You may not often think about your joints – after all, it’s easy to take them for granted, especially when you’re young. However, it is important to make a conscious effort to look after them as you age. These clever mechanisms are a delicate combination of bone, cartilage and connective tissues that enable us to move freely and enjoy a mobile way of living. Unfortunately, accidents do happen and many people experience trauma or injury to their joints or surrounding tissues at some point. But for how long can joint injuries impact our lives?
Here we take a look at the most common ways these injuries impact our joints months, and even years, later.
Early arthritis
There are over 100 different types of arthritis, but they all are conditions which affect our joints. Whilst most people assume this condition only affects the elderly, injuring your joints can actually make you up to 7 times more likely to develop a form of arthritis at an early age than someone who has never had joint damage.
Symptoms of arthritis include sore, swollen and stiff joints and may include a reduced range of motion. Some people can manage their symptoms with over-the-counter medication and a healthy lifestyle, whilst others may need medical intervention.
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis
Developing arthritis after an injury such as a bone fracture or dislocated joint is specifically called post-traumatic osteoarthritis. As the joint heals, the cartilage, ligaments and other connective tissues scar and remodel themselves, which can cause deformity of the mechanism and may restrict the way in which the joint moves. The resulting irritation and inflammation can become a chronic problem. There is currently no known way of knowing who will develop osteoarthritis from their joint injury, but there are things you can do to help lower your risks.
Doing low-impact exercise that focuses on building the strength of the surrounding muscles will help to keep the previously injured joint stable and well-protected from further harm. Avoiding the return to vigorous sporting activities too soon and eating a healthy diet will also go a long way to aid your recovery. Make sure to allow yourself adequate time to fully heal and eat well to provide your body with all the necessary nutrients to repair itself optimally.
Vulnerability to further conditions
After a significant injury to a joint, it’s not going to be as strong as it once was. Even with strength building exercises, be cautious that old injury sites are more easily damaged in the future. It’s important to continue to avoid excessive strain on the healed joint as much as possible, even years later. Many people find wearing support bandages helpful as they can help to reduce pain and the chance of straining the joint.
If you already have a form of arthritis such as gout, you may be susceptible to increased sensitivity in a joint where you have suffered a past injury. In this instance, stubbing your toe or banging your knee could result in symptoms of a gout flare. Previous joint injuries can also make you more susceptible to other joint related conditions such as bursitis, tendonitis, and chronic strain in the months and years following the injury.
No matter how long ago your joint injury was, looking after your health is the first step to reducing your chances of experiencing long-term negative side effects. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercise regime and being at a healthy weight will all help to protect your joints from excessive strain and further injury.