01
Tell the story
Dr. Morton starts with what happened, what has changed, what you have already tried, and what you need your body to do again.
General orthopedics
Orthopedic care when you are not sure where to start.
You do not need to diagnose yourself before calling. If pain, swelling, limping, weakness, an injury, a fracture concern, or an old treatment is not making sense, we can start with a careful exam, the right images, and a plain explanation of the next step.
Online booking in about a minuteHMSA, Medicare & other major plansHonolulu · West Oahu · Hilo · KonaTelehealth for neighbor islands
Board-certifiedFellowship-trainedFAAOS / FAAHKSRobotic hip & kneeRevision expertiseHawaii roots
How the visit works
You should leave with a clearer plan than when you arrived.
02
Look at the source
Your exam and imaging help separate arthritis, injury, implant problems, referred pain, and other causes that can feel similar.
03
Choose the next step
The plan may be therapy, bracing, injections, orthobiologics, arthroscopy, robotic surgery, revision workup, or a clear reason to wait.
Before you book
The first visit is better when the story is organized.
Joint Replacement Hawaii has always asked practical questions before the appointment because the details matter: what hurts, where it hurts, what you have tried, and what life activity you want back.
01
What are you having trouble with?
Getting in and out of a car
Getting up from a chair
Stairs
Walking long distances
Pain at night
Exercise, sports, or work
02
What are you noticing?
Swelling
Instability or giving way
Stiffness or limited motion
Catching or locking
Grinding
Difficulty bearing weight
03
What have you already tried?
Physical therapy
Brace, cane, walker, or crutches
Steroid or gel injections
PRP or BMAC questions
NSAIDs or Tylenol
Prior arthroscopy or surgery
Before you decide
The conversation I want patients to understand.
01
When I usually see patients
Some patients know exactly what happened. Others just know they cannot walk, sleep, work, exercise, or care for family the way they used to. Both are good reasons to come in.
02
What we look at together
We review the story, exam, X-rays or MRI when needed, prior treatment, medications, health history, and the activities you are trying to return to.
03
Your options
The plan may be therapy, bracing, injections, medication changes, watchful waiting, surgery, or a referral if another specialist is the better fit.
How I think through the recommendation
The decision should be explained, not handed to you.
Patients should know what would make us wait, what would make treatment reasonable, what might require more testing, and what changes recovery planning.
01
What may make us wait
- Symptoms are improving
- The safest first step is therapy, bracing, medication review, or time
- The diagnosis points outside orthopedic surgery
02
What may make treatment reasonable
- Pain is limiting daily life
- Imaging and exam match
- A clear treatment is likely to help the specific problem
03
What may mean more tests
- New injury, swelling, fever, or weakness
- Prior surgery records are missing
- X-rays or MRI would change the recommendation
04
What changes the plan
- Age, fall risk, diabetes, blood thinners, or heart/lung conditions
- Home support and travel
- Work, family, and caregiving needs
Diagnosis help
You do not need to know the diagnosis before you schedule.
Many patients come in unsure whether pain is arthritis, tendon, ligament, spine-related, an injury, or a problem after prior treatment. The visit turns the story, exam, and images into a next step.
Think about 01
Map the symptoms
Location, swelling, stiffness, instability, weakness, numbness, catching, and night pain help narrow the source.
Think about 02
Review what has been tried
Bring imaging, therapy notes, injections, braces, medications, operative reports, and anything that helped or failed.
Think about 03
Leave with direction
The answer may be therapy, injections, bracing, MRI, surgery, a second opinion, or reassurance that waiting is reasonable.
For informed patients
The details matter, especially when the decision is not simple.
If you are comparing surgeons, robotics, revision care, injections, or recovery plans, these are the questions I want you to feel comfortable asking.
01
Clear diagnosis
The best first visit separates orthopedic causes from spine, nerve, medical, or referred pain patterns.
ExamImagingPlain-language plan
02
Surgery is one option
Patients deserve to hear when therapy, bracing, injections, time, or a different specialist is more appropriate.
Options comparedRisks explainedNext step clear
Patient words
The trust signal should match the decision.
Patients are looking for listening, clear explanations, office kindness, and a plan that makes sense for their specific problem.
Patient trust
Joint replacement decisions need clarity before commitment.
The right plan starts with diagnosis, imaging, timing, approach, implant questions, recovery support, and whether surgery is truly the next step.
01
Hip and knee replacement education
02
Robotic and revision expertise
03
Recovery planning from consultation through follow-up
You may be ready to schedule if
You are not sure whether the pain is hip, knee, back, shoulder, or injury-related
Symptoms are getting in the way of daily life
Prior care did not answer your question
You need imaging reviewed
You want a clear plan before deciding on treatment
Why patients choose this practice
You do not need to know the diagnosis before scheduling
Pain, injuries, imaging, prior treatment, and daily-life goals are reviewed together
Patients can be guided toward therapy, injections, surgery, second opinion, or watchful waiting
Older patients and caregivers
Older patients and caregivers deserve a clear plan too.
Safety, medications, stairs, rides, hearing, memory, home help, and caregiver questions can change the recommendation and the recovery plan.
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Who should come with you
Bring the person who helps with medications, rides, meals, stairs, wound checks, or remembering instructions. A second set of ears helps.
02
How to plan home safety
Think about loose rugs, bathroom setup, stairs, lighting, pets, walking aids, shower safety, and where you will sleep the first few nights.
03
When to call the office
Call for worsening wound redness, drainage, fever, severe swelling, a fall, medication confusion, or symptoms that do not match your instructions.
04
When not to wait
Chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, stroke-like symptoms, major deformity, or dangerous symptoms need emergency care.
Helpful to bring
X-rays, MRI, CT scans, or reports if you already have them
Where the pain starts, where it travels, and what it stops you from doing
Prior injections, therapy, medications, braces, or operations
Your goals for work, walking, golf, hiking, sports, travel, and recovery
Make the visit count
Bring the story, not just the scan.
Imaging helps, but the story matters too: what changed, what you tried, what failed, and what life you want back. This is especially important for revision opinions, prior surgery, and neighbor island travel.
Recovery preview
Choose the recovery center that fits
Public previews help patients and families understand preparation, warning signs, and what the member guide adds.
Procedure pathway
Warning signs
Printable checklists
Patient questions
Questions I hear in the office.
Do I need an MRI before scheduling?
Not always. Many visits start with the story, exam, and X-rays. MRI can be ordered when it is likely to change the plan.
What if I do not need surgery?
That is fine. A useful visit should help you understand nonsurgical options and when surgery is not the right answer.
Can older patients bring a caregiver?
Yes. Bringing a family member can help with medication lists, transportation, home safety, and remembering the plan.
Mahalo
You do not have to figure this out alone.
If pain, injury, arthritis, or an old implant is keeping you from life, bring your questions. Dr. Morton and the team will help you understand the problem and the next step.
Written for patients by the practice
Orthopedic guidance should be clear enough to help you make a real decision.
Dr. Paul Norio Morton created Joint Replacement Hawaii to help patients understand hip pain, knee pain, arthritis, sports injuries, robotic joint replacement, revision surgery, injections, and recovery before they come in for a visit.
