Pain management encompasses a range of treatments designed for the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic and acute pain. Pain can be caused by many different things, including lifting heavy objects improperly, poor posture, disease, injury, or aging. The cause of your pain will be one of many factors that influences how your pain is treated. For example, sports medicine focuses on treating and preventing pain and injuries caused by participation in athletic and fitness activities.
There are several reasons why someone might choose sports medicine to help with their pain. If you suffer from any of the following conditions, consider your options for treatment and whether sports medicine is right for you.
Symptoms of arthritis include swelling, stiffness, and achiness in the soft tissues of muscles. Untreated arthritis can cause even more serious issues, particularly in people who engage in athletic activities. For example, a runner might change their running gait to help ease pain caused by arthritis, which in turn can cause discomfort in the hips, back, and ankles. A sports medicine doctor can provide various therapies to help relieve pain caused by arthritis, as well as suggest physical activities to do while you prepare to engage in your regular exercise again.
Along with falls and accidents, concussions are typically caused by sports such as soccer, football, or ice hockey. Concussions can be serious and usually have headaches, nausea, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating as initial symptoms. A sports medicine doctor will examine you to gauge the severity of the injury, usually through various tests or imaging like a CT scan. Pain management and treatment for concussions may involve rest, avoiding bright lights and screens, and refraining from exercise until the injury has healed. The sports medicine doctor will monitor your progress and declare when it is safe to return to your regular activities.
A stress fracture is an injury that is commonly caused by overuse, whether from running long distances or repeated punching or kicking, as is involved in boxing workouts. Two common locations for stress fractures are the lower leg and foot. A sports medicine doctor can provide imaging to pinpoint the location and severity of a stress fracture and treat the injury from there. A typical treatment is putting the patient in a walking boot if the injury is in the foot or ankle. Along with treatment, the doctor may talk to the patient about proper nutrition for bone health, such as getting enough calcium and vitamin D. Getting enough of certain nutrients can help prevent stress fractures from occurring in the future.
Overuse injuries are common among athletes. This includes conditions such as tendonitis, a condition that caused swelling of a tendon as a result of the individual overusing the tendon. For example, this could include a tennis player who practices too often or a baseball player who did not allow their arm the proper time to rest. Runners and other individuals who are physically active are particularly susceptible to overuse injuries.
Here are several questions that sports medicine doctors often get asked in regard to pain management (and treatment in general). Of course, the best way to get answers is to speak with a sports medicine doctor directly during a consultation.
No. Anyone who is interested in improving their physical activity and reducing their risk of injury is encouraged to visit a sports medicine doctor. As discussed, this also includes treatment for a variety of common types of pain and physical injury. Sports medicine doctors treat a variety of patient types, including but certainly not limited to athletes.
Yes. Sports medicine doctors assist individuals with better prevention of pain in the future. This usually includes a plan to manage physical activity responsibly, techniques that allow for quicker recovery, and coordination with other members of the patient’s sports medicine team (e.g., physical trainers, physical therapists, etc.).
Always ask your primary physician if you have any questions or concerns about seeing a sports medicine doctor for pain management. If you have pain that is caused by a sports injury, consider seeing a sports medicine doctor for pain management. Call our office today to set up an appointment.
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