Repetitive Motion Injury

Athletes and those who work manual labor jobs may be at an increased risk for painful repetitive motion injuries. At DFW Spine Joint & Pain, Nikki Fox, DO, and Amy Gregor, NP, understand how disruptive a repetitive motion injury can be. They provide diagnostic testing and customized treatment services to reduce inflammation and relieve pressure on your nerves that cause pain. Call the office in Fort Worth, Texas, to schedule a consultation, or book an appointment online today.

What is a repetitive motion injury?

A repetitive motion injury is an injury to a part of your body that occurs from repeating a certain motion over and over again. 

That type of injury can develop in athletes like baseball pitchers who frequently use their arm to throw a ball. The repetitive movements can create small tears in the muscles, ligaments, or tendons around the shoulder joint.

You might also develop a repetitive motion injury if you work in certain jobs that require repetitive motions, such as typing on a computer. Typing puts pressure on the nerves that travel through the carpal tunnel of your wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome), which can lead to persistent inflammation and pain.

When should I seek treatment for a repetitive motion injury?

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at DFW Spine Joint & Pain if you have symptoms of a repetitive motion injury, such as:

• Pain
• Tingling
• Swelling
• Redness
• Numbness

Repetitive motion injuries can affect any part of your body but are most common in the wrist, shoulders, elbows, hands and fingers. Over time, your symptoms can lead to mobility issues and disability.

DFW Spine Joint & Pain provides comprehensive diagnostic testing services, including electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS), to assess if any nerve damage may have occured due to repetitive motion injury. 

The providers personalize a treatment plan to relieve pressure on your nerves, heal damaged tissues, and resolve your pain.

How is a repetitive motion injury treated?

It’s important that you intially stop activities that contribute to the pain to prevent further damage to your soft tissues and nerves. You can apply ice to the area to reduce swelling and calm inflammation. 

If you work on a computer or in a manual labor job, you should take frequent breaks to reduce your risk for serious nerve damage. 

Over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatories can be beneficial for symptom relief. The DFW Spine Joint & Pain providers can assess an appropriate course of action if your symptoms are not relieved with over the counter medications. Physical therapy can support the healing of tissues and restore your strength.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are available to stimulate your body’s ability to heal itself. PRP triggers new cell growth to replace tissues damaged by repetitive movements. If non-surgical strategies don’t work, you may need a referral for surgery to repair damaged tissues or relieve pressure on your nerves.

Call DFW Spine Joint & Pain to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for symptoms of a repetitive motion injury, or book an appointment online today.