Neu Urgent Care
Urgent Care & Addiction Medicine located in Hazel Park, MI
Even a mild strain or sprain can cause extreme pain and swelling, which makes it hard to know when your injury is severe enough to need medical attention. The team at Neu Urgent Care in Hazel Park, Michigan, encourages you to call if you’re unsure about caring for a soft tissue injury. They quickly assess your symptoms to determine if you need immediate care, or recommend self-care steps to take at home. To get the expert help you need for an injury, walk in during office hours, call, or schedule an appointment online Dr. Mohamed Saleh MD,DC.
Strains and Sprains
What causes strains and sprains?
A sprain is a ligament injury, while strains affect muscles and tendons. In both types of injuries, the tissues are stretched beyond their limit. In some cases, the affected tissue may be partially or completely torn.
Sprains
Sprains most often affect your ankles, knees, and wrists, where the injury is commonly caused by a sudden twist or fall. You may turn your foot inward and twist your ankle while walking on uneven ground, fall onto an outstretched hand and sprain your wrist, or sprain your knee while pivoting.
Since ligaments connect one bone to another in a joint, sprains can cause joint instability. You may also experience recurring sprains if the ligament doesn’t heal properly.
Strains
Strains are most likely to occur in your foot, back, or leg, where they often affect the hamstring muscle. Contact sports such as soccer, football, hockey, and wrestling, and activities requiring quick starts like running races and jumping, often cause strains. You’re also at risk for hand and elbow strains from sports like tennis, rowing, and golf.
What symptoms develop due to strains and sprains?
The severity of your symptoms varies depending on the extent of the injury. However, strains and sprains cause the same symptoms:
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Pain
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Bruising
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Inflammation
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Swelling
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Joint instability
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Muscle weakness or spasms
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Limited movement or inability to use the affected area
If you suffer a severe ligament tear, you may feel or hear a pop. It’s also important to know that pain, bruising, swelling, and inability to use the affected area are also the symptoms of a fracture, which requires immediate medical attention.
How are strains and sprains treated?
Mild strains and sprains are treatable at home with the RICE protocol: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. However, if you can’t move or use the affected area, you develop numbness, or your symptoms are severe, you should come to Neu Urgent Care for an accurate diagnosis and treatment that ensures complete healing.
The team at Neu Urgent Care takes X-rays onsite to determine the extent of the damage. Treatment typically includes rest, immobilization, and activity modification. After the injury heals, you can start an exercise program to restore range of motion, flexibility, and strength.
Whether you need immediate attention and use the walk-in clinic, or you schedule an appointment by calling or using the online booking feature, you’ll receive expert care for strains and sprains at Neu Urgent Care.