Signs You Injured a Joint
While a professional diagnosis is important for understanding the scope of your injury and starting recovery, in most cases, you can identify if you have damaged a joint by observing these symptoms:
- Pain during movement. Be aware of sharp, sudden, or persistent pain in joints. It could get worse with particular activities like running, squatting, going up the stairs, handling heavy objects, etc. You could also feel sensitivity or tenderness when touching the surrounding areas.
- Swelling. It could appear immediately after the accident or a few hours later, and make the area feel warmer than normal.
- Instability. If you feel like your joint could “give out” or suddenly move without your control when you put weight on it, it could be injured.
- Uncommon sounds. Many patients hear popping, grinding, or clicking sounds in the joint when making certain movements.
Limited range of motion. If you are having trouble fully extending your leg or arm, it is a clear indication that the joint is damaged.
When to Visit a Doctor?
Some minor injuries could easily heal with time and proper care. However, visit a doctor if:
- Your pain or swelling persists or worsens
- You can’t put weight on your joint
- You notice a visible deformity
- There’s intense bruising
- You have tingling or numbing sensations
Remember that going to the doctor at the right moment can prevent a simple injury turning into a more serious issue.
5 Home Treatments for Injured Joints
If you are worried you damaged a joint, you could take some at-home precautions in order to prevent the injury from getting worse and to manage pain.
The RICE Method
The RICE method is famous because of how well it can help patients manage swelling and pain derived from soft tissue injuries. It consists of four easy steps:
- Rest: keep yourself from doing your regular activities or sports for a couple days. Also avoid putting weight on your joints. If available, use crutches, a brace, or a wrap to keep the area immobilized.
- Ice: applying ice to the affected area can help reduce swelling and decrease pain. The best way to do this is to place a cloth between the ice pack and your skin and apply cold for 15 or 20 minutes every 1 or 2 hours.
- Compression: you can use an elastic bandage to compress your ankle, knee, or elbow. This will help you control swelling and support the joint. However, be aware of how tight it is, since you don’t want to cut off your circulation.
- Elevation: you might use pillows or cushions to keep your joint elevated as it will to minimize swelling and allow better circulation.
OTC Medication
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or aspirin will give you a break from your pain and control swelling. Be mindful with your dosage.
Careful Stretching
If you have noticed a significant decrease in painful sensations, you can try slow and gentle stretches. These could help you regain flexibility and increase your range of motion. If you feel any uncommon discomfort, do not continue and consider visiting a doctor.
Anti-inflammatory Diet
It’s important to take care of your diet when trying to recover from any kind of injury. Nonetheless, eating anti-inflammatory foods such as leafy greens (like spinach or kale), fatty fish, dark chocolate, certain vegetables (broccoli, avocado, tomatoes), etc, can help your joint healing process.
Heat Therapy
Once the initial swelling has been controlled, heat can help your muscles relax and improve blood flow. You can use a warm towel or heating pads for short intervals.
Best Joint Specialist in Georgia
The truth is that joint injuries are varied and their treatments can’t be covered in one article. The exact course of action will depend on your situation, injured joint, medical history, and more factors. After taking care of your injury for a few days, you can try gradually returning to your regular activities. Nonetheless, if your pain is limiting you, you must seek professional help.
At Ashford Orthopedic Specialists, we offer comprehensive care for different sport-related issues so that you can restore mobility, strength, and go back to doing what you love. You can call our offices or book an appointment online at any of our two Georgia locations.
