What are musculoskeletal injuries?
Musculoskeletal injuries, or musculoskeletal disorders, are soft tissue injuries that affect the joints, muscles, nerves, ligaments, tendons, neck, and lower back. Usually, they’re the result of a sudden impact or blow to the body, such as an automobile accident or sports injury. However, they can also occur due to natural wear-and-tear, improper training, or repetitive motions.
Many musculoskeletal injuries respond to conservative, at-home measures of care such as ice, rest, and elevation. But if your pain persists or affects your mobility, it’s important you schedule an appointment with the caring providers at Crenshaw Interventional Pain Specialists as soon as possible.
What are the symptoms of musculoskeletal injuries?
The symptoms of musculoskeletal injuries depend on the underlying cause and severity. Common telltale signs of musculoskeletal injuries include:
- Recurrent pain
- Swollen joints
- Stiff joints
- Dull, aching pain
- Sharp, stabbing pain
- Limited mobility
- Soreness
- Warmth
Musculoskeletal injuries can also impact your ability to perform routine tasks at work. For example, you might experience pain while typing or using hand tools.
How are musculoskeletal injuries diagnosed?
To diagnose musculoskeletal injuries, your Crenshaw Interventional Pain Specialists provider reviews your medical history, asks questions about your symptoms, and conducts a thorough physical exam.
Your provider gently presses on your joints and skin to check for areas of pain, swelling, muscle weakness, or atrophy. Your provider also tests your reflexes and has you perform a series of simple exercises.
If these measures don’t provide enough information, your doctor might also order X-rays or an MRI to get a closer look at your bones, joints, and soft tissues. If they suspect a rheumatic disorder is the cause of your discomfort, they may also order laboratory tests.
How are musculoskeletal injuries treated?
Whenever possible, Crenshaw Interventional Pain Specialists uses conservative, noninvasive measures to provide relief. For example, they might recommend rest, ice, compression, and elevation (the RICE protocol), losing weight, or exercising more regularly.
If your pain persists, you might benefit from epidural injections, facet joint injections, or nerve blocks. If your injury is severe and doesn’t respond to any of these treatments, surgical intervention may be necessary.
If a musculoskeletal injury affects your quality of life, request an appointment at Crenshaw Interventional Pain Specialists today by calling the office or booking online.
