What happens when sports injuries in Dallas, TX go left untreated?
Injury is an inevitable part of life. While some are comfortable reaching out for treatment, others may be more reluctant to seek help. Sports injuries especially can easily be overlooked as you may want to “push through” the pain. Others may not want to be a burden or are fearful of what they might learn if they visit a doctor.
However, it is important to know that injuries often can worsen if left untreated, meaning that some minor injuries that could have been easily treated can become a more serious and costly problem. Let’s explore some of the consequences of leaving common injuries untreated.
Concussions
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that can occur from blows to the head or forceful shaking, causing the brain to move around in the skull. Some symptoms of concussion can include loss of consciousness, headache, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, confusion, and brain fog. These symptoms can be long-lasting and recurring without treatment.
An untreated concussion can also cause:
- Mood swings
- Memory problems
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Epilepsy
- Anxiety
- Brain swelling
The possible long-term side effects of a concussion can easily lessen the quality of life. The safest course of action is to see a doctor right away if a concussion is suspected.
Fractures and osteoporosis
A fracture is a crack or a break in a bone. Pain, bruising and swelling can also occur as a result of a fracture. Because of this, a fracture can be undetected or confused as a bad bruise. When left untreated, a fracture can heal improperly, leading to deformation, misalignment, limited movement, and infection. Further, a fracture can harm the tissue around the area if bone fragments have become loose.
People with osteoporosis are more susceptible to breaks and cracks of bone since they have reduced bone density. People with osteoporosis, in particular, should be mindful that fractures can occur from very low energy injuries. Depression and other health problems such as obesity can also stem from an untreated fracture.
A doctor can help relieve these symptoms and prescribe care to best treat the injury.
Soft tissue damage
Generally, minor tissue damage occurs in our lives and can be easily treated at home. However, some tissue damage can have more long-term consequences. When pain occurs suddenly and persists even after resting for a few days, it is important to see a doctor about it to limit further damage and long-term issues. The proper function may be impaired as a result of strains, sprains, tears, ruptures, or tendonitis.
Choosing not to seek treatment for serious soft tissue injuries can result in pain, instability, disability, or arthritis. For example, a knee injury, such as a meniscus tear, can not only change the way we stand, walk and bend the knee, forcing other body parts to compensate, it can also become a larger tear, requiring more treatment in the future and even loss of mobility.
There are few downsides to seeking treatment when something doesn’t feel right in our body. The risk of embarrassment or slight inconvenience is a small price to pay to maintain your desired quality of life and physical wellbeing. Your health is worth it! If you’re ready to get your untreated sports injury looked at, we encourage you to call our office at 972-483-5006 today. Our specialists and staff at Arthritis Relief Institute provide cutting-edge adjunctive therapies to offer you relief from your chronic pain.
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