Strains, Sprains, and Fractures

healthy living Strains, Sprains, and Fractures

Most minor strains and sprains Home treatment for pain can be treated at home, but severe and swelling sprains and fractures need profes- If the injury is to a muscle, liga- sional care. Apply home treatment ment, tendon, or bone, treatment while you wait to see your medical is a two-part process: professional. 1. RICE (rest, ice, compression, You may have a severe sprain or a elevation) to treat the acute pain broken bone if: or injury • The injured area is visibly 2. MSA (movement, strength, swollen. alternate activity) to help the injury heal completely and to • The injured area is twisted or prevent further problems. bent out of shape or a bone is poking through the skin. Begin the RICE process immediately for most injuries. If you suspect a • The injured area is black and fracture, splint the affected limb to Most minor strains and sprains blue. prevent further injury. can be treated at home, but • The pain from the injury If the injury is to a finger or part severe sprains and fractures prevents normal use of the limb, of the hand, remove all rings need professional care. such as walking. immediately. Prevention R - Rest Do not put weight on the injured • Try to keep your hands empty joint for at least 24 to 48 hours. strain is an injury caused when climbing or descending Aby overstretching a muscle. stairs. Having your hands full • Use crutches to support a badly makes it hard to react quickly sprained knee or ankle. A sprain is an injury to the and catch yourself in the event • Rest a sprained finger or toe by muscle and the ligaments, of a fall. taping it to a healthy finger or tendons, or soft tissues around • Make sure that you can always toe next to it. a joint. see where you are walking. Turn Injured muscle, ligament, or A fracture is a broken bone. on the lights and clear the walk- tendon tissue needs time and rest way of objects, such as boxes or to heal. Stress fractures need rest All three types of injuries cause furniture. for two to four months. pain and swelling. Unless a • To avoid falling, use a stepstool I - Ice broken bone is obvious, it may when reaching for high objects. Cold will reduce pain and swelling be difficult to tell if an injury Do not stand on chairs or other and promote healing. Although is a strain, sprain, or fracture. objects. heat feels nice, it may do more Rapid swelling often indicates • Ask for help with carrying heavy harm than good, since it can a more serious injury. or awkward objects. increase swelling after an injury.

HEALTH EDUCATION healthy living Strains, Sprains, and Fractures

Apply cold packs immediately to is controversial. Some experts the injured part is still healing, prevent or minimize swelling. You think heat will increase swelling; you can begin to phase in regular can also put ice cubes in a plastic others think it may speed heal- exercise that does not place strain bag and wrap it with a thin towel ing. If you use heat, do not on the injured part. before applying to your injury. For apply anything that is uncom- difficult-to-reach injuries, a cold fortably warm. Call Kaiser Permanente if . . pack works best. • A bone is poking through the Begin the MSA process as soon as skin, or if a limb below the C - Compression the initial pain and swelling have injury is white, cold, or numb. Wrap the injury with an elastic subsided. This may be in two days (Ace) bandage or compression or up to a week or longer, • You suspect a severe sprain or sleeve to immobilize and compress depending on the location and fracture. After you have stopped the sprain. Don’t wrap it too tightly severity of the injury. Once pain weight-bearing activities, splinted because this can cause more and swelling subside, you can the injury, and applied ice, a swelling. Loosen the bandage if it slowly resume sports and activi- short delay in receiving professional gets too tight. A tightly wrapped ties. Any increased pain may be care will not affect the outcome. sprain may fool you into thinking a sign that you need to rest a • A sprained joint is very unstable, you can keep using the joint. while longer. won’t support your weight, or With or without a wrap, the joint wobbles from side to side. needs total rest for one to two days. M - Movement • You cannot bear weight on a E - Elevation After one to two days of rest, sprained ankle after 24 hours, or begin moving the joint. Move Elevate the injured area on pillows if it hurts to bear weight after your joint gently through its full while you apply ice and anytime three days. range of motion. If an activity you are sitting or lying down. causes pain, stop and give the • Pain is still severe after two days Try to keep the injury at or above joint more rest. Gentle stretching of home treatment. the level of your heart to minimize will prevent scar tissue (formed as • A sprain does not improve after swelling. the injury heals) from limiting four days of home treatment. • Aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or movement later. Orudis may help ease inflam- mation and pain. Do not use S - Strength Other resources drugs to mask the pain while Once the swelling is gone and • Connect to our Web site at kp.org you continue to use the injured range of motion is restored, begin to access health and drug ency- joint. Do not give aspirin to clopedias, interactive programs, gradual efforts to strengthen the health classes, and much more. children or teens under age 20. injured area. This may require Review aspirin guidelines. • Contact your Kaiser Permanente specific exercises. Health Education Center or • The use of heat (hot water Department for health information, bottle, warm towel, heating pad) A - Alternate activities programs, and other resources. after 48 hours of cold treatments After the first few days, but while

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