Sudden pain, a loud snap or swelling could be caused by a torn ligament in your knee. If you continue to walk around as normal, there is a chance your knee will develop persistent swelling, instability and permanent cartilage damage – which, in the long run, may lead to a more serious degenerative joint disease.

If you are suffering from pain in your lower back, it could be caused by a slipped disk. As the disk puts pressure on the nerves and blood vessels around it, it causes pain and numbness across one side of your body or down your arms and legs, which can worsen at night. Ignoring this injury may result in poor posture, regular muscle spasms or permanent nerve damage.

While twisting your ankle may not seem like a big deal at the time, it can cause ligaments in your ankle to stretch or tear, with the surrounding tendons, cartilage and blood vessels also at risk of damage.

You may experience symptoms such as swelling, bruising, tenderness, stiffness and pain. If the sprain doesn’t heal properly, it is possible for your ankle to become permanently unstable. And if you continue to walk on it as normal, you may develop a limp or cause permanent cartilage damage.

Your shoulder joint is made up of a group of 4 muscles and connecting tendons. It is possible to tear one of these tendons after a fall, through repetitive arm motions or by lifting something heavy. This may make lifting your arm painful, or cause a clicking or popping sound when you move your shoulder. Ignoring the pain can lead to chronic pain, inflammation and stiffness in the joint

Getting diagnosed early is important. In the event of an injury, go to your nearest Accident and Emergency (A&E) department, where your injury will be assessed and you might be referred to a specialist for further diagnosis and treatment.

Leaving a minor injury too long may increase your risk of developing a long-term condition or chronic pain. Further down the line, you may need expensive reconstruction surgery to fix the problem. In extreme cases, this damage may be irreparable.

Most of us have heard of the R.I.C.E rule for sprains and strains – rest, ice, compression, elevation – but this isn’t a catch-all solution for minor aches and pains. Rather than just resting up at home, a trip to the doctor is important to clarify exactly what you’ve done, and how best to treat it. 

“Diagnosis tells us the severity of the injury, what you can do to speed recovery and what you should avoid doing so as not to worsen your condition,” says Dr Dutton. “You can also learn more about different treatment options as well as how long the recovery process may last for you.” 

Your doctor may conduct a clinical examination, x-ray or MRI scan to determine the cause and severity of the injury. Dr Dutton explains that diagnosis is most important to find a suitable treatment option. As every individual is different, it is important to find a treatment option and gentle exercises that suit you.

Common treatment options include medications, heat and ice therapy, physiotherapy, injections, and splints or braces. In more serious cases, keyhole surgery may be required.

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