You May Have a Fracture

Shoulder, Upper Arm, or Wrist—Are you a mountain biker? The most common injuries for mountain bikers are in the shoulder, upper arm, or wrist. If you’ve broken or fractured a bone, your bone will feel or look different than normal. You also might have swelling or a bump in the area.

If you think there’s even a small chance your bone is broken or fractured, schedule an appointment or visit our Orthopaedic Injury Clinic.

You Have Weakness or Can't Put Weight On Your Injury 

Knee Pain or Ligament Injury—Most skiers have heard of dreaded ACL injuries. But did you know that skiers can also injure their MCL ligaments? This usually happens if your knee bends toward your body when you fall down.

You may be able to treat an MCL injury on your own with rest or physical therapy. But if you can’t walk or put weight on your knee without pain, see a health care provider.

Elbow Injury or Overuse—Baseball players often injure the UCL ligament in their elbow. This can happen after throwing a ball too much or incorrectly. Younger players can treat UCL injuries by simply taking a break from baseball for a while.

If rest doesn't help, players of all ages should see a sports medicine specialist. You can also work with a throwing coach to lower your chances of injury.

You Have Redness, Swelling, Numbness, or Tingling

Ankle Swelling and Foot Pain—It’s a common scenario for backpackers and hikers: You twist your ankle and it swells, bruises, and hurts when you touch it. This usually happens to the outside of your ankle but can happen on the inside too. If you can't put weight on it or have pain in other parts of your foot besides your ankle, you should see a health care provider right away.

Knee Inflammation or Pain—Gardeners may suffer from bursitis in the knee. Fluid-filled sacs in your knee joints become inflamed, causing pain and swelling. Some gardeners can soothe pain by using a knee sleeve and avoiding kneeling. But if your knees are numb or tingling, or if your pain is getting worse, you should see a doctor. You should also see a provider if your knee is red, hot to the touch, or swollen.

Your Pain Is Getting Worse

Hip, Knees, or Shin Pain—Many runners injure their IT band, a ligament that runs from your hip to your shin and stabilizes your knee. Your IT band may heal with rest, ice, and stretching. But if it’s been several weeks or months since your pain started and it's getting worse, you should see a sports medicine specialist.

Your Injury Interferes With Your Day-to-Day Life

Shoulder Pain or Overuse—Most swimmers swim everyday, or at least a couple times a week. Over time, swimmers can develop shoulder pain from using these muscles too much. If it’s too disruptive to stop your workout routine, a sports medicine specialist can help you figure out how to safely keep doing the activities you love. Older swimmers can especially benefit from seeing a specialist within the first few weeks of having pain or an injury.