People search “traumatic arthritis” and “what is traumatic arthritis” and land here. Google has ranked this URL around position 8 with almost 4,000 impressions. We are not changing the path. We are filling it.
What it actually is
Post-traumatic arthritis is wear and inflammation in a joint that was injured. A fracture that healed on x-ray can still leave a surface that does not glide. A ligament that was reconstructed can still leave a knee that does not trust the next cut. The complaint is pain, stiffness, swelling, or a joint that “weathers” worse than the other side.
Why it is not “just arthritis”
Age-related osteoarthritis is a different load history. Post-traumatic arthritis has a date. That date matters: how the injury was reduced, whether orthotics were reassessed after surgery, whether PT stopped at “pain-free” instead of “fully functional.” CIHW’s sports medicine model treats the injury as a whole problem - joint, load, and recovery - not only the sore spot.
What we do in West Dundee
History and exam. Then chiropractic, physical therapy, and loading that respects the cartilage you still have. Massage and taping are tools, not the plan. If the honest next step is imaging or a surgical consult, you hear that here - not after a year of passive care.
Related reading: arthritis care, sports injury, knee pain.
Questions we get on this URL
What is post-traumatic arthritis?
It is arthritis that shows up in a joint after trauma: fracture, dislocation, ligament tear, or surgery. The cartilage never fully forgot the injury. It is not the same story as age-related osteoarthritis, even though the ache can feel similar.
How long after an injury can it start?
Months to years. Ankles are notorious. Knees after ACL or fracture are common. If the original injury was never fully loaded and retrained, the joint keeps paying for it.
Can it be cured?
Damaged cartilage does not reset to new. The honest goal is function: less pain, better loading, a sport or job you can keep. Surgery is not the first conversation here unless the joint has already failed conservative care.
How does CIHW treat it?
Exam first: the joint, the hip or foot that dumps load into it, the week that keeps irritating it. Then chiropractic, physical therapy, massage, and a loading plan. If imaging or medical referral is the honest next step, we say so.
