Get Treated Quickly for Sprains, Strains, and Fractures
A fracture is a break in the bone. Specifically, a break and a fracture are the same thing: any loss of continuity in the bone. It can be a hairline crack barely visible on an X-ray, a separation of one part of the bone from another, or a shattering of the bone into many pieces.
A sprain is an injury to a ligament, the tissue that connects two bones in a joint, such as the ankle. (In fact, the most common sprains are of the ankle.) This sort of injury can be the result of the ligament over-stretching or tearing. Strains are different, though they are often mistaken for sprains.
A strain is a stretching or tearing injury of tendons (the tissue connecting bone to muscle) or of muscles themselves.
How To Tell a Sprain From a Fracture
Just as many people mistake a strain for a sprain, it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between a fracture and a sprain. Sprains and fractures can cause swelling, pain, and difficulty bearing weight or using a limb. Sprains are common in fingers, wrists, ankles, knees, and foot arches.
Fractures, on the other hand, are typically found in bigger bones in the arms and legs. In either case, getting medical care and treatment quickly is important to avoid worsening the injury and risking long-term effects.
Signs and Symptoms of a Sprain or Fracture
If you experience any of these symptoms, particularly if they are severe, walk-in to Amory Urgent Care to get evaluated and treated as soon as possible:
- Joint or muscle pain
- Swelling
- Joint stiffness or inability to move it
- Bruising
- Feeling a pop or tear
- Pain that gets worse with movement
- Deformity
- Hot to the touch
How Breaks and Sprains Are Diagnosed and Treated at Amory Urgent Care
Treatment for either injury depends on the specific bones or ligaments involved, the severity of the damage, the age of the injured person, and the findings of provider’s careful evaluation.
Through direct examination, your provider will test the range of motion and tenderness and then conduct an X-ray, diagnosing whether your injury is a sprain or a fracture. The most common treatments for fractures are casts and braces. For sprains, we may treat the injury with a splint or wrap and prescribe rest, ice, and elevation of the injured limb.
If you cannot walk or move the affected limb, or experience numbness, visit Amory Urgent Care between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. any day of the week.
At Amory Urgent Care, we provide a wide range of urgent care services to address medical issues, from sprains, strains, and fractures to cuts, bruises, and more.
We aim to make your healthcare experience efficient, quick, and as pleasant as possible.