What is a sprain?
Ligaments are the tough connective tissues that bind your bones together at each joint. A sprain occurs when you stretch or tear one or more ligaments. Unlike many tissue types, ligaments are slow to heal and significant injuries often require surgical intervention.
Sprains occur when your joints are placed under stress. This can happen during a traumatic injury like a car accident or a sports injury like rolling your ankle or abnormally bending a finger or thumb while throwing or catching a ball.
A sprain can occur suddenly or can develop gradually over time. Ankle sprains are among the most common types of sprain, but the condition can also occur in your knee, neck, wrist, fingers, or other joints.
How do I know if I have experienced a sprain?
Not all sprains show the same symptoms, so it’s important to know what the signs are. Some signs that a sprain has occurred include:
- Significant pain in the affected joint
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Feeling or hearing a “pop” sound during an injury
Inability to move the joint properly
Minor sprains often heal on their own after a few days of rest and self-care. However, if you experience numbness in the area, have severe pain, or are unable to move the joint or put any weight on it, you need to call Orthopaedic Care Specialists to book a visit.
What are some treatment options for sprains?
If you have a minor sprain try the RICE method. This stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Over-the-counter pain medications can relieve discomfort. If the injury doesn’t improve within a couple of days, more advanced treatment might be needed.
Some strains respond best to physical therapy. Moving the affected joint through carefully coordinated stretches and range-of-motion exercises helps keep your ligaments healthy while scar tissue forms.
In some cases, surgery is the right treatment option. When a ligament suffers a substantial tear or is not able to heal on its own, surgery works to repair the ligament and support the joint.
Can regenerative medicine help treat sprains?
Regenerative medicine is a great option for enhancing the healing process when you have a serious sprain. Dr