What to do after a joint injury—and when to seek care
Waiting too long to seek treatment could make the problem worse.
Anyone who's ever pivoted too quickly on a tennis court or twisted an ankle on their bottom stair knows that joint injuries are very common—and very unpleasant. In many cases, these aches and pains will go away on their own after a brief period. But if they last longer than a few days or are extremely painful, it's time to put down the ice pack and call your doctor.
"It's pretty common for people who have a joint injury that's not an obvious bone break to delay care and give it a wait-and-see approach," says University of Iowa Health Care orthopedic surgeon Joseph Galvin, DO.
Signs of more serious joint injuries
With joint injuries, these signs and symptoms indicate that you should call your doctor:
- You heard or felt a "pop" when you first sustained the injury
- You can't walk on the injured knee or ankle, even after a few days
- Your pain is extreme, or it hasn't improved after several days
- Your joint instantly swelled up after the injury, and the swelling hasn't improved much after a few days
- You continue to perform the same activity that caused the initial injury, and you sustain the same injury again
Galvin explains that more serious joint injuries, such as a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which is a knee injury, or a torn rotator cuff, which is a shoulder injury, often fly under the average person's radar, getting worse without their knowledge.
"For example, if you have an ACL tear and you just use a knee brace, you might feel good enough to continue with your typical exercise routine," Galvin says. "But you don't realize that your knee is still unstable, and if you injure yourself further, you might even tear your meniscus and wind up needing more intensive surgery to repair your knee."
What to do after a joint injury
The next time you sprain or strain a joint and experience no extreme pain or signs of serious injury, Galvin advises following the R.I.C.E. method of treatment:
Give the joint a break from movement and use.
Apply ice to the affected area for 20 minutes at a time every four hours—and make sure to put a towel between yourself and the ice to protect your skin.
Wrap the area with a bandage to help reduce swelling. Make sure you don't wrap it too tight since doing so can cut off circulation and blood flow.
Raise the injured area above the level of your heart.
"Take some anti-inflammatory medication," Dr. Galvin adds, "and if things aren't getting better within the first week or so, that's when you head in to see your primary care physician."
In many cases, waiting is the right call. But it's important to pay attention to key signs that indicate a joint injury isn't likely to get better on its own.