Pain Management: Is It Pain or Injury?

Feeling somewhat sore after working out, cleaning the yard, or sitting down for prolonged periods of time is normal. When the body does something strenuous or involving pressure, you can expect it to complain.

Although muscle pain or soreness is not usually something to worry about, certain indicators may prompt medical attention. If your pain is sharp and lasts for a few days, then you might actually be dealing with an underlying injury – which warrants medical treatment for effective pain management.

Pain and injury often go hand-in-hand. Let’s talk about the subtle differences and distinctions between these health issues, how they are interconnected, and where you can go in St. Charles County for excellent orthopedic care of your musculoskeletal pain or injury.

What Is Pain?

When an injury or infection occurs in your body, your brain sends pain signals to the area in order to tell you to rest or stay off of the injured area, so it can heal. Pain can be a tight, stiff, or achy feeling that may persist for a few days. The general indications of pain may include the following:

• General discomfort
• Dull throbbing
• Stabbing sensations
• Soreness

The usual culprit for pain after performing an exercise or a chore is delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). During strenuous activity, muscles become worn out and need to revitalize, which involves resting.

What Is Injury?

An injury can result from damage to a structure in your body. As it relates to the musculoskeletal system, this most often occurs in the form of a tear, a pull, inflammation, or strain. For example, in the case of arthritis, the joint inflammation is an internal injury that usually causes pain.

Common symptoms of injury include swelling, irritation, bruising, bleeding, and sharp pain. Without proper medical attention, an injury can limit your mobility, cause weakness and fatigue, and even cause permanent damage to the injured body part.

How to Differentiate Pain from Injury

Although an injury and pain are closely related, there are a few factors that can easily distinguish the two. These include the following:

Length of Pain

Muscle pain or soreness can last a few hours, and the pain will naturally and noticeably subside. In an injury, the pain may last longer, and it may get worse rather than better. An injury can become more severe or permanent if it is left untreated.

Location of Pain

Pain or soreness from physical activity may radiate from one area to another. In contrast, an acute injury causes localized pain. You can easily pinpoint the origin of the pain – such as a joint or muscle.

Type of Pain

Muscle soreness feels like a dull ache or tightness over a large section of the body. It may also feel heavy or tender. In an injury, the pain is sharp and turns more severe when you move the affected area.

Pain Management in St. Peters, O’Fallon, and Wentzville, MO

At Advanced Bone & Joint, our board-certified orthopedic doctors are experts in dealing with pain and injury management, including chronic pain and acute injury. Through our expert knowledge and state-of-the-art tools, our pain management doctors can create a treatment plan that works for you.

If you want to know more about our pain management services, contact us today at (636) 229-4222. You may also request an appointment through our online request form. Let us help you overcome your aches and live a pain-free life! We look forward to seeing you.