Can the pain of old injuries and wounds come back to bother us later in life? A sprained knee you got in high school may not have been a big deal then, but it can have long-term consequences as we get older. Like an unhappy haunt, more than 20% of Americans suffer from chronic pain caused by old injuries that didn’t receive proper treatment.
An injury like a broken bone or torn ligament requires special medical treatment from an orthopedic specialist. Without it, you can expect persistent pain, joint instability, limited mobility, re-injury, and swelling later in life. What might seem like a minor injury will compound to something greater that affects other parts of your body, like the knees, hips, elbows, neck, shoulders, and spine.
That chronic pain you get when an old injury starts to rear its ugly head is typically caused by an immune response called inflammation. Inflammation is both good and bad for us. The good inflammation is our body’s natural defense system against illness and injury, but it becomes bad and begins to “attack” itself when it can’t get rid of an illness or heal.
Pain that comes with normal wear and tear takes a long time to progress, but when you have an injury, it speeds up the process. As a result of the injury, scar tissue, long-term nerve damage, and conditions such as post-traumatic arthritis or tendonitis can all lead to chronic pain.
“It’s very common where a patient will have a traumatic injury in their earlier years, and they’ll learn to live with it and they ignore it, but that trauma doesn’t go away. It can lead to further trauma as they get older, exacerbating the initial injury. So, if a patient has an injury at any point that affects what they’re able to do in their normal daily activity, if it stops them from being able to get through things that they normally would be able to get through, it’s the time to see somebody to talk about and go over options so they don’t have to live with that, and they don’t have to deal with the repercussions of having that ongoing trauma linger for them.”
Craig Roberto, DO
Orthopedics, Orthopedic Surgery, Mount St. Mary’s Health Center Lockport
When aches and pains begin to creep in, start with the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) to manage any discomfort. Getting enough sleep each night is another simple strategy to promote healing. Poor quality sleep not only zaps you of energy that makes you less likely to move and be productive, but it also provokes an inflammatory response.
Chronic pain can make you feel less inclined to be active, but being sedentary is worse. Light stretching, walking, and other easy movements benefit the affected muscles and joints by strengthening them. Managing your weight with a healthy diet will also keep weight-related pressure off those pain-sensitive areas.
Over the counter analgesics (NSAIDS) like medication and pain-relieving gels can be used, but over time they may weaken and require something stronger such as nerve blocks or corticosteroid injections. Pain is common among people that are physically active, but if your pain starts interfering with daily activities and isn’t improving or getting worse, it’s time to see an orthopedic specialist.
An active lifestyle always comes with the potential for injury, but if you’re looking for a prevention plan or rehabilitation, we can help you achieve peak performance and determine the best course of treatment for your pain. Our team of highly skilled physicians and therapists from various specialties are committed to ensuring each step you take is towards a better and healthier quality of life.
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