Sprain and a Fracture Are Not Same – Know The Difference!
Many people become confused between sprains and fractures because both symptoms are almost the same. This makes it hard for you to distinguish between them after an injury. Healthcare professionals state their difference is simple to understand: a fracture is a break in the bone, and a sprain is an injury in the body’s soft tissues.
- Rest and allow the area to heal safely
However, both sprains and fractures are painful. You need to consult a good doctor for treatment and healing. When you suffer a sprain or a fracture in the bone, you must rest and allow your body to heal as per the guidance of your doctor. It would help if you aggravated the condition further by going back to work or engaging in intense workouts or activities.
- Sprains in your body
Sprains occur when the joint ligaments stretch or tear due to various reasons, such as intense workouts, a fall, etc. They can be severe or mild, bringing the following symptoms: inflammation, pain, bruising, problems with mobility, and a popping sound or a sensation around the joint.
Experts from QC Kinetix (Jackson, TN) say you can generally treat moderate to mild sprains with ice, rest, and medicines or ointments to reduce the swelling. In rare cases, you will find a sprain to be so severe that you need surgery to heal it.
- Understanding fractures
Fractures or breaks in your bones occur after severe trauma, like a deep fall or a car accident. When a bone breaks, the first thing you feel is extreme pain around the bone. You will also experience limb deformities, the inability to place weight on the injury, inflammation, and dark-to-light bruising. You will also experience a condition known as crepitus, where the ends of the bones that have been fractured rub against each other. You will hear a crunching sound when this happens.
- Check the injury with an x-ray
It would help if you had an x-ray to determine whether the bone has been fractured. If the fracture is severe, the doctor will recommend an MRI or a CT scan to check whether damage has been caused to other muscles, ligaments, or tendons.
From the above, it is evident that sprains and fractures are different from each other. If you are unsure whether the injury sustained is a sprain or a fracture in the body, visit a doctor.
- Medical attention is a must for both a sprain and a fracture
Both sprains and fractures cause a lot of discomforts. If you have suffered a severe accident and the bones are poking out from the skin, immediately go to a doctor. You may feel numbness in the area, and there may be signs of infection or red streaks around your injury. Remember, it will not subside with home care if the pain is intense.
In some cases, you might need physical therapy after the injury heals. Surgery may be required when you have multiple fractures because of the damage.
