Sprains Treatment Clinic in Coral Springs, FL
Dr. Naseh Nawabi and the experienced staff at Walking Urgent Care, Inc. can help you with sprains and strains. For more information, call us or book an appointment online.
Table of Contents:
What is the best first aid treatment for a sprain?
How long might it take for a sprain or strain to heal?
What are the differences between a strain and a sprain?
Your ligaments connect bone to bone, keep your joints in place, and are tough and elastic. A sprain is damage to the ligament that is caused by the tearing of fibers of the ligament. This can be a partial tear or the ligament can be completely torn apart.
You are most likely to sprain your ankle. Wrists, knees, and thumbs get sprained quite frequently, as well. Ligaments that are sprained swell rapidly and are painful. If there is more swelling and pain associated with the sprain, the more severe the injury is. If you have a minor sprain, you can start treatment yourself.
The best way to remember how to treat sprains is to remember the acronym, RICE. RICE stands for:
Rest the injured area. You may not want to put any weight on the affected area for 48 to 72 hours. This can mean you might need crutches for a sprain in the ankles or knees. For sprains in other areas, it is good to reduce the mobility of the joint with a brace. It is best not to avoid all activities. You need to keep the muscles in other parts of your body active to prevent deconditioning.
Ice the injured area. A cold pack, compression sleeve filled with cold water, or a slush bath will limit swelling after the injury. Try to ice the injured area as soon as possible. It is best to ice the area for 15-20 minutes four to eight times a day for the first two days. If you are using ice, do not use it too long since it can cause tissue damage.
Compress the area with a bandage or elastic wrap. Compression wraps made from neoprene or elastic work the best.
Elevate the injured area above your heart. This will limit the swelling and decrease the pain.
How long it takes to recover from a sprain will depend on the severity of the pain. They can take days or months to recover. When the pain and swelling start to reside, you can begin using the injured area. You will feel gradual improvement. If you need, over-the-counter painkillers can help alleviate the pain during the healing process.
It is important to restore strength and stability to the affected area before you return to sports or fitness activities. Physical therapists or sports medicine providers can show you good strength and stability exercises to improve healing and reduce the risk of a repeat injury.
The types of injuries that cause sprains can cause more serious injuries, like fractures. If your sprain isn’t improving after a few days, see your doctor.
If you are unable to bear weight on an injured leg, if the joint feels numb or unstable, or you are unable to use the joint you should see a doctor. These indicate that the damage is serious.
If you have redness or red streaks spreading from the injured area, you may have an infection.
If this is an area that has been sprained a number of times before, seeing a doctor is important.
If you have a severe sprain, delayed or inadequate treatment can cause long-term chronic pain or joint instability.
The difference between a strain and a sprain has to do with what is damaged by the injury. A sprain is a tear of the ligaments that connect the bones. A strain is damage to muscle tissue or to the tissue that connects muscles to a bone.
We are open seven days a week and provide walk-in services in Coral Springs. We serve patients from Coral Springs FL, Tamarac FL, Parkland FL, Margate FL, North Lauderdale FL, Coconut Creek FL.
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