When you experience a major injury, it’s usually pretty obvious when you need to seek medical attention. Break your arm, you head to the ER. There are times, though, when you’ll develop symptoms from a chronic condition that has slowly been developing over time. Or perhaps symptoms come on suddenly but you can’t point to any discernable cause, so you delay treatment hoping it will just go away eventually.
The problem, though, with either of those scenarios is that if you delay treatment, it can sometimes lead to a more serious or even disabling injury.
If you’re experiencing symptoms that interfere with maintaining your normal level of activity, there are times you shouldn’t delay - where a visit with a sports medicine specialist might be the way to go.
Contact us online or call (240) 754-7954 to schedule a consultation today with one of our Sports Medicine specialists at the Center for Sports & Regenerative Orthopedics to evaluate your symptoms and discuss your treatment options.
At the Center for Sports & Regenerative Orthopedics, our board-certified orthopedic physicians can help you address sports-related injuries or conditions that commonly develop in athletes. Our physicians also specialize in anyone who has experienced these types of injuries in the course of everyday life, not just sporting activities.
So, whether you were injured playing on the team, building a do-it-yourself backyard deck, kayaking with friends on the weekend, playing golf, or weed eating, a visit with a Sports Medicine specialist might be just what the doctor ordered.
You should seek immediate medical attention for any serious injury, of course, but sometimes you might not realize you are dealing with one. Concussions are a good example: is it really a concussion, you might be asking yourself? Suffice it to say, if you’ve experienced seizures or loss of consciousness, are unable to wake up or stay awake, or have fluid or blood leaking from your nose or ears, you need to seek help immediately.
But what if you are just confused? Maybe you have a bad headache or slight changes in your vision or speech. What if you’re vomiting for no discernable reason? Perhaps you have a stiff neck or fever, or twitching in your arms or legs? When it comes to injuries that cause you to wonder if you have a concussion, always err on the side of caution and seek medical attention.
Also, you should pay attention to mobility or behavior changes. If you experience weakness, decreased coordination, or difficulty walking or talking, that is cause for concern, as is unusual behavior, increased agitation, or inappropriate emotional reactions.
You should see a Sports Medicine specialist if you have a sports injury or condition that alters your ability to move or participate in sports activities - or life activities – that is not life-threatening and does not require emergency care. But it’s a good idea to have follow-up care with a Sports Medicine physician after an emergency room visit.
For non-emergency care, here are some clear signs that you might need to see a Sports Medicine specialist. You should never ignore symptoms like:
Acute injuries – like when you twist your knee, fall or take a hit – warrant a checkup with your Sports Medicine doctor whether or not you’re experiencing severe symptoms.
It’s just as important that symptoms of chronic conditions that you’ve had for awhile that haven’t been addressed should also not continue to be ignored. Allow a Sports Medicine specialist to weigh in on the symptoms you’re seeing.
Let’s take a deeper look at some of these symptoms and some of the reasons they should prompt an appointment with a Sports Medicine specialist.
Pain - When looking at a symptom like pain, some of us are pretty good at ignoring it or “dealing” with it. It is often a point of pride with athletes or weekend warriors. But pain that worsens over time or increases with movement is not something to ignore – especially if it doesn't go away with ice, rest or pain medication. Pain is an alarm. Especially if you experience pain along with other symptoms like swelling or limited range of motion, have it evaluated.
Dislocation - A dislocated or fractured joint is never something to ignore. If left untreated, a dislocation can cause more serious complications like blood vessel or nerve damage, cartilage damage that leads to arthritis, or increased risk of future dislocations, as well as serious limitations in joint mobility.
Overuse injuries - Shin splints, stress fractures, or other injuries caused by overtraining might require a Sports Medicine visit, but so might an overuse injury that comes from using a hammer every day on a construction site.
Limited range of motion – If you are experiencing difficulty moving any appendage – your arms, legs, or their joints – or your neck or back, it’s time to pay attention.
Swelling - Swelling, especially when combined with tenderness, warmth, or stiffness - is something to take seriously. Swelling is your body's way of telling you something requires your attention. Not only can swelling restrict movement and make daily activities difficult, if left untreated, it can lead to the progression of the underlying condition, which can worsen without appropriate treatment. Blood clots, for example, can develop from athletic injuries or even chronic overuse injuries – and swelling is sometimes the only early symptom that alerts you to this potentially deadly condition.
Numbness – Tingling or loss of sensation in any area you may have experienced an injury or you believe may be related to an ongoing chronic or degenerative condition is cause for concern.
Muscle pain - People often deal with severe or ongoing muscle pain by popping NSAIDs and trying to tough it out. But if you experience muscle pain - especially if you didn't warm up or stretch before an activity – you may have caused a serious injury. Continuing to use those muscles can exacerbate the injury.
Chronic conditions – Runner’s knee is a good example. If you’ve damaged your knees but keep taking them out for a daily run without addressing the damage, the damage may become permanent and you may never be able to run again. Staying on top of chronic conditions is essential to preserve your ability to continue enjoying the activities you love. Whether you have tendonitis, bursitis or arthritis, rotator cuff injuries or degenerative joint conditions, have the condition evaluated and treated.
Let our Sports Medicine team at the Center for Sports & Regenerative Orthopedics guide your recovery from sports injuries and conditions that can happen to all of us in sports, work, or play. We work with patients who are looking for natural solutions for healing and pain relief when conventional treatment options have failed or when trying to avoid the use of surgery or pain medication.
Call (240) 754-7954 or contact us online to set up a consultation with our Sports Medicine specialists at our offices in Alexandria, Virginia, or Waldorf, Maryland.
