Sprained arm, symptoms, treatment in Moscow

Joint arthroscopy > Helpful tips > First aid for sprains

Probably, each of us has encountered such a problem as joint injury as a result of spraining. From a medical point of view, ligaments are lines of nerve endings that connect bones to each other, and also provide the opportunity for proper fixation of the joint, which helps it move in the right direction.

A sprain can occur due to sudden movements, which provokes incorrect amplitude of the joint. Incorrect movement causes the ligaments to not go in the correct direction. A sprain can also occur as a result of prolonged overstrain of a joint. The ankles and hands are more prone to sprains. Knees, elbows, and shoulders are less susceptible to problems of this kind.

Playing sports can lead to problems of varying severity. Therefore, it is recommended to perform any physical activity under the supervision of a specialist. But, as practice shows, none of us are immune from accidents.

High heels can also cause sprains. In addition, movement on uneven surfaces with potholes, in the event of a fall or a sharp turn of the leg, can lead to injury. Therefore, no matter how high the degree of sprain, you must know the basic techniques that are advisable to use to provide first aid.

Causes of muscle strain in the arm

This type of injury, such as a muscle strain, can occur for various reasons.

Reference. However, all the reasons are based on one factor - excessive impact, which exceeds the elasticity limit of muscle tissue.

The muscles of the human body may be subject to such effects in the following cases:

• during a fall or awkward movement,
• after excessive physical exertion,
• in case of dislocation,
• with a strong blow,
• with a sharp pull of the hand,
• lifting weights,
• long-term work requiring monotonous, monotonous movements, which leads to tension in the muscular system.

The risk group includes the following categories of people : athletes (due to excessive physical exertion and the likelihood of incorrect exercise), elderly people (due to a decrease in the elasticity of muscle fibers due to age-related changes), as well as people whose professional activities are associated with constant load on hands (loaders, sorters).

Also, such injuries often occur in childhood , since children are mobile, active and often inattentive.

Peripheral biceps tear

A tear in the peripheral biceps is almost always associated with excessive stress on it.

The biceps is a muscle that is located at the front of the forearm and runs from the elbow to the shoulder. The biceps is attached to the bones by tendons. The tendons attach the biceps on one side to the shoulder (proximal tendon of the superior biceps), and on the other side to the elbow (distal tendon of the inferior biceps).

The lower - distal - biceps tendon can be damaged by overuse or sudden force, which can ultimately lead to its stretching or tearing. Most often, such injuries occur in middle-aged people during overexertion during training or when lifting weights. If excessive stress is placed on the bend of the elbow, the biceps or tendon may tear. This injury can be very painful and accompanied by a loud pop; it is accompanied by sharp, severe pain, possible discoloration (discoloration) under the skin or distortion of the normal contour of the muscle, as the muscle itself gathers above the elbow.

Distal biceps sprains and tears are quite rare and account for about 3 percent of all tendon injuries.

Peripheral biceps tear: symptoms

If the distal biceps is torn or its tendon is damaged, symptoms will appear almost immediately. These include: – Intense pain followed by milder, throbbing pain – Swelling of the biceps area – Bruising of the biceps area – Weakness in the arm – Inability to bend the elbow – Change in the normal contour of the forearm

Peripheral biceps tear: treatment

Conservative

Treatment for a biceps strain can vary. Although conservative treatment options are available, most active people with a distal biceps strain opt for surgery to restore full strength. The conservative treatment method is more suitable for partial rupture or for those who do not plan to actively use the arm. This method consists of protecting the arm with a support bandage and taking pain-reducing and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Surgical

If the biceps tendon is permanently torn, surgical repair may be a good option to restore arm function and reduce pain. With the help of arthroscopy, such an operation is performed with minimal intervention in the patient’s body. Typically, arthroscopy is performed immediately after an injury and is done to reconnect the tendon to the appropriate location on the bone from which it was torn. For more chronic injuries, where the tissue is stretched or severely scarred, treatment of a biceps tendon tear may require reconstruction with an implant.

Symptoms of a sprain

This condition has a characteristic clinical picture, which is determined by the degree of damage to muscle fibers.

Reference. In medicine, there are 3 degrees of muscle strain: moderate, moderate, muscle rupture.

Therefore, let’s look at the symptoms of a muscle strain in the arm depending on the degree of damage to the muscle tissue:

• moderate degree - damage to a small area of ​​muscle, which is accompanied by moderate or slight pain. There is no restriction of movement,
• medium - with this form of damage, partial rupture of muscle fibers occurs. There is the appearance of pain, weakness of the affected muscle, its arbitrary contraction, swelling, hematomas,
• muscle rupture - a severe form of muscle sprain, which is accompanied by intense pain, the formation of an extensive hematoma, severe swelling, impaired mobility, and unnatural position of the hand or finger.

