Injuries are an inevitable part of life, whether they result from sports, household accidents, or everyday activities and while many injuries heal on their own with rest and care, some symptoms should never be ignored, as they may indicate a more serious underlying problem.
Recognising the difference between normal and concerning symptoms can make all the difference in ensuring a full recovery.
What’s normal: Mild to moderate pain that improves with rest, over-the-counter painkillers, or applying ice is generally normal. For instance, muscle soreness after a workout or minor bruising from a bump is part of the natural healing process.
What’s not: Sharp, severe, or worsening pain, pain that doesn’t improve after a few days or worsens with movement, persistent pain accompanied by swelling, redness, or warmth around the injury site (which may indicate infection).
When to see a doctor: Seek medical attention if the pain is debilitating, prevents you from using the injured body part, or persists beyond 72 hours despite adequate home care.
What’s normal: Swelling is a natural part of the body’s healing process and typically subsides within a few days with rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
What’s not: Rapid swelling immediately after the injury, persistent swelling that lasts more than a week, swelling accompanied by severe bruising or deformity.
When to see a doctor: If the swelling limits your range of motion, feels hot to the touch, or is paired with a visible lump or misalignment, it may indicate a sprain, fracture, or ligament tear.
What’s normal: Bruising that changes colour (from red to blue to yellow-green) over a few days and doesn’t interfere with function is typical of minor injuries.
What’s not: Large or expanding bruises, especially if they appear without a clear cause, bruising accompanied by numbness, severe pain, or an inability to use the affected area.
When to see a doctor: Extensive bruising might indicate internal bleeding, a fracture, or damage to deep tissues and should be evaluated promptly.
What’s normal: Mild stiffness or temporary difficulty in moving a joint or muscle due to soreness.
What’s not: Complete inability to move or bear weight on the injured area, a feeling of instability in a joint, such as the knee or ankle “giving out”, clicking, popping, or grinding sounds when moving the injured area.
When to see a doctor: If movement is impossible or painful beyond 48 hours, you may have a sprain, dislocation, or fracture requiring medical attention.
What’s normal: Small, shallow cuts or scrapes that stop bleeding after a few minutes and begin to heal within a few days.
What’s not: Wounds that continue bleeding after 10 minutes of pressure, deep cuts that expose muscle, bone, or fat, wounds showing signs of infection (redness, warmth, pus, or foul odour).
When to see a doctor: Any wound that won’t stop bleeding, shows signs of infection, or might require stitches should be evaluated by a medical professional.
What’s normal: A mild headache or brief dizziness immediately after a minor bump to the head.
What’s not: Loss of consciousness, even for a few seconds, persistent or worsening headache, nausea, vomiting, confusion, or memory loss, blurred vision or sensitivity to light.
When to see a doctor: All head injuries with concerning symptoms should be treated as emergencies. Contact a doctor immediately, as they may indicate a concussion or more severe brain injury.
What’s normal: Temporary numbness or tingling caused by pressure on a nerve (e.g., sitting in one position for too long).
What’s not: Persistent numbness or tingling after an injury, loss of sensation in a limb or digits, numbness accompanied by weakness or inability to move.
When to see a doctor: These symptoms may indicate nerve damage or a spinal injury and require immediate medical evaluation.
Sometimes, it can be hard to determine the severity of an injury on your own. As a rule of thumb, if you are unsure whether your symptoms are normal, it’s better to err on the side of caution and consult a healthcare professional.
Timely medical attention can prevent minor injuries from turning into long-term issues. Don’t ignore the warning signs your body is giving you—your health and safety are worth it.
Dr Simphiwe Mtombeni
Emergency Physician
NorthStar Emergency Physicians
January 20, 2025
January 15, 2025
January 15, 2025