A fall can be embarrassing, but it’s also a dangerous occurrence for many folks. That’s because falling has caused injuries to millions of people to date. It’s not just the elderly who suffer from orthopedic injuries when they fall; young people are just as susceptible and they should know the fall injury symptoms before going for injury treatment.
After taking a fall, then, one of the first steps towards recovery should be to visit an orthopedic specialist. This is especially important in the wintertime when you’re facing icy sidewalks and streets. Let’s take a look at the reasons why you might want to get to a specialist right away:
Pain In The Knees
It’s common for the knees to take a huge impact during a fall. As a result, the most usual knee injuries are either dislocations or fractures. If you see any swelling in your knee area or have difficult movement in that place, there might also be a ligament tear.
You should consult an orthopedic specialist if your knee pain is too much to handle or isn’t getting better. They’ll let you know what to do next and tell you if you need foot and ankle surgery in NJ.
Injury In Shoulders
The shoulders are among the most mobile joints that you have. However, this also means that they’re the most vulnerable to injury. This injury could be due to overuse, stress, or a direct fall. You might not notice it right away, but a fall can cause dislocation or even separation in the shoulder.
If there’s even a tiny fracture within your shoulder bones, it may lead to bruising, extreme pain, and redness. One of the most common issues here is a tear in the rotator cuff, which decreases your strength and limits your range of motion. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms after a fall, an orthopedic specialist should be your next stop.
Hip Pain
Hip injuries are especially serious issues when they occur for elderly people. However, they can be just as dangerous for young or middle-aged folks. The most common injuries to the hip after a fall include dislocation of the hips, labral tears, and even broken bones.
If you’ve landed on your hip during a fall or impacted it in any other way, you need to watch out for certain symptoms. These include great pain, especially in the buttocks, thighs, or groin area. An orthopedic specialist should be able to diagnose the underlying cause and suggest proper treatment.
Wrist Injuries
When you fall, it’s only natural to hold out one hand (or both) to stop or break the impact. This usually results in the wrists taking most of the shock, resulting in painful bends and tears.
Your hand might have been bent over backward towards the forearm, which can lead to tiny tears. You need to get to a specialist fast if there’s a high level of pain along with swelling. You could have a broken wrist without knowing it, which could permanently restrict your movement if you leave it untreated.
Elbow Injuries
Some people try to avoid their fall by using their elbow. Again, this could result in severe fractures and /or dislocation to that area. If the bone fragments inside the elbow are allowed to get too far apart, this may result in a loss of movement in that joint. But learning some rules of falling may help you fall safely in situations when you’re unable to avoid it.
Wrapping Up
Even if you think you can handle the pain, it’s best if you consult an orthopedic specialist right away in such cases. Loss of movement is no joke, so don’t take your chances after a nasty fall.