It is impossible to independently determine the nature and extent of muscle tissue damage, so if such symptoms occur, you should consult a doctor.

2.What are the symptoms of a muscle tear?

Violation of the anatomical integrity of muscle fibers causes severe pain and an attempt to adopt a forced, gentle body position, in which the affected muscles are least stretched. Often the rupture causes convulsions that cannot be relieved for a long time. If the skin at the site of injury is not damaged, intense internal hemorrhage begins, which causes swelling and redness. The resulting hematoma may appear after some time in the form of an extensive bruise.

Motor activity in the affected area becomes impossible due to severe pain with any attempt to move. If the muscle bundle is completely torn, certain movements are simply impossible. With a partial rupture, the function is preserved, but the acute pain syndrome forces the victim to remain completely at rest.

Diagnosis of this injury is not difficult. The symptoms are obvious and pronounced. It may just be necessary to differentiate trauma from more severe disorders. If it is necessary to exclude a fracture, an x-ray examination is prescribed.

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First aid

What to do if you have a muscle strain in your arm? First of all, the injured person needs to provide first aid, which consists of performing the following activities:

1. Immobilize the injured arm - for this you need to apply a bandage. You can use an elastic bandage or any other thing at hand (towel, scarf, scarf). The bandage should not be too tight, otherwise blood circulation may be impaired.
2. Fixing the limb in an elevated position - to minimize the load, the arm must be secured with a scarf bandage.
3. Cold compress - Apply an ice bag or a bottle of cold water to the injured area to reduce pain.
4. Painkillers (for severe pain) - here you need to be extremely careful. Too strong medications can mask symptoms and make it difficult for a doctor to diagnose the condition. If you have taken any medications, you must inform your doctor about this.

What to do if ligaments are damaged?

Do you suspect you have an injury? To avoid complications, consultation with a doctor is required. Before visiting him, in the first hours, the patient needs to be given first aid:

• ensuring complete rest of the injured joint:
• applying a tight bandage or elastic bandage;
• applying cold.

Due to the intense pain syndrome, the question immediately arises: what to take when a ligament is torn to avoid suffering? For unbearable pain, it is recommended to take painkillers in tablets or injections. Correct and timely adherence to simple rules will help avoid worsening the condition and make you feel better.

Diagnostics

To diagnose this condition, a survey and examination of the patient is usually sufficient, so in most cases additional studies are not performed.

However, in some cases, if concomitant injuries are suspected, the following hardware research methods may be used:

• Ultrasound allows you to determine the type and degree of damage to muscle tissue,
• CT or MRI are performed in cases where ultrasound does not show a clear picture of the severity of the damage.

may also be used . This study is mainly carried out if there is a suspicion of a concomitant fracture, bone crack, or damage to the articular surface.

Diagnostician actions

It is quite simple to determine the pathology of the hand, which is always preceded by severe symptoms and specific actions on the part of the person. In diagnostic practice for sprains, the following methods are used:

• ultrasound examination of ligaments;
• scanning of soft tissues of the hand (MRI, CT);
• X-ray control to exclude ruptures and bone injuries.

A traumatologist deals with sprained ligaments. His first actions are a thorough palpation, examination and conversation with the patient. If such manipulations are not enough to determine the severity of ligament damage, hardware tests are prescribed.

Treatment

When treating arm muscle strains, conservative methods are usually used , except in cases where there is a severe form of injury or concomitant serious damage.

Therapeutic tactics include the following activities:

• immobilization of the injured arm using a bandage or a special soft bandage - helps to relax the muscles, eliminate pain and minimize any stress,
• cold compresses - periodically apply an ice bag or a cold heating pad to the damaged area, which will help reduce inflammation and pain,
• providing peace to the victim.

Such events can significantly alleviate the victim’s condition within 3-4 days , however, subject to the use of certain medications.

Drug therapy

For sprains, systemic and local drugs from various drug groups can be prescribed:

1. NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Nimesulide) - drugs are prescribed in short courses to eliminate pain and inflammation.
2. Muscle relaxants (Sirdalud, Mydocalm) are used to eliminate the increased tone of damaged muscles.
3. Novocaine blockades are prescribed in severe cases, which are accompanied by severe pain.
4. Local preparations (Diclofenac, Indovazin gel, Troxevasin) - gels and ointments are often used, which help eliminate pain, inflammation, swelling, hematomas, improve blood circulation and speed up the healing process.

