If you are an active person who trains hard, you probably see several types of doctors. A primary care physician for most things, a sports doctor for injuries, and even possibly the emergency room when you have an injury that can’t wait. How do you decide which type of doctor to see in each case?
Sometimes it’s obvious. You go to a regular physician for ordinary problems like sinus trouble or mysterious problems like frequent fatigue. They can address your concern immediately, or run some tests to determine what it is, or recommend you to a specialist. And you go to the emergency room if you’re badly hurt or have passed out or something severe.
Primary, sports medicine or emergency?
But what about when you have an injury, or a strange recurring pain that you suspect might be sports related? Should you head straight to the sports medicine doctor? You may be surprised to hear the answer is no: you should see your primary care physician first. Here’s why:
- General practitioners can treat some injuries just as well as a sports medicine doctor.
- What if it’s not an injury? What if the pain you think is related to playing tennis is actually the symptom of an illness?
- The general practitioner can refer you to a sports medicine doctor, or a physical therapist, or whomever is the most appropriate specialist for your particular case.
There are a few exceptions to this rule. If you have a recurring condition you’ve already seen a sports medicine doctor for, you should see that doctor when it recurs.
Another issue can arise when your first choice doctor is unable to see you in the near future. In that case, unless you feel sure you can wait for treatment, you should feel free to see another doctor or specialist. The emergency room or “urgent care” is always another option.
If you’re looking for advice on diet and a training routine, the sports medicine doctor should probably be your first stop. Primary care physicians are capable of giving advice along these lines, but it will be based on age, gender and your overall health, nothing more. A sports medicine doctor can take into account that you’re training for a marathon or are a hockey player. When you need advice beyond just how to reach a goal weight and stay there, you need a sports medicine doctor.
