I don’t know a single athlete that rushes to the doctor at the first sign of trouble. I’m certainly not one of them! It may not make logical sense, but I think there’s a part of ourselves that believes if we avoid getting an official diagnosis, we can get moving forward. But trust me, any real injury is going to stop you from keeping up with your training schedule – whether or not you visit a physician.
While there are some levels of stress and strain we naturally put on the body and can handle with a little TLC and RICE (Rest, ice, compression, elevation), other times call for a trip to the doctor. If you don’t, you’re bound to exacerbate your condition…sometimes with serious and lasting consequences!
5 Signs Your Sports Injury Demands a Doctor
Sign #1 – TLC doesn’t help.
Sometimes it’s hard to determine the severity of an injury immediately. Let’s talk specifically about foot injuries here as an example. With so many tiny bones in the foot and some very important muscles and tendons, it’s difficult to distinguish what exactly has been injured. You can fracture a bone in your foot and never know it!
If you twist an ankle, take a tumble, or otherwise injure your foot, you know what to do. Follow the RICE method and take some OTC painkillers. But if that’s not providing you relief after a few days, you may have a more serious injury to contend with. Don’t push through pain – see a professional so you can get on the mend ASAP.
Sign #2 – Stiffness, instability, or poor range of motion.
If your injury is seriously hindering your range of motion, causing you to feel off balance or unable to put weight on the limb, get to the doctor. Soreness is natural after any injury, but if your ability to function is disrupted, you’re probably dealing with a more serious issue.
Sign #3 – The pain gets in the way of living your life.
There is absolutely no reason to let a sports injury disrupt your daily life. Sure, it might put you on the bench for a little while – that’s natural – but you should still be able to sleep, get around, and function mostly as normal. If your pain is seriously hindering your ability to function outside of exercise, get checked out. If anything, your physician can prescribe something for pain so that you can sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep is key in the body’s healing process!
Sign #4 – Your injury involves your head.
If your sports injury in any way involved your head, get evaluated by a professional. Head injuries are no joke, and they don’t always show immediate signs. If you have signs of a concussion:
· Headache or cranial pressure
· Nausea and vomiting
· Loss of balance
· Changes in eyesight
· Brain fog, confusion, or difficulty concentrating
· Generally feeling “off”
GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. Never try to “sleep off” a head injury, especially within three hours of the injury or before being evaluated. You may miss other serious signs of a problem, such as seizures or body numbness. Head injuries are never worth gambling over.
Sign #5 – You start experiencing other alarming symptoms.
If you start experiencing any strange symptoms after a sports injury, go get checked out. These symptoms can range in severity and manifestation, but you always want to be on the lookout for:
· If pain or swelling spreads
· A fever of 101 degrees or higher that persists for 4 or more hours
· Rashes, swelling, reddened patches that are hot to the touch
· Chest pain, shortness of breath
· Heart palpitations
· Losing consciousness
While many symptoms may be ultimately harmless, there’s no room to play fast and loose with your health. Be safe, not sorry. Sports injuries are a pain – literally. I know from experience. But I also know that it’s worth the time and expense to make sure I’m on the right road back to health.
We want to be in the best shape we can be not just for our performance, but for the sake of our families. There are zero benefits to being stubborn!
What signs tell you you need to go to the doctor after an injury? Share your story in the comments.