Don’t let another year go by in pain: Why now may be the right time to address joint and back pain with Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco

It often starts gradually.

A knee that aches after a long day, a hip that makes getting out of the car a little harder, a shoulder that keeps you from sleeping comfortably, or back pain that slowly changes the way you move.

For many people, orthopedic pain becomes something they simply learn to live with. They modify activities, stop doing things they enjoy or tell themselves they will get it checked “eventually.”

But as the latter part of the year approaches, there may be another reason to stop putting off an evaluation: your health insurance deductible.

You’ve spent the year taking care of everything else—what about you?

If you have had doctor visits, procedures, prescriptions or other health care expenses this year, you may have already met a significant portion of your annual deductible.

A deductible is generally the amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan begins paying its share. Depending on your plan and how much you have already spent this year, the final months of the year may be a good time to address a health concern you have been postponing.

That does not mean rushing into a procedure simply because you have met your deductible. It means understanding your benefits and, more importantly, understanding your options.

An orthopedic appointment doesn’t mean surgery

One reason people delay seeing an orthopedic specialist is the assumption that making an appointment means they are headed toward surgery.

In reality, the first step is determining what is causing the pain.

Treatment may include physical therapy, medication, injections, activity modification or other nonsurgical approaches. When conservative treatments no longer provide adequate relief and pain is significantly affecting quality of life, surgery may be considered.

At Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco, orthopedic specialists care for conditions affecting the hips, knees, shoulders and spine, helping patients understand the range of options available based on their individual condition and goals.

When is it time to get help?

Consider how much you have adjusted your life because of pain.

Have you stopped playing tennis, golf or pickleball? Are you avoiding stairs? Is getting in and out of the car becoming more difficult? Does shoulder pain wake you at night? Have you stopped taking walks or traveling because you are worried about how your hip, knee or back will feel?

Those small accommodations can gradually become a new normal.

Persistent or worsening pain, stiffness, decreased mobility, or pain that interferes with everyday activities may be signs that it is time to talk with a health care professional.

Specialized orthopedic care close to home

For patients who do need advanced treatment, experience, quality and coordinated care matter.

Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco has earned recognition from The Joint Commission as an Advanced Center of Excellence for Hip and Knee Replacement and Spine Surgery and a Center of Excellence for Shoulder Replacement.

These distinctions reflect rigorous standards for quality, safety, evidence-based care and patient outcomes.

The goal of orthopedic care is not simply to treat a joint or spine condition. It is to help patients return to the activities that are important to them, whether that means getting back on the tennis court, traveling, exercising or simply moving through everyday life with greater comfort.

Start by getting answers

If joint or back pain has been on your list of things to address this year, now may be a good time to take the first step.

Check with your insurance provider to understand how much of your deductible and out-of-pocket maximum you have met and what your plan covers. Then consider scheduling an orthopedic evaluation to better understand the cause of your pain and the treatment options available.

You may find that surgery is not necessary. But if treatment is recommended, having both the medical information and a clear understanding of your insurance benefits can help you make an informed decision about what comes next.

Pain may have changed the way you live, but it doesn’t have to become your new normal.

Insurance benefits, deductibles, coinsurance and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan. Patients should contact their insurance provider to verify individual coverage and benefits. Treatment decisions should be based on individual medical needs and recommendations from a qualified health care professional.

Find an orthopedic specialist today.

A quick recap FAQ

The above story was produced by the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco team with Community Impact's Storytelling team, using information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.

Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community, or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of Baylor Scott & White Health or those medical centers.

Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco is a hospital in which physicians have an ownership or investment interest. The list of physician owners or investors is available to you upon request. We are fully licensed by the state of Texas and Medicare-certified.

Our facility is also accredited by The Joint Commission. We are an affiliate of United Surgical Partners International and partner with local physicians. Physicians are members of the medical staff and are neither employees nor agents of Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco, United Surgical Partners International, Baylor Scott & White Health, or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates.