Sprains and pains happen, no matter your age or fitness level. Did you overdo it during training, get hurt during a softball game, or even get injured at home? Use the tips below to get the right care and recover.
Sprains and Muscle Strains
A strain is a minor tearing of a muscle, tendon, or ligament. A tendon attaches muscle to the bone and ligaments attach bones to other bones. When you’re experiencing a common sprain, like a sprained ankle, it’s because you’ve stretched or torn a ligament, the tissue that connects your bones through your joints.
Symptoms of sprains and strains include pain, swelling, bruising, and trouble moving that part of your body.
Sometimes you experience muscle strain, which comes with similar symptoms, but instead of bruising, you’re more likely to experience muscle spasms. An example of something that causes muscle pain is too many repetitions at the gym. This overuse causes microscopic muscle tears, and that’s why you have pain the next day.
- A sprain occurs when a ligament (the tissue that connects bones to bones) is torn. Minor sprains involve micro-tearing of the ligament and severe sprains include full rupture of the ligament.
- A strain occurs when a tendon (the tissue that connects muscles to bone) or the muscle itself is torn. Minor strains involve micro-tearing of the tendon and severe strains include full rupture of the tendon.
A medical professional can assess the severity of the injury and suggest the best specific course of action.
Minor fractures
Urgent care is a good choice for the initial management of minor fractures, also known as simple or closed fractures. Minor fractures occur when the bone breaks under the skin. They can be caused by accidents or by everyday bumps because of low bone density and osteoporosis. Symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, discolored skin, and an inability to put weight on or move that part of your body.
In all cases, we can evaluate the injury, take X-Rays, and stabilize and refer to a higher level of care if necessary. Most minor fractures can be handled fully by vybe urgent care. However, you should go to the ER if your bone is sticking through the skin or if there is a severe deformity of your extremity.
Dislocations
Put simply, a dislocation means a joint is out of place. Common dislocations seen in urgent care include fingers and toes, which can be fully managed with later referral to a specialist. Symptoms include swelling, pain, numbness, and discoloration. Or the finger could start looking like it’s angled differently.
Elbow and shoulder dislocations are less common and almost always need a referral to a specialist immediately.
If you think you’ve got a minor sprain, fracture, or ongoing muscle pain, stop by your local vybe urgent care and be seen today.
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X-ray, Back Pain & Neck Pain, Dislocations, Fractures, Sports Injuries, Auto Accident Pain