Joint Pain After Falling at Work: How to Find Relief

Fall risks are abundant in most jobs. Unfortunately, mild to moderate injuries caused by a workplace fall could leave you with annoying joint pain.

If you’ve lost time at work because of a fall, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation. Visit Advanced Spine & Pain Specialists for an assessment and treatment. We specialize in treating work injuries.

Let’s take a look at how joint pain occurs after a fall at work and what you can do to find relief.

Common injuries resulting from falls

Falling can affect key structures of joints, including bones, cartilage, ligaments, muscles, and tendons, due to the forces of impact absorbed from the fall. Common injuries to these structures include:

Fractures
Bruising
Strains (muscle tears)
Sprains (ligament stretches and tears)

Cartilage is the tough and slippery covering over the ends of bones in joints. Cartilage damage can affect the smooth movement of joints, and repeated injuries can cause a condition called post-traumatic arthritis. This condition carries the risk of potential for chronic pain and joint deterioration in the future.

Joint injuries tend to cause symptoms like:

Achy or sharp pain, particularly when the joint is bearing weight or moving
Tenderness in the area around the injured joint
Inflammation and swelling around the joint
Stiffness that affects the joint’s range of motion

Any joint in your body could be damaged in a workplace fall. For instance, a type of fall nicknamed FOOSH (falls onto outstretched hands) could injure joints in your fingers, wrists, elbows, and shoulders.

How to find relief for joint pain at home

Fractures usually require emergency care to immobilize and stabilize the damaged bones. Soft tissue injuries generally don’t need urgent medical care.

When you have a soft tissue injury, you can usually begin treatment at home using the RICE method.

Rest

When you develop joint pain after a fall, resting the affected joint is the first step. Take weight off the joint or stop activities that use the joint. This reduces the risk of further injury and allows natural healing processes to begin.

Ice

Ice packs and cold compresses help to reduce inflammation — a by-product of healing. Too much inflammation can create pain and pressure, so keeping it under control helps manage pain.

Compression

Elastic bandages and wraps can limit joint mobility, which is important in the early stages to avoid further injury. Compression also helps reduce inflammation.

Elevation

Rest with the injured joint above the level of your heart. The more efficiently your blood flows, the faster natural healing progresses.

Over-the-counter pain medications can take the edge off joint pain. Choose a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen or naproxen to reduce inflammation. Ask our team which is best for your needs.

If your symptoms worsen or don’t get better, it’s time to contact Advanced Spine & Pain Specialists. We can check for a more serious injury and provide advanced treatment. Call or click to plan your visit today.