Traumatic Arthritis

Traumatic arthritis is an inflammation of the joints or bone and occurs as part of the body’s reaction to injury. This type of arthritis is usually temporary; it is the body’s way of protecting the injured bone or joint. However, there are certain points that this type of arthritis may occur with or without a trauma. For example, in the shoulder, arthritis may occur by itself without any impetuous injury to adjacent structures. The joint gradually stiffens due to inflammation and the subsequent formation of scar tissue within the joint casing. This is known as frozen shoulder and usually resolves without treatment.

In most joints, traumatic arthritis is a result of the damage ligaments and other structures within the joints. The injury activates the body’s inflammatory response. For instance, if ligaments in the ankle are sprained, the joints swell. If treated correctly, the joint swelling will be gone when the main irritation to the joint is eliminated, or the injury is addressed and successfully treated. It may take a period of time before it heals. However, if the main injury to the joint or the precipitating is not treated, the inflammation may remain even longer, damaging the joints for a lifetime.

There are several ways to handle traumatic arthritis once you have acquired it. One thing you should do is to take anti-inflammatory medicine or painkillers. Painkillers help to alleviate pain in the joints cause by injury. After you have taken your medicine, try to apply a cold compress in the affected part. This helps soothe the inflammation and swelling for faster recovery of the joints to the injury. In addition, you can try to use oil such as olive oil or coconut oil to massage the affected part. There are also herbs that you can take to alleviate the pain. If you’re interested in taking herbal medicine, seek an herbalist. Herbs are proven to fight certain type of arthritis.

In case the pain persists for a week or two, it’s time for you to seek medical help. Consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and medication. It is important that you treat your arthritis as soon as possible. Traumatic arthritis that is left untreated can be dangerous and may lead to other similar complication.