Many people work out daily. Good pain is something most fitness fans know all about, but what about when working out hurts and it isn’t simple discomfort? Should you power through the pain or get it checked out?
It’s important to know the difference between the good kind of pain that properly strengthens or stretches you, and the bad kind that should never be ignored because it’s indicating something wrong.
Sharp, Acute Pain
A sharp or stabbing type of pain is a huge red flag that your body’s in distress. Let’s say you’re doing military shoulder presses, and suddenly a sharp, deep pain hits your shoulder area. You should immediately stop the exercise, as pushing it could compound the problem. Rather than it being just a small tear in a ligament or other connective tissue, pushing it further could sever the tissue and turn a minor injury into one requiring surgery.
Now, if that sharp pain is a one-off and doesn’t return, it may be due to technique rather than an injury. But if you get the same pain with more than the first movement, stop and put down the weights until you see an orthopedist.
Pain Comes With Swelling
If inflammation or swelling accompanies pain when doing a certain movement, it is a strong sign that something is wrong. In response to an injury, sometimes the body will send extra blood and other substances as a way to protect the injured area. Inflammation is the natural way the body protects an injured body part, so if something swells up during or following a workout – just stop the exercise.
Localized Pain
Different from a full body ache like the flu, when pain is localized in one body part, like the knee, that is a strong sign there is a problem with the area and it needs to be checked out by a doctor.
Hearing a Pop
If you’ve heard a pop in your body while working out, it’s a sound you won’t soon forget. That pop sound is usually a tendon or ligament tearing or snapping – and it’s not good at all.
Most folks recognize clicking and creaking in the body that’s associated with aging, but hearing an actual pop indicates a ligament or tendon injury that should never be ignored – so call an orthopedist immediately.
Expert Care for Orthopedic Injury in San Antonio
If any of these symptoms are bothering you, please understand that getting treatment sooner rather than later is the most beneficial thing you can do to heal your body. If you do not get treatment and it “sort of” heals over time, it could catch up with you later as a worse injury.
Our orthopedic physicians at the Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine know exactly the steps needed to stabilize and heal an injury that’s causing you pain.
Call us right away at (210) 692-7400 to schedule your appointment, or request an appointment with our online form. We look forward to helping you address all of your musculoskeletal concerns.
