Warning Signs That Your Sports Injury Is Serious

Some sports injuries such as a bone fracture are easy to spot, while others creep up slowly and get worse with time. What began as a minor pain following a tough game can slowly progress into a debilitating pain or chronic impairment in the worst-case scenario.

Sporting the warning signs that your sports injury is serious is key to seeking and receiving proper medication. If you’re experiencing any of these signs, please treat your sports injury as serious and purpose to consult a doctor.

1. Swelling

Any sports injury that results in swelling should not be overlooked. In addition to the swelling, musculoskeletal injuries may cause tingling pain in the muscles and tendons.

While swelling is obvious and easily visible, it’s not always easy to spot swelling that occurs in a joint. In such cases, look for non-visual swelling signs such as stiffness, joint pains, redness, or bone clicking, especially when you bend. 

2. Concussion Signs

Head injuries are very common, especially in high-action sports such as rugby, boxing, wrestling, and football.

While it’s not always the case, a hit to the head can result in a concussion. Concussions are not life-threatening but can cause serious symptoms that may call for medical attention. If you were hit in the head and are experiencing any of the following signs, you may want to consult a doctor.

•         Amnesia
•         Confusion
•         Loss of balance
•         Headache
•         Delayed response to questions
•          Ringing ears
•         Temporary loss of consciousness

If concussions are not treated early, you may end up suffering from post-concussion syndrome. This may increase your risk for long term effects such as migraines, light sensitivity, and headache disorders (see this article on cognitivefx for more information on concussions, including when to get help).

3. Tenderness

In medicine, tenderness refers to pain or discomfort when an affected area is touched. One way to test for tenderness is to apply pressure on both sides of the affected part. 

If you can elicit pain at a specific muscle, bone, or joint by pressing your finger into it, you may have a serious injury that requires medical attention. If applying pressure on the same spot from the other side does not elicit pain, that’s a clear signal that something is wrong.

4. Joint Pain

A serious sports injury may result in joint point.

At times, you may feel pain when doing regular activities, such as walking, squatting, or climbing stairs. This might suggest structural damage within a joint.

Normally, joint pains that are not that serious should resolve and disappear within a few weeks. But if the pain persists for more than six weeks, that’s a sign of a serious joint injury, and in that case, you should seek medical attention.

5. Numbness

Numbness refers to a loss of sensation or feeling in a part of your body.

Lack of feeling or tingling sensations is something that should not be ignored. That’s because numbness has to do with nerves compression and may result from a serious injury that requires medical attention.

Wrapping Up

No matter how much we exercise caution while playing or working out, injuries are bound to happen. However, we can prevent or reduce their long-term effects by identifying the warning signs of serious injuries and getting prompt medical attention.