Are you asking yourself these questions? Let Ortho El Paso help you answer them.
First, any time you are feeling consistent and/or severe pain, you should see a doctor. There are varying levels of other pains, though, that can be easily understood with these explanations. We’ll also recommend whether or not you should call our office for a consultation.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
In many cases, a certain amount of “discomfort” or pain after exercise is normal, especially if you're starting a new workout routine and using muscles you don’t usually use. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, or DOMS, which is what you experience one to two days following an exercise or physical workout. The result usually is small muscle tears and/or inflammation. This is not concerning for us and will most likely heal in a short time...and actually disappear altogether as you repeat the workouts. To treat we recommend ice, massage, heat, and/or anti-inflammatory medication.
Sharp Pain, Numbness, and Burning
All of these symptoms after (or during) your workout, can be signs of injury to a nerve, muscle, or tendon. And, you should be checked out by our orthopedic doctors.
These injuries could be sprains, dislocations, and/or fractures and require medical attention. Treatments can range from anti-inflammatory medications to the worst injuries requiring surgery and/or physical therapies. Some symptoms will include:
- Severe pain
- Sudden pain
- Swelling
- Bruising or bleeding
- Unable to put weight on a knee, leg, ankle, foot or lean on an elbow or push/pull with the shoulder
- Inability to move a joint normally
- Weakness of a leg or arm
- A bone or joint visibly out of place
Overuse injuries can cause pain over time and usually only get worse. Though these injuries are usually not emergencies, it's a good idea to contact the orthopedic surgeon, especially if you experience these symptoms:
- Pain when you are exercising or doing normal activities
- A continuous ache in the affected area when you're not exercising
- Swelling or bruising
Treatment for these may include rest, anti-inflammatory medications and/or physical therapy. Sometimes surgery can provide relief and lessen pain for more severe overuse injuries.
Shortness of Breath, Pressure in the Chest, Weakness and/or Chronic Fatigue, Feelings of Clamminess or Lightheadedness
These symptoms can be something as simple as dehydration to something as concerning as major illness. If these symptoms do not disappear after hydrating yourself and rest, you should see your family practice doctor immediately. They are generally not due to orthopedic injury, so see your primary care doctor first.
The orthopaedic specialists at Ortho El Paso and The Hand Surgery Center at Ortho El Paso can provide relief from orthopedic injury and pain. Call 915-249-4000 for an appointment if you need to seek treatment in El Paso.
