Soft tissue injuries happen more often than a lot of people realize.
Just about everyone has experienced minor ones at some point in their lives, and they assume that just because they didn’t break a bone, they’re fine.
However, severe soft tissue damage can be just as debilitating, with serious pain and long recovery times.
What Is A Soft Tissue Injury?
Soft tissue injuries involve physical trauma that affects the muscles, tendons, and ligaments rather than the bones. They usually happen in situations that involve some sort of sudden impact, but they can also appear after years of repetitive overuse. They can cause swelling, stiffness, pain, and limited movement.
There are several different types of soft tissue injuries, including:
- Sprains: Ligament damage from tearing or stretching
- Strains: Overstretched or torn tendons or muscles
- Contusions: Better known as bruises; blood vessel damage from a direct impact
- Tendonitis: Inflammation of a tendon from overuse
- Bursitis: Swelling in the fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints
Each of these can range from mild to severe, and they can affect a person’s daily life. If not treated properly, they can even lead to long-term pain and other issues.
How Do Soft Tissue Injuries Happen?
Soft tissue injuries are relatively common and can even occur during regular daily activities. Thankfully, most are minor, but a person can be seriously hurt when these injuries are caused in an accident.
Vehicle Accidents
The sudden force of a car, motorcycle, or truck crash can easily strain or tear soft tissues. Whiplash is a classic example, where a person’s neck jerks forward and back in such a way that it damages the ligaments and muscles.
Slips And Falls
Even a small fall can lead to injury, but hard falls often cause the joints to twist in unnatural ways, leading to strains and sprains. Ankles, knees, and wrists are especially vulnerable areas.
Physical Activities And Sports
Tendonitis and other overuse injuries happen when the same motion stresses the muscles repeatedly. These are often seen in office workers and people who constantly use their hands, such as hairdressers, writers, artists, and teachers. Likewise, sudden movements like pivoting too fast or landing wrong while playing sports can cause acute injuries.
Workplace Accidents
Certain jobs can get very physical, and that increases the chances of experiencing a workplace injury overall. Soft tissue injuries are quite common in construction, industrial, and manufacturing workplaces. Most often, it’s because workers do a lot of heavy lifting and repetitive tasks. However, poor posture while sitting and bending can also cause problems.
Symptoms Of A Soft Tissue Injury
It’s easy to dismiss minor pain and stiffness after an accident, but soft tissue damage doesn’t always show up right away. In fact, symptoms can sometimes take hours or even days to appear.
Signs to watch for include:
- Pain that gets worse over time
- Bruising and swelling
- Difficulty moving the affected area
- Stiffness that doesn’t improve
- Tenderness to the touch
- Weakness or instability in a joint
Ignoring these signs can lead to your injury getting worse and further complications. Without treatment, some injuries can make it difficult to move around and perform your job or household duties.
Treatment For Soft Tissue Injuries
Treatment depends on how severe the injury is, but most options focus on reducing pain and restoring movement as the body does the heavy lifting to help you heal.
For minor injuries, the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) can help. Avoid activities that strain the injured area and apply ice packs to reduce any swelling. A compression bandage will limit swelling and offer support until the area is strong enough to move on its own again. Keeping the injury raised above heart level can help reduce fluid buildup.
If the injury is more severe, a doctor may need to take a look at it and recommend a treatment plan. Depending on the situation, that may involve physical therapy, pain management, and braces or wraps. Extreme cases might require surgery.
Why Soft Tissue Injuries Are Often Overlooked
Unlike broken bones, soft tissue damage doesn’t always show up on an X-ray, so it’s easy to underestimate the severity of the injury. Insurance companies also like to downplay them, which makes it harder for accident victims to get compensation for their medical costs and lost paychecks.
Because these injuries can be sneaky and take days to cause any pain, it’s important to get checked out at the hospital immediately after an accident — even if you feel perfectly fine. An evaluation can help you avoid long-term damage and create a record of your injury if you decide to take legal action later.
Overcoming The Challenges Of A Soft Tissue Injury
Soft tissue injuries can be disruptive and ultimately lead to serious lifelong physical problems. If you’ve been hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, reach out to Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys to discuss your case. You can contact us online or call (800) 292-1979. We’ll help you understand your legal options and fight for the compensation you’re entitled to.
