Whether it's a skid on a rug, a sidewalk stumble, or a soccer turf spill, accidents happen. How do you know when information technology'due south serious? Broken bones (fractures), sprains and strains often have like symptoms, so uncovering the truth can be a tough mystery to solve on your own.

If you remember yous or a loved ane has a interruption, sprain or strain, your best pace is to get to the doctor, ER or urgent intendance (depending on time of solar day and urgency). An x-ray can confirm or dominion out a broken bone, and the md tin quickly diagnose your injury and provide the handling for your road to recovery.

Is it a break?

A fracture is a broken os. There are unlike types depending on whether the os is partially or completely fractured. Signs of a broken bone include:

  • Pain located directly on top of the bone – where in that location is no soft tissue
  • Pain becomes worse when you apply pressure level or movement the injured limb
  • Severe swelling, or bruising over the top of the bone, numbness or tingling
  • A "cracking" (not "popping") sound at the time of the injury
  • The area looks lopsided or "deformed," or the os is poking through
  • Disability to utilize the limb that's injured – with a foot or ankle, y'all tin't put weight on it, or even take 3-4 steps

Fracture handling

An ten-ray is used to confirm a break, and then depending on the severity, the injury by and large requires splinting or casting and immobilization. In more than serious cases, surgery may be needed.

Know where to become for care

Cleaved basic - where should I go?

Urgent Care centers have x-ray capabilities and can diagnose, set, and splint a variety of fractures

ERs have x-ray capabilities and tin diagnose, ready, splint, and cast all types of fractures

Go to an ER if you suspect:

  • the bone or joint is very broken or dislocated
  • a pause in a large bone such as the femur (thigh), pelvis, or hip
  • a fracture in the skull, eye, or dental basic
  • a spinal fracture (this may exist amend imaged by a CT browse)

infographic: where I should I go to treat a broken bone?

HCA Midwest Wellness has 11 ERs conveniently located throughout the Kansas City surface area, with brusk expect times in the region. Also, all of our emergency rooms are prepared with equipment and care specially designed for your kids. In fact, all of our ERs exceed the national average for pediatric readiness.

Find an ER Well-nigh Me

With our CareNow Urgent Care centers, walk-in intendance has never been more convenient. We offer 10 locations across the metro and Web Check-In® to reduce time in waiting room.

Discover an Urgent Care

Is information technology a sprain?

Ligaments connect bone to os at the joint. Stretching or vehement a ligament causes a sprain. The most common location for a sprain is the ankle, although it can happen to wrists, elbows or whatsoever other joint. Some signs of a sprain are:

  • Pain that is in the soft, "squishy" tissue over a os rather than directly on the os itself
  • You tin can usually put weight on it, even if information technology'due south painful
  • Swelling and bruising effectually the area
  • Limited movement or mobility of the affected area
  • A "popping" (non "cracking") audio at the time of the injury

Handling for a sprain

With any possible sprain it's best to run into your doc or visit your local CareNow Urgent Care centre.

Until you lot see a doctor, utilize the RICE method (as described below) equally soon as possible to ease some of the discomfort, swelling and bruising.

Is it a strain?

Tendons are tissues that connect muscle to bone. Stretching or tearing a tendon or muscle causes a strain. A strain can seem like a sprain considering they both involve the tissue around a joint. Strains can be a outcome of overuse, trying out a new exercise or sport your muscles aren't used to, or that starting time weekend of heavy yard work after the winter. Signs of a strain are:

  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Difficulty moving the muscle
  • Muscle spasms

Treatment for a strain

Whatever suspected strain should be diagnosed by your physician, or at an ER or urgent care center. This is peculiarly important in children to ensure in that location is no growth plate injury. The handling for minor strains is the same equally for a sprain – rest, water ice, compression and summit (RICE). In more severe cases, concrete therapy or practice may be needed to help the injury fully heal.

Domicile treatment for minor strains and sprains

Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such equally ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen can aid reduce the pain and inflammation from a sprain or strain.  They should exist taken simply every bit directed on the bottle (Please don't take these types of medicines if your physician has advised avoiding them.)

Many experts also suggest the RICE method as soon as possible after the injury to ease some of the discomfort, swelling and bruising.

  • Rest: Rest and protect the injured area for a mean solar day or two afterward the injury. So try stretching and gentle exercise to aid increase claret period to the affected area, thus promoting healing.
  • Ice: Employ ice or a common cold pack to reduce or prevent swelling. Apply for ten minutes, and so remove for 10 minutes. Repeat this equally oft as possible while awake for the first i to ii days. Make certain and wrap the water ice or cold pack in a towel, don't apply directly on your pare.
  • Compression: Wrap the injured wrist, ankle, pes, etc. in elastic bandaging to reduce swelling and maintain stability. Be careful not to wrap it too tightly because this tin hinder your circulation. The pinch should feel like a gentle clasp to the area.
  • Summit: Rest your sore foot or ankle on a pillow whatsoever fourth dimension you're sitting or lying downward. The injured part should be elevated in a higher place your heart, which helps reduce swelling.

If after a few days, the pain is still severe, at that place is major bruising or blisters and you still tin't put any weight on the sore limb, it'southward time for a trip to your md or urgent intendance for a definitive diagnosis and treatment programme.