A twisted ankle or injured shoulder can mean more than just a few weeks off the field or in rehab. It can be a trigger that causes arthritis from injury later in life. There are many instances in which sports injuries have lead to arthritis in adults. Arthritis isn’t exclusive to older adults; even young, active individuals can experience this type of inflammation.
What Triggers Arthritis from an Injury?
Arthritis from injury, also known as post-traumatic osteoarthritis, can be triggered by sports injuries or everyday falls. When a joint experiences trauma, it may not heal properly. Over time, this can lead to the deterioration of cartilage in the joint, resulting in arthritis from injury. This deterioration can cause pain, and stiffness, and in extreme cases, bones may scrape against each other.
There’s no guaranteed way to prevent post-traumatic arthritis following an injury. Surprisingly, about 40 percent of severe injuries lead to osteoarthritis. This type of arthritis can often manifest approximately 10 years after the initial injury.
Symptoms & Treatment of Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis
Arthritis from injury, or post-traumatic osteoarthritis, often results from sports injuries or everyday falls. Most post-traumatic osteoarthritis patients report arthritis pain or stiffness in the affected joint. Typically, if arthritis pain occurs in a single joint – as in one knee rather than both knees – it’s likely a post-traumatic injury.
In many cases, pain can be managed with over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen or aspirin and with hot and cold compresses. Physical therapy treatment can help patients strengthen the muscles around the injured joint, helping to stabilize and reduce the strain on the joint. Losing weight to decrease the amount of pressure on the affected joint can also reduce the pain of osteoarthritis.
Other Treatment Methods
While minimally invasive treatments can be successful in managing arthritis pain, they may not always be fully effective. Surgery, including joint reconstruction, replacement, and debriding is often effective in the long-term treatment of arthritis.
Sports injuries cause arthritis in some cases, but our staff of board-certified orthopaedic surgeons offers the specialties needed to get back in the game. Use our online appointment request form to get started.