At one point or another, we’ve all had an ache and pain. Whether it’s that pinch in your back from lifting too much, or a nagging pain in your knee that won’t go away, we’ve asked ourselves “Should I go see the doctor, or wait just a couple of more days?”
An acute injury occurs suddenly during an activity or traumatic event. Symptoms may include: severe and sudden pain, bruising, swelling, tenderness, limb weakness or inability to bear weight on a limb, loss of range of motion or obvious fracture or deformity.
A chronic injury, on the other hand, typically develops over time and tends to be reoccurring or more persistent, with pain/symptoms that don’t fully resolve. Some examples of chronic injuries include: joint pain, muscle aches, tendinitis, stress fractures and generalized nerve and muscle pain.
“Regardless of the type of injury you have – acute or chronic – there is never a good reason to ignore it or push through it,” says Jen Robbins, athletic training supervisor with ATI. “If you experience an injury that results in pain, stop your activity in order to prevent further damage.”
If your injury presents with the following, Robbins suggests seeking medical attention:
- Severe swelling, pain or numbness.
- Inability to bear weight on, or utilize a limb.
- A dull pain that increases, and is accompanied by increased swelling or joint instability.
- Obvious fracture or dislocation.
If you are not experiencing the above symptoms, you can try treating your injury at home using the R.I.C.E. method during the first 48 hours:
- Rest – rest and/or stop using the injured body part and avoid painful activity.
- Ice – place a covered ice pack on the injured area for 15 minutes at a time, every 1-2 hours.
- Compression – use an ACE™ elastic wrap or other compressive devise and wrap the injured area to help decrease swelling.
- Elevation – elevate the injured body part above the heart. Use a pillow to help prop-up an injured limb.
Following R.I.C.E., if pain or symptoms don’t lessen after 3-4 days or get worse, it’s recommended that you seek medical attention.
This post is part of our "New Year, New You" blog series to kick off 2013. Check out these other posts in our series...
Gear up for the New Year with fitness safety tips
Is the sitting position ailing you? Take a workstation break with these stretches.