Knee injury or ankle sprain. Tendon strain or bruise. Who among us is not injured? When to cool the injury site and when to immobilize the sore body part? Medical intervention is often necessary, but minor injuries can be treated with drugs available in pharmacies.
Injuriesand unlucky falls happen all year round, but winter is especially favorable for them. We lose our balance walking on an icy pavement or skiing from a slope. And we don't always get back up without any he alth damage.
Ligament damage
They may tear or break when twisted in a joint exceeding the normal range of motion. In the case of skiers, the ligaments associated with the knee joint (collateral or sacral) are most often damaged, which is indicated by knee swelling, pain - sometimes so strong that it makes it impossible to walk, a feeling of fullness in the knee joint related to a hematoma that is invisible to us.
What to do?If the symptoms are minor, proceed as with a mild ankle sprain. When they are significant, we seek the help of an orthopedist. Treatment depends on the severity of the injury. A torn tendon may heal after immobilization, but a broken tendon requires surgery.
Sprain ankle
This is a common injury, but not among skiers protected by shoes that stabilize the ankle joint. If, during a sprain, only the joint capsule and ligaments are stretched, the pain generally does not interfere with walking, and the swelling is slight. With a partial or complete rupture of the ligaments and the joint capsule, it is strong, it can make it impossible to put stress on the leg at all. It is accompanied by significant swelling and hematoma.
What to do?If the tissue damage is minor, just apply cold compresses, keep walking to a minimum, keep the leg horizontal and slightly stiffen the ankle with an elastic band or bandage. Ailments are reduced by ointments and gels with analgesic and anti-swelling properties. In the event of significant swelling, hematoma, severe pain, let's go to an orthopedist. Depending on the degree of tissue damage, he or she will recommend wearing an ankle stabilizer or applying a plaster cast.
Tendon strains
Most often they happen to those who are on a daily basisthey avoid physical activity and go to the slope almost right after getting up from their desk. A symptom of tendon stretching is pain when you move your arm or leg in a joint.
What to do?For several days we use cold compresses, lubricate the sore spots with painkillers and anti-inflammatory preparations, or take over-the-counter medications with this effect. You also need to rest the limb, i.e. limit the movement.
Dislocation of the shoulder joint
This injury occurs when the arm is "twisted" during a fall. The shoulder joint, despite its great mobility, is prone to dislocation (displacement of the bones that make it up against each other). This injury is associated with very severe pain and the inability to move the hand in the shoulder joint. Sometimes it is accompanied by neurological disorders, e.g. hand paralysis.
What to do?Take painkillers, put your arm in a sling and urgently go to an orthopedist (preferably an orthopedic emergency room) so that he can adjust the joint and immobilize it. A shoulder dislocation is a very serious injury that can damage nerves and blood vessels.
Bruising
It is usually the result of a sudden fall that causes soft tissue damage, most commonly the knees, shoulder, wrist, hip and tailbone area. The symptoms of contusion are gradually increasing pain, hematoma, swelling.
What to do?We cool the injured area quickly to limit the hematoma and swelling. Several times a day, for 20 minutes, we apply cooling gel compresses or compresses made of ice cubes placed in a foil bag and wrapped in a cloth. Lubricating the sore area with gels with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties will also bring relief. However, if the pain does not gradually diminish, let's go to an orthopedist, as the injury may be much more serious than we think.
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