Shin splints, I hate. Shin splints and I are not friends. Shin splints stick around like that girl who doesn’t want to be with you but doesn’t want you to leave. “Shin splints, I curse you without fear of metaphysical consequences! “ I lied.

Shin splints are those first warning signs for people trying to get back into shape. “Okay, enough for today. Try to develop the will to do it again tomorrow,” they’ll shout at you. Shin splints are typical in how they show up amongst the active and athletic people, as well as those packing a extra few pounds, but are atypical because, like that girl who won’t let you leave, shin splints are symptoms of several possible problems.

Shin Splint Symptoms

• Pain on the shin towards the inner leg
• Tender areas around the shin
• Pain that flares up in the shin during activity
• Throbbing pain when crunching / flexing the foot
• Bumps on inner shin bone
• General pain on shin

Shin Splint Causes

• A worn or overworked muscle
• Improper footwear when exercising (Don’t run in sandals [not that I would know])
• Bad running technique (hint: lift your legs instead of shuffling your feet)
• Compartment syndrome – swelling or irritation that cuts of circulation

Shin Splint Treatments

• Rest
• Use proper footwear (those designed to absorb shock)
• Tape up your shins to balance out the pressure
• Pain relieving medications – Iburprofren and the like
• Ice and heat treatments – 20 minutes ice / 20 mins heat / 20 mins ice…
• Stretching to release tension

Like the girl who won’t let you leave, if your shin splints start to develop a lack of feeling or discoloration, seek medical attention immediately. I’d find it hard to imagine that anyone would want to run the risk of losing the lower leg due to inaction.

For more online information, please consult the following as well.

• Sportsinjurlyclinic.net
• Wikipedia.org
• Medicinenet.com
• About.com

Please take care of yourself,

- Martin

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Testicular torsion can be a source of sarcastic, mean humor amongst men – when they’re acting like boys. Testicular torsion hit news cycles in March, 2008 when Felix Pie (P-ay) – an alleged 5-tool outfield prospect for the Chicago Cubs – succumbed to the painful injury. As expected, media and bloggers went wild with the news (if you’re waiting for this post to make its own puns regarding the topic, the editor will not allow it and, trust me, it’s not advisable to cross the editor).

Though there have been some very strange injuries in baseball as well as other sports, what poor Felix Pie’s high-end doctors probably assured him was that testicular torsion isn’t as uncommon as other people might think. (How many sports fans have heard of an athlete going on the Disabled List for what is loosely described as a “Groin Injury?” You never know.)

Testicular Torsion – What Is It?

What Pie likely learned in a hurry is that testicular torsion is a condition where blood isn’t getting to a testicle. What is often the case is that the spermatic cord which supplies the testicles with blood has been twisted or even pinched.

Who Is at Risk of Testicular Torsion?

Last population stat I heard in college was that there were more females than males in the world, so initially, more than half the population is free from risk (barring abnormalities). Testicular torsion is a condition usually found in children under 18, and has also been linked to fetal monorchism. Males who are active, athletes especially are at risk of testicular torsion.

Testicular Torsion Symptoms

• A prolonged pain in the scrotum / testicle, usually to one side.
• Prolonged pain in the scrotal area. This pain is called orchalgia.

Other Possible Symptoms of Testicular Torsion
• Vomiting / nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Occasional fever
• Pains during urination
• Discoloration
• Enlargement due to swelling

Home Remedies for Testicular Torsion
Home remedies are absolutely not suggested for dealing with testicular torsion. In short, any self-correction or attempts to remedy the pain without the help of a medical doctor could result in permanent damage / monorchism – the loss of one or both testicles. Ice and pain relievers could reduce the swelling but will not release the torsion. Most every medical professional considers testicular torsion to be a medical emergency and strongly suggests that professional treatment should be sought as soon as possible. In some cases, doctors have been able to correct the problem in the office, but in most cases, the only safe, healthy course is surgery.

Testicular Torsion is one of the reasons coaches always told players to wear a cup, though in Ken Griffey Jr.’s case, even that wasn’t a guarantee.

Please take of yourself.

–Martin

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Everybody everywhere has had or will get a cut a bruise or a scrape. Knowing how to treat it will determine how fast it heals, and whether or not it will leave a scar.

Most of these injuries are minor, and visiting the doctor isn’t necessary. Knowing when an injury deserves a visit to the doctor is as important as knowing first aid at home. I live by the rule when in doubt; let the doctor rule it out. My instincts are usually dead on when it comes to what I can doctor at home, and what injury needs a professional touch.

What is the difference between a Cut and a Bruise?

Cuts and bruises are basically the same thing. A bruise is an injury that is under the skin and a cut is on the outside of the skin. Blood from a cut or scrape is apparent, but the bruise is actually bleeding underneath the skin. The uglier and darker the color of the bruise, the more clotting and healing is going on under the skin. Treating the two minor injuries takes a little bit of a different approach since each injury is just a little bit different. Broken skin needs to be protected from infection whereas a bump or bruise is already protected because the wound is under the skin.

Sometimes what appear to be minor injuries may need to be looked at by a professional health care provider. Signs that it’s a minor injury:

• The injury is small (less than a ½ inch around)
• There’s no bleeding, or only slight bleeding. (Make sure you wear protective gloves to prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens).
• The victim isn’t in excessive pain.
• There is no feeling of numbness or tingling on the victim.
• There aren’t any signs of paralysis.
• The victim doesn’t seem to have any broken bones or dislocated joints. (Dislocation or broken bone is possible if the victim is in a lot of pain, and the shoulder, leg, arm, or ankle seems to be lying or hanging at an awkward angle).

