Dr. Mayank Gulati

Muscle sprains and ligament tears are one of the most common injuries that medical practitioners encounter on a regular basis. These injuries are painful and can also limit one’s movement, needless to say. However, there are simple things that can be done as soon as the injury happens so that the impact of the injury can be reduced, the symptoms minimised, and recovery improved.

A sprain is a tear of the ligament. The ligament is responsible for connecting the tissue strands that connect the bone to the muscle. When this sprain affects the muscle or even the tendon, it is known as a strain.
Sprains are very common and can occur due to a fall, twist, or impact. Most commonly affected areas are the ankles and wrists. Sprains happen when there is a pull or a twist of the ankle or the joint. This is very common in athletes and can be caused by repetitive motions in the knees, wrists, elbows, etc.

The most common symptom is pain, swelling, limited movement, and sometimes bruising. The degree of these injuries depends on its severity. The most common ways to treat such injuries are as follows.

1. RICE therapy: RICE is an acronym for rest, ice, compress, and elevate. Rest the affected area immediately by stopping any further activity. Ice the area using an ice wrap, with the ice cubes wrapped in a towel or a cotton cloth. Repeat this exercise if possible for every 20 minutes. This will reduce the swelling and pain. Compress the area using a sling or a wrap. This will help in reducing the swelling. Elevate the affected area if possible above the heart. This will help control the blood flow and thereby reduce the swelling and pain.
2. Pain control: If there is pain that needs medication, go for the non-steroidal drugs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If it is a child that is injured, it is advisable to give non-aspirin ones.
3. Seek professional help: Most sprains can be self-limiting over a couple of days. However, it is advisable to seek medical help if there is significant pain, swelling, or numbness, open wounds or bruises, or inability to move the joint.

The doctor may decide to do the following.

1. Scanning or imaging to rule out any internal hard/soft tissue injury like fracture or tear
2. Immobilise the joint with a splint or a cast
3. Start physical therapy if there is severe pain and immobility
4. Surgical repair if there is a ligament injury

A word of caution to athletes or people who are very active physically is to go easy on the joint. In an eagerness to quickly get back to their routine, more and severe damage may be caused. This can be avoided by allowing time for complete healing.

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Back pain can be debilitating and one of the main causes can be a weak disc. There could be an inflammation of the disc or prolapse which can cause pain. In most people, poor posture along with lack of physical exercise can lead to recurrent disc issues and pain.

The disc is basically a layer of soft tissue, which is present between two vertebrae. This tissue can slip out of its space, causing prolapse or a hernia. Depending on the exact location, it can be cervical, thoracic, or lumbar disc hernia. Though there is treatment available in the form of medicines and exercises to even surgery, recurrent disc pain is best prevented, in ways mentioned below:

1. Strengthen the abdomen: One of the main issues for recurrent disc pain is a bad abdominal musculature. The key is to support the back and improve posture so that the back muscles are strong and disc pain is prevented. Crunches, sit-ups, and other exercises to improve spine stability are highly recommended. When lifting things off the ground, it is always advisable to sit down and pick things up rather than bend down and pick up. Bending down to pick up things, especially heavy ones, can cause severe disc prolapse almost immediately.

2. Weight management: Being overweight can put pressure, especially on the low back (thoracic and lumbar spines) and cause a hernia in the lower back. Weight management, therefore, assumes great significance.

3. Stress management: One of the main causes for the increased incidence of back pain is higher levels of stress. This can be improved by stress management techniques including meditation and yoga.

4. Yoga: This not only helps in stress management but also keeps a person flexible. It improves circulation, joint mobility and so helps in preventing back pain.

5. Posture changes: If a person is diagnosed to have poor posture (stooped, drooping, etc.), then they should be taught to sit upright with adequate back support so that recurrent disc pain is prevented.

6. Exercise: If a person has had a herniated disc, then the doctor would recommend a chiropractor or physiotherapist to improve pain control. A set of exercises would be taught to improve abdominal strength. They also would instruct on ways to do this properly, so that recurrent disc pain can be avoided.

7. Pain control: This needs to be followed sequentially. In addition to injections of corticosteroids and painkillers for immediate relief, a person also can have painkillers at disposal to take when required. As a last resort, surgery may be done but needs to be followed up with exercise so that recurrent disc pain is avoided.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!