It is also worth noting that special patches , such as Nanoplast or Olfen, have a good pain-relieving effect.

Treatment with folk remedies

How to treat a sprained arm muscle at home? For mild stretching, you can resort to the use of traditional medicine.

Important! Before using alternative treatment methods, you should always consult with your doctor.

To eliminate symptoms and alleviate the general condition of the victim, the following folk remedies can be used:

1. Compress (baked onion + sugar) - bake the onion in the oven, chop and mix with a small amount of sugar. You should get a mass of paste-like consistency. Place the resulting mixture in a thin layer on a piece of bandage and apply to the affected area. Cover with film and secure with a bandage. Leave the compress for 1 hour. Relieves pain and inflammation well.
2. Rubbing (arnica) - infusion can be purchased ready-made at the pharmacy. The product should be rubbed over the affected area twice a day. Helps eliminate inflammation, swelling, hematoma.
3. Compress (elderberry leaves) - mince fresh leaves of the plant. Apply the resulting paste to the affected area and secure with a bandage. The bandage needs to be changed 3 times a day.
4. Application (blue clay + water) - 50 g. Dilute the clay with water to the consistency of thick sour cream. Spread the mixture evenly on a cotton cloth, apply to the sore spot and secure with a bandage. Leave for 3-4 hours. Do it daily until symptoms disappear. Effectively eliminates inflammation, pain, and also promotes rapid tissue restoration.

Effective ointments

For drug therapy of arm muscle strain, drugs for local local use are used.

In the first days, it is recommended to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ointments with a cooling effect: Menovasin, Nicoflex, Troxevasin, Bengin, Diclofenac, Lidocaine. They relieve inflammation and pain.

Many products are sold not only in the form of an ointment, but also in the form of a cream or gel. What is the difference?

• creams are quickly absorbed, do not have a strong odor and do not leave marks on clothes;
• The gel quickly spreads on the skin and does not require rubbing. It is odorless and washes off easily if it gets on clothes;
• the ointment is made on a fatty basis and often has a pungent odor.

In addition to the release form, each drug has a specific effect and has a number of contraindications, so you should consult your doctor before purchasing. Each drug is selected individually, taking into account the degree of sprain and general health. Self-medication in this case is unacceptable.

An athlete talks about his personal experience in treating sprains:

Rehabilitation and recovery period

Muscle tissue has a fairly good regenerative ability. Therefore, the measures taken during the rehabilitation period are designed to enhance the muscles’ own regenerative potential.

Reference . The duration of tissue restoration for minor damage is 14-20 days, and for severe damage - several months.

The recovery period for damaged muscles usually includes the following rules:

1. Limiting loads on the injured arm.
2. Compresses - during the recovery period, it is allowed to alternate between a cold and a warm compress. Changing the temperature improves blood circulation and promotes a speedy recovery.
3. Physiotherapy - usually the victim is prescribed electrophoresis, UHF, magnetic therapy. Such procedures improve metabolism, blood circulation, and stimulate tissue regeneration processes.
4. Therapeutic massage - sessions are carried out by a specialist using gentle massage techniques.

Also during the recovery period, a gentle set of exercises is prescribed to moderate the load on the injured limb. It is selected by a specialist individually for each patient, taking into account the severity of the injury.

The selected exercises should be performed as prescribed. This helps restore muscle tone and prevent the development of complications.

Preventive measures and consequences

If the doctor's recommendations are not followed, such an injury can provoke some consequences.

Reference. The most serious consequence of spraining is the formation of scars on muscle tissue.

Such a complication can cause constant pain in the arms or even limit the motor activity of the limb. All this will negatively affect a person’s well-being and lifestyle.

In order to prevent the injury itself, as well as possible complications, it is necessary to observe the following preventive measures:

• avoid various injuries if possible,
• since no one is safe from falls, you need to learn how to group yourself correctly,
• perform daily gymnastics, which will strengthen your muscles,
• lift weights correctly
• do a good warm-up to warm up your muscles before playing sports,
• give up bad habits, especially smoking, since nicotine impairs metabolic processes and reduces muscle elasticity.

You should also go to the hospital in a timely manner if you receive even a minor injury, as this will protect you from unpleasant consequences.

Possible complications

For mild sprains, the healing process lasts no longer than 3 weeks. Complex injuries require a long rehabilitation process. If the injury becomes chronic, there is a risk that mobility limitations will remain permanent. This is a direct path to disability.

Almost every person has experienced sprains and dislocations in their life. However, you should not perceive the injury as a minor injury. To avoid complications, you need to take care of your health and seek help in a timely manner.

Author: Victoria Shvidchenko, doctor, especially for Ortopediya.pro