You can sustain an injury in many ways –sports, falls, workouts, car accidents, and even home improvement projects. While you may know what caused your injury, it’s often less clear what the concern is. “How do I tell if it’s a sprain or fracture?” The answer will determine what you need to do next.
Sprain Vs. Fracture
A sprain is an injury of the ligament, a soft tissue that connects bone to bone. Ligaments maintain proper structure and range of motion. If you stretch a ligament beyond its range of motion, the fibers tear, becoming inflamed and painful.
Sprains fall into three classes:
- Grade 1 – Mild
- Grade 2- Moderate
- Grade 3 – Severe
On the other hand, when you fracture a bone, you break it. We classify fractures as simple (closed) OR compound, where the compound fracture has bone coming through the skin. If you have a compound fracture, you’d know it, so we’re discussing simple fractures here.
Facture Vs. Sprain: Symptoms
The symptoms are similar, so these two can be hard to tell apart. Both fractures and sprains will likely experience pain plus varying amounts of bruising and swelling.
With a sprain you’re more likely to also:
- Have trouble moving the affected area, even when no weight is applied.
- Hear or feel a popping sensation around the joint. The ligament is stretched out or torn and no longer supports correct movement in the joint.
Conversely, a fracture:
- Will hurt more when you put weight on it
- May cause visible deformity in the limb
- May cause an audible crunching sound
Only an X-ray can confirm or rule out a fracture. This matters because treatment for each varies. And we should note that a sprain can be a serious injury, leading to more permanent joint damage if not appropriately managed. Don’t ignore either of these.
Sprain Vs. Fracture: Treatment
For a simple fracture, we must align the bone so that we can apply a cast. This ensures the bone rejoins properly. A more severe fracture may need surgery.
For a sprain, conservative measures include:
- Limiting use. Avoid any activity that causes pain.
- Icing the area to reduce swelling so the area can heal
- Compression. But be careful not to prevent circulation.
- Elevating the injury above your heart
- Over-the-counter painkillers for pain
- Gentle use after two days
- Progressively increase weight-bearing and movement as it heals.
Depending on the severity, it can take a few days to a month for a sprain to heal. As long as any pain, instability, or swelling continues, you should not engage in sports or other intense activities.
When to See Your Doctor
You should schedule an appointment with us if you:
- Can’t put weight on it (Depending on the bone affected, can you stand or do a pushup without overwhelming pain?)
- Numbness
- Pain on top of the bone
- Intense pain or swelling that the above measures don’t alleviate
Don’t ever overlook an injury. Whether it’s a sprain or a broken bone, the area may need medical and home care. Seeking treatment sooner can reduce healing time significantly, so you’re not sidelined longer than you have to be.