Difference Between Sprain And Broken Bone
- Edd Siu
December 14, 2020
The following is for informational purposes only. Please seek qualified medical attention if you believe you have injured yourself.
The difference between a sprain or broken bone is like the difference between a cold and the flu. They're both viruses, but there is a huge difference in severity.
For instance, a sprain can cause some pain and stiffness but it does not result in any break or fracture. On the other hand, a broken bone is more serious than a sprain because it causes fractures.
Another difference between a sprain and a broken bone is in the different symptoms. For example, the common signs of sprains include swelling and tenderness, while those of broken bones are such as bruising or deformity.Treatment
If you're wondering about treatment, then the doctor will typically use ice on it and take pain medications if it's a sprain. If it's a fracture, then surgery is required to fix the broken bone.
Depending on your specific injury, your physician will prescribe a mobility aid such as walkers, crutches or a knee scooter.
RELATED: The Best Alternative to Crutches - A Guide to Optimize Your ComfortFractures
A fracture occurs when the force applied to the bones exceeds their structural strength.
A fracture is a break in the continuity of the long bones (legs, arms, ribs) or short bones (fingers and toes). Some breaks are simple fractures that involve only one bone; other breaks can be more complex.
It can get complicated with overlapping fractures, comminuted fractures (fracture in which a bone splinters into 3 or more fragments), and compound fractures, in which one fragment of bone enters another.
A compound fracture is when a broken bone pierces the skin. You can often hear or feel the pop when this happens because of the release of built up gases from within your bone.
A fracture causes a lot of pain because bones are surrounded by nerve fibers that transmit pain. People may experience both a sprain and a broken bone at the same time. However, it depends on where they are injured.
Moreover, broken bones are more painful than sprains. As a result of the pain caused by the sprain, one may experience some discomfort or inconvenience in their daily activities for some time.
Related: What is a Non-Weight Bearing Scooter?Sprains
Sprain occurs when ligaments get stretched too far. Ligaments are tough bands of fibrous tissue present in joints to hold the bones together.
A sprain is an injury of the ligaments that hold bones together in joints; they can be stretched or torn when we put too much stress on these areas.
The severity of a sprain can range from slight discomfort to excruciating pain. This is dependent on how much damage has been done to the affected joint or muscle group.
Interestingly, the most common sprain injury is to the wrist; both professional athletes and ordinary people who play sports are at risk of sprains.
Another difference between the two is in terms of recovery period. A sprain usually takes a shorter time to heal, while a broken bone may take up to six months or even more depending on the severity.Final Thoughts
If you think you have a sprain or fracture, immediately seek medical attention. Even if you think you don't have a broken bone, you could indeed have one. There are cases folks only realize they have fractures when they are told so by a doctor.
If you have a serious injury and don't treat it promptly, you may cause irreparable damage. Seek medical attention.
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