When you get injured, it can sometimes be difficult to tell how serious it is. Is it a fracture or a sprain? Or could it be a deep bruise? Do you need to see a doctor, or will it heal on its own?
Fractures, sprains and contusions can have similar symptoms, making it difficult to know the severity of the injury. Injuries can get worse if not treated properly, so if you are in doubt, see your healthcare provider.
Bone Bruises
When you think of a bruise, you most likely think of a tender black and blue spot on your skin. But bruises, which happen when blood vessels break and leak a small amount of blood into the surrounding area, can go much deeper than that. A bone bruise, or bone contusion, can occur when the tissue of a bone is damaged from a fall, an accident or a sports injury. Because they can be quite painful, sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s a bruise or a bone fracture.
Symptoms of a bone bruise include:
- Difficulty using the affected area
- Pain that lasts from days to months
- Stiffness
- Swelling and tenderness
Your doctor might order an X-ray to rule out a bone fracture. But because bone bruises do not show up on X-rays, he or she might order an MRI as well, depending on the severity of the injury.
To treat a bone bruise, your doctor will likely recommend limiting physical activity and taking anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen. Applying ice for 15-20 minutes several times a day can help with pain and inflammation. If the injury is in your leg or foot, elevating the limb can help swelling go down. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for a bone bruise to fully heal.
Fractures
A bone fracture can be caused by a high-impact blow or an injury that causes the bone to twist. Repetitive motions, like running, can also cause stress fractures. How do you know if you have fractured a bone? Symptoms include:
- A deformity, such as bone poking through skin or a limb that looks odd
- Difficulty using the affected area
- Redness or warmth of the skin around the area, or bruising
- Severe pain
- Swelling
Many bone fractures will be visible on an X-ray. But some, such as stress fractures, require more detailed imaging tests, such as an MRI, bone scan or CT scan. Once your doctor has diagnosed a fracture, he or she will develop a treatment plan based on the location and severity of your injury.
Options include:
- Casting: A plaster or fiberglass cast will hold your bone in place while it grows back together. This is the most common type of fracture treatment. Some casts allow for limited movement.
- Splinting: A splint also holds the bone together while it heals, but unlike a cast, it only protects one side.
- Surgery: For more severe breaks, your doctor might recommend a surgical procedure to put the bone back together. This might be done with screws, plates and fixators or frames.
Bone fractures can take several months to properly heal. You will likely need to continue to limit activity for some time after a cast or splint is removed, and you may need some physical therapy to regain strength in the injured area.
Sprains
A sprain happens when a trauma causes a ligament (the tissue that connects bones at a joint) to stretch or tear. Symptoms include:
- Bruising of the skin around the injured area
- Difficulty using the affected joint
- Pain
- Swelling
Read More: ACL vs. MCL Tears: How’d You Hurt Your Knee?
Since these symptoms can mimic those of fractures and contusions, it’s a good idea to get evaluated by a doctor to ensure you treat the injury properly. Your doctor might order an X-ray or MRI to rule out other injuries. “RICE” is generally recommended to treat a sprain:
- Rest the injured area.
- Ice the injury for 20 minutes several times a day.
- Compress the injury with a bandage, boot or splint to reduce swelling.
- Elevate the affected limb.
You can also take an anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen, to alleviate pain.
The amount of time it takes to fully recover depends on the severity of the sprain. You might need physical therapy to return to your normal strength and flexibility.
Get help when you need it at one of our three Beaufort Memorial Express Care & Occupational Health clinics, open after hours on weekdays and on Saturdays and Sundays. Save your spot online before you arrive.