

Orthopaedic Surgeons by state

When to see an orthopaedic surgeon

Common reasons

Knee, hip and shoulder pain
Back and neck problems
Sports injuries and fractures
Arthritis
Recovery after joint surgery

Signs it may be time

Joint pain limits your daily life
An injury is not improving after a few weeks
Your primary care doctor or physical therapist referred you
You are deciding whether surgery makes sense

How to get the most from your orthopaedic surgeon visit

Before: what to bring

A list of everything you take, including supplements, with how often
Your insurance card and photo ID
Recent lab results or imaging reports, if another clinician ordered them
X-rays or MRI reports and discs, if you have them
Notes on what movements make the pain worse or better

During: questions to ask

What is causing the pain, and what are my options without surgery?
If surgery is an option, what does recovery look like?
What activities should I avoid or keep doing?
How will we know if things are improving?

After: what to keep track of

Pain level each day and what you were doing
Physical therapy exercises completed
Sleep and swelling

After your visit

Keep the plan going between appointments

Recovery happens at home, one day at a time. Tracking pain, exercises and progress lets your surgeon or physical therapist see whether you are on track, and catch setbacks early. Emerge Care, free to download on iPhone, is built for exactly that: tell it how you feel in your own words, get plain answers with the source behind every fact, and walk into your next orthopaedic surgeon appointment with a one-page summary and your questions ready.

Log symptoms and side effects by talking
Answers that name their source
One-page visit summary PDF
Health records stay on your iPhone

Emerge Care never diagnoses or replaces your doctor.

Questions

Do I need a referral to see an orthopaedic surgeon?

Many insurance plans need one; some do not. Check your plan before booking.

Does seeing an orthopaedic surgeon mean I need surgery?

No. Many conditions are treated without surgery, with physical therapy, activity changes or injections.

Other specialists

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Doctor listings come from the CMS NPPES NPI Registry. Being listed is not a recommendation. This page is general information, not medical advice; in an emergency, call 911.