Repetitive Pain in old injuries

You broke a bone or tore a ligament some time ago. Now the same site is painful again. It can really make you think if it is the old injury that is being painful. Let us see how far it is true.

Injuries usually heal well and do not cause problems later. But sometimes they may not heal well and may present with repetitive pain. Such a pain may be dull in the beginning but may get worse with age.

There can be many reasons for an injury to not heal well. The reasons include infection at the site, wound not being closed well, lack of enough rest during healing, nutritional deficiencies, etc. 

Bone fractures may develop complications like malunion of fracture, non union of fracture, avascular necrosis and arthritis of the joint. Osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joint of the fingers results almost exclusively from old and remote injuries. Another example is fracture of scaphoid bone in the wrist. It may lead to avascular necrosis. This may also lead to repetitive pain.

If there is repetitive pain in old injuries, it should be examined by a doctor. Investigations like X-ray of the joint, CT scans or MRI scans should be performed to find the underlying disorder. If the cause is found, it should be corrected with appropriate treatment. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce the pain. For more serious pain, you may need measures like cortisone injection directly into the arthritic joint or joint replacement surgery.

Whatever the cause of pain at the site of an old injury, it is imperative to get investigated and treated.