No, it is not safe for anyone, including even athletes, to take painkillers regularly without a doctor’s prescription. If you are suffering from chronic pain in any part of the body, always consult a doctor first.
It will help find out exactly what is wrong inside so that suitable treatment can be provided! Don’t pop any pills on your own to relieve pain. You might end up causing liver or kidney failures.
To learn about common sports injuries, diagnosis, treatment options and tips to strengthen joints, read the following article below.
Common Sport-Related Injuries
Athletes are more prone to the following injuries. However, such injuries can also happen to anyone due to accidents.
Fractures: Long bones are more susceptible to sustaining fractures during sports or accidents. A fracture is a break in a bone that can happen in multiple ways.
Dislocations: All joints aren’t the same anatomically. Some are hinge joints while others are made up of balls and sockets such as the shoulder, etc. A ball-and-socket joint is prone to dislocate. When the ball parts go away from the socket, the condition is called a dislocation.
Sprain: Our joints aren’t just bones. They are made up of various soft-tissue structures. One such structure is a ligament that connects one bone to another. An injury can stretch or tear a ligament, making the joint unstable.
Strain: While a ligament injury is called a sprain, an injury to the tendon is called a strain. A tendon attaches a muscle to a bone. Furthermore, muscle injuries are also called strains.
Tendonitis: Repeatedly using a part of the body leads to overuse syndrome. If a tendon is overused, it results in inflammation. The condition is called tendonitis.
Bursitis: A bursa is a little sac filled with fluid found in a joint. This soft-tissue structure provides a joint with extra cushioning. When a bursa gets inflamed due to an injury, it is known as bursitis.
To consult a specialist for sport-related injuries, go to the following link: best sports injury doctor in Delhi.
The Best First-Aid Treatment
After an injury while competing in sports, ensure the following points for the best first-aid care.
Rest: Don’t move the injured part. It will make the situation worse.
Ice: Apply an ice pack to the place of injury. Ice reduces blood flow to the injured part, which in turn decreases inflammation.
Compress: Wrap the compression bandage around the injured area. The technique is known as compression. This also helps reduce post-injury swelling.
Elevate: If the injury is related to the bottom half for example the knee, the ankle or the foot, elevate the injured part while you lie on your back.
All these help reduce after-injury pain, swelling and discomfort. However, if the pain persists, make sure you consult a joint specialist.
Some injuries are too intense to heal themselves through REST. For such injuries, a medical intervention is required.
Diagnosis And Treatment For Sports Injuries
Sports injuries are always related to the musculoskeletal system. Such injuries are examined with the help of the following tests.
X-rays: This test is used to diagnose bone and joint conditions.
MRIs: X-rays cannot produce images of soft tissues like ligaments, tendons, muscles, etc. For such non-bony parts, MRI is used, which is capable of producing detailed images of soft tissues.
CT Scans: Sometimes, a CT scan is preferred over an MRI test. It is mainly done when the patient already has a metal implant within the body and thus the MRI test can interfere with that.
After the diagnosis, any of the following treatment options can be used to fix the damage an injury has caused.
Medicines: Anti-inflammatory medicines are often prescribed to help relieve pain, swelling and overall discomfort.
Biologics: When the healing can be stimulated using biologics, doctors would recommend such treatment. Biologics are often injected directly into the injured part of the body. These are medicines that are made out of the tissues of the patient’s body, for example, PRP and Stem Cell Therapies.
Physiotherapy: The therapy helps reduce pain, promote healing and improve the function of an injured joint. Furthermore, a physiotherapist also provides preventative measures, which help reduce the chances of future injuries.
Surgery: Some injuries are severe and thus need surgery, for example, a complete ACL tear in the knee. For such an injury, reconstruction surgery can be done arthroscopically or with the help of an open surgery. A surgeon will decide which option is better for you.
To connect with a doctor for knee injuries, visit the following link: knee pain specialist in Delhi.
Tips For Joint Health
Follow these points to keep your joints healthy.
Exercise: Don’t forget to work out regularly. It helps strengthen joints and build overall stamina.
Diet: You are what you eat. Thus, always prefer healthy, nutritious and fresh meals over junk foods.
Sleep: Adequate sleep is also important. It helps the body rejuvenate after each day’s stress. So, ensure you sleep well. Take at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
Weight: Too much weight strains the knee and the hip while walking and doing day-to-day activities. Obesity has been found to be linked with early signs of osteoarthritis if the weight isn’t brought under a safe limit on time.
Substance Abuse: Excessive drinking and smoking habits are always bad for health. Thus, quit alcoholism and smoking. If it is difficult for you to quit, seek the assistance of a drug addict specialist.
Conclusion
Taking painkillers regularly isn’t safe. It has side effects, especially if taken without a doctor’s consultation. Thus, if you have any pain anywhere, don’t pop any medicine on your own. Consult a doctor first.
Furthermore, although prescribed medicines are safe, connect with your doctor if you don’t feel well after consumption.
