When is a Sports Injury Considered Serious?
When is a Sports Injury Considered Serious?
Sports injuries happen to everyone, whether you're a professional athlete or a weekend warrior. When they happen, you may find it difficult to decide whether or not to seek medical attention for your injury or pain.
Although there are no hard and fast rules for determining whether or not your injury requires medical attention, you can use these recommendations to help you decide whether it's time to get care.
Assume that your ankle hurts every time you play basketball with your friends. Your exercise regimen has become more painful as a result of the pain. In fact, the only moment you'll notice it is while you're playing and right afterward. It has no bearing on your daily routine.
An overuse injury is a term used to describe this type of injury. You usually don't need to see a doctor unless you experience swelling, bruising, or discoloration, limited range of motion, or locking in your joint.
Ice it, brace it while exercising, take Ibuprofen or another over-the-counter pain reliever, and rest it when you can. However, if your overuse injury doesn't recover as quickly as you'd like it to, or if you're experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, it's time to contact your doctor.
Swelling, bleeding, discoloration, numbness, pain, or bone misalignment prevent you from walking properly. It's a good idea to go to your nearest urgent care facility or emergency room if you suffer a traumatic injury like this. A medical examination, x-rays, and maybe a cast, splint, or boot will be required by your doctor. Physical therapy may be required for serious injuries to heal properly.
Unless your sports injury necessitates a trip to the emergency department, you have the option of seeing whatever doctor you like. If you're on a team or in a structured sports program, you might have access to an athletic trainer or a team physician. If you're not on a team, you'll have to figure out who can best assist you.
For basic injury care, most family doctors are an excellent place to start. It's a better option if your community has a sports specialist or orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine. Most physical therapy clinics can also assist with sports-related injuries and may be able to recommend you to a local sports specialist.
