That minor shoulder twinge today might prevent you from lifting a coffee cup tomorrow. Musculoskeletal injuries rank as the leading cause of worldwide disability1, yet most people wait too long for treatment.
Don’t expect your backache or sore knee to heal itself. Without proper care, that nagging knee pain could turn into arthritis requiring surgery years later.
It’s important to recognize the symptoms and treatment options for musculoskeletal injuries before the issue worsens. If you’re struggling with back, neck, or joint pain, this could be your wake-up call to take action and seek treatment right away.
What Are Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSIs)?
Our musculoskeletal system contains bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and cartilage. These parts work together to give us structure, support, and movement. Musculoskeletal injuries happen when these parts get hurt. These injuries can occur anywhere from your neck and shoulders to your back, legs, or feet.
The most common is the low back pain. About 75-85% of Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives.2 Other common musculoskeletal injuries include fractures, strain, sprains, neck pain, and osteoarthritis. Let’s see what are the causes.
Causes of Musculoskeletal Injuries (MSIs)
You don’t have to be an athlete or labor to get musculoskeletal injuries. These can happen to anyone. The most common causes include:
- Overuse: Doing the same motion over and over like throwing a baseball, or typing all day, can wear out your muscles and tendons over time.
- Lifting Heavy Stuff: Lifting heavy objects the wrong way puts excessive strain on your back, shoulders, and knees. For example, lifting a couch without bending your knees can put too much pressure on your back.
- Bad Posture: When your body isn’t aligned properly, some muscles work harder than others, making MSIs more likely. If you spend a lot of time on your phone, you may experience a “tech neck” from looking down too much.
- Repetitive Motion: Moving the same way repeatedly with force, can cause injury.
- Falls or Accidents: Slipping on a wet floor, missing a step, or taking a hard hit can cause sprains, strains, or broken bones. This is common among older adults.
- Skipping Warm-Ups: Jumping straight into exercise without stretching first can lead to painful muscle strains.
Symptoms of Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs)
The most common signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal injuries include:
- Pain that worsens with movement
- Swelling around joints or muscles
- Joint stiffness, especially after rest
- Persistent dull aches
- Reduced range of motion
- Visible bruising or deformity
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek proper medical evaluation. Early treatment of musculoskeletal injuries can prevent long-term complications and chronic pain conditions.
RICE Method for Injuries
“RICE” is an immediate home treatment method for minor musculoskeletal injuries like sprains and strains. Its four easy steps reduce swelling, ease pain, and speed healing.
- Rest: Stop using the injured part of your body. Moving too much can make the injury worse.
- Ice: Wrap an ice pack in a cloth and place it on the injury for 15-20 minutes every couple of hours. It reduces swelling and numbs the pain.
- Compression: Gently wrap the injured area with an elastic bandage. This helps control swelling and gives support.
- Elevation: Raise the injured area above your heart level. This helps reduce swelling by letting fluids drain away.
Warning: The RICE method is not recommended for severe injuries, such as broken bones.
6 Steps of Musculoskeletal Injuries Treatment at ER Watauga
If you suspect the injury is severe or not improving after 24-48 hours of using RICE, reach your nearest ER in Watauga. Our step-by-step approach makes sure you get the right treatment as quickly as possible.
1. Quick Assessment & Triage
Our emergency physician will ask about your injury:
- What happened? Did you fall, lift something heavy, or twist the wrong way?
- Where does it hurt? Is it your ankle, wrist, back, or another joint?
- How bad is the pain? On a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being unbearable.
- Can you move the injured part? This helps determine if it’s a strain, sprain, or fracture.
2. Imaging & Diagnosis
To get a clear picture of what’s going on inside, the doctor may order one or more of the following tests:
- Digital X-rays: To get a basic view of bone structure, and identify bone fractures, and dislocations.
- CT Scan: In complex injuries, a CT scan offers more detailed cross-sectional images of bones for better assessment.
- MRI: It’s ideal to detect soft tissue injuries; tears, strains, and inflammation.
- Blood Tests: Detect signs of infections or underlying conditions like arthritis.
3. Pain Management
You don’t want to sit in pain while waiting for treatment. We quickly provide pain management depending on your injury. This may include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications – to ease pain and swelling.
- Prescription pain relief – if over-the-counter meds aren’t enough.
- IV pain management – for severe injuries that need stronger medication right away.
- Nerve block or local anesthetic – to numb the area if the pain is unbearable.
4. Stabilizing the Injury
We’ll make sure your injury is supported so it can heal properly. This may include:
- Splints or Braces: Used for sprains, strains, and small fractures to keep the area stable.
- Casts: For more serious fractures, a cast helps the bone heal in the right position.
- Slings: Used for shoulder injuries to prevent movement and reduce strain.
- Crutches or Walking Boots: If you have a foot or leg injury
- For dislocations, a doctor will carefully realign the joint and ensure it’s back in place before applying a stabilizer.
5. Wound Care
If your injury involves an open wound, the Watauga ER team will:
- Clean and disinfect the wound to prevent infection
- Provide stitches or staples
- Dress and bandage the area to keep it protected
6. Follow-Up Recovery Plan
Some musculoskeletal injuries heal quickly, while others take weeks or months. Depending on that we may give you a follow-up plan that includes:
- At-home care tips: Resting, icing, and exercises to aid in your recovery.
- Referrals to specialists: Like orthopedic or physical therapists for long-term care.
- Work or activity restrictions: So you don’t reinjure yourself while healing.
Immediate Care for Musculoskeletal Injuries
Minor injuries, if ignored, can get worse to the point where surgery becomes the only option. Or they may already have caused permanent instability. Getting the right treatment at the right time can prevent dire consequences.
If you’re dealing with back pain, neck pain, or any other MSI symptom, ER Watauga is here for you, day or night. Please don’t wait for your pain to subside on its own. Let us help you get back to feeling like yourself again.
FAQs
1. How to prevent musculoskeletal injuries?
To avoid musculoskeletal injuries, start with a few simple steps. Warm up before exercise to loosen muscles and cool down afterward to help them recover. When lifting heavy things, bend your knees, keep your back straight, and use your legs. If you play sports, wear protective gear to stay safe. Keep your muscles strong with regular exercise.
2. How long does it take to heal from a musculoskeletal injury?
A mild sprain might take a few days to heal, while a broken bone could take weeks or even months. Follow your doctor’s advice to speed up recovery.
