What are sports injuries?
Sports injuries can occur because of wear-and-tear due to overtraining, or because of an acute issue, such as lifting something incorrectly. Some of the most common injuries athletes suffer from include:
- Herniated or ruptured disc
- Lower back (lumbar) sprains and strains
- Fractures in vertebrae, as with spondylolysis
- Cervical (neck) strains or injuries, including stingers
- Spondylolisthesis, or abnormal slippage of a vertebra
While these types of injuries can certainly affect athletes of all levels, they’re common among “weekend warriors” or anyone who suddenly changes their workout frequency or intensity.
When should I see a doctor for sports injuries?
If you feel any kind of back pain or soreness that radiates into your arms or legs, schedule an evaluation at Republic Spine and Pain right away. By putting off your evaluation, you risk worsening the underlying sports injury each time you train.
The practice encourages you to come in as soon as possible if you’re experiencing any of the following sports injury symptoms.
- Electrical or burning pains
- Difficulty walking or poor balance
- Muscle weakness in your extremities
- Pain that doesn’t improve after several days or worsens
You should also visit Republic Spine and Pain for a sports injury evaluation if your symptoms become so severe, they’re starting to disrupt your sleep.
How are sports injuries treated?
Treating sports injuries involves a combination of pain-relieving therapies and healing treatments. After diagnosing your sports injury and evaluating your symptoms, your doctor at Republic Spine and Pain might recommend:
- Nerve blocks
- Physical therapy
- Cervical traction
- Regular icing and heating
- Cervical collar or back brace
- Oral steroid pack medications
- Spine injections, such as an epidural
Once your dedicated pain management physician at Republic Spine and Pain gets you started on your sports injury treatment plan, they talk with you about prevention. You learn how to properly train, warm up, and stretch, so you can reduce your risk of lingering back pain and sports injury issues.
Click on the online scheduler to book your sports injury exam at Republic Spine and Pain today. You can also call the office nearest you to schedule a visit.