Cut and Scrape First Aid

For cuts and scrapes:

1. Wash the injured area with mild soap and lukewarm water.
2. Apply an antibacterial ointment or spray to prevent infection.
3. Cover the wound with a band-aid or sterile bandage.

For bumps and bruises:

1. Apply an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area as soon as possible to reduce the amount of swelling.
2. If possible, elevate the injured area above the heart. This will keep the blood from “pooling” in the affected area. (Pooling creates more internal bleeding and swelling).
3. Keep the injury elevated for about 15 minutes if the wound is minor. If the bruise is severe or covers a large portion of the body, call for help. Keep a severe bruise elevated for at least an hour or until a trained emergency care team arrives.
4. If the bruise doesn’t seem to be getting better and 24 hours have passed, consult with your physician.
5. Seek prompt medical care if there is any swelling around the bruise, especially if it occurs around a joint. This can signal danger to the nerves, muscles and bones all of which require trained medical attention.

Warning Signs for Internal Bleeding

Whenever an injury occurs, look for the signs of internal bleeding or hemorrhaging which are similar to those of shock.

• Pale, clammy skin
• Chills
• Cold hands and feet
• Dilated pupils (excessively large pupils even in light)
• Rapid, weak pulse
• Major swelling at the injury site
• Major or immediate black and blue marks at the wound site

First aid procedures won’t stop internal bleeding, unfortunately. Call for help immediately if internal bleeding is suspected, and then proceed with first aid procedures for shock.
-Anne

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My father likes to fix things and one day took it upon himself to redo a whole flight of stairs in the house I grew up in. They look really nice but I swear he made them steeper than before.

I didn’t notice at first glance, but when visiting for Thanksgiving a couple years ago I found out the hard way how steep that flight of stairs actually was. I slid, stumbled and nearly tumbled all the way down, landing sideways on my ankle. It hurt. Horribly. And I thought I heard a sickening crunch come from somewhere. That cemented it for me. Something bad happened. I cursed and cried and rolled around on the floor for a little while in absolute pain until my mother came to collect me.

A Thanksgiving is not happy with a sprained ankle.

How is a sprain different than a break?

A sprain is a condition where a ligament is stretched and then torn. When you sprain your ankle no bones are broken, but the experience is still quite painful and can cause some wicked bruising and swelling. An ankle sprain can take up to 3 weeks to heal completely.

How to treat a sprained ankle

If you have been diagnosed with a sprained ankle and wish to recover swiftly, it’s best to follow the RICE procedure to the fullest and best of your ability.

Rest. A lot. Especially within the first couple of days. When you rest the injury you lessen the chance of tearing ligaments in your ankle even more, which can then lengthen your recovery time.

Ice your ankle to bring down the swelling and ease the pain. If you don’t have an ice pack available, throw some ice in a zipper bag and wrap it in a towel.

Compression also reduces swelling. Plus it supports your ankle, keeping it stable while it heals. You can wrap your ankle with a bandage, or if you prefer you can purchase an ankle brace at a drugstore. I like them better than a regular bandage since they are easier to take on and off.

Elevate your ankle by propping it up on a pillow while you’re in bed or lying on the couch. If you work in an office and sit all day, elevate your ankle on another chair. Steal it from a co-worker if you have to!

Home remedies for sprains

Soak a sprained ankle in a bath of Epsom salts to ease pain and reduce swelling.

Still suffering from pain a few days after the injury? Try applying something like Icy Hot to the afflicted area.

You can also take small doses of ibuprofen every 4 hours to reduce the swelling and the pain.

Start walking on it after a few days, but only if the initial pain as faded! Sprains recover quicker when you begin applying a little bit of pressure at a time back onto the sight of the injury. This pressure helps to strengthen the ligaments in your ankle, instead of leaving them weak from no use.

–Magdalena

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The time I spend on the tennis court is primarily chasing balls. I don’t have much time to practice my backhand, so I’m sure I’m not in any danger of developing tennis elbow. Chasing balls makes for a good cardio workout – just not a very good game of tennis. I won’t be saving any match points anytime soon. But tennis elbow is a condition that can be caused by any repetitious action of the forearm. Watching for the signs of tennis elbow is also a good idea during leaf raking season.

Signs and Symptoms of Tennis Elbow

• Pain that radiates from the outside of your elbow into the forearm and wrist
• Weak grip
• Painful grip during some activities like shaking hands or turning a doorknob
• Pain when the wrist is extended
• Pain when the elbow touches or bumps something
• Tenderness and swelling around the elbow
Over weeks and/or months, the pain often gets worse. The elbow may be sore even when it is still.

Causes of Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) occurs when the elbow is used to perform a repetitive movement like the ‘backhand’ in tennis. The repeated contraction of the forearm muscles used to straighten and raise your hand and wrist causes stress and tension to the tissue. Inflammation or tiny tears in the tendons that attach the muscle to the bone in the forearm is the result. Activities like playing tennis, as the name suggests, using a screwdriver or hammer, weaving, painting, raking, etc. are all common causes of tennis elbow.

Home Remedies for Tennis Elbow

The best remedy for an already affected elbow is rest. If it’s from playing tennis or another game, abstain from playing that sport for up to three weeks while symptoms persist.

Ice the elbow for swelling and inflammation every couple of hours for 10-15 minutes at a time, not more than four times a day. If possible, you can also alternate between applying a heating pad and ice, 15 minutes at a time. The ice will aid in reduction of swelling and the heating pad will help promote blood flow to the area.

Zostrix, an over-the-counter topical pain-reliever commonly used for shingles, will work well as a temporary anesthetic. The topical ointment is made from a derivative of hot peppers and works by phasing out the pain at the site. However, it doesn’t do anything to reduce the swelling.

-Anne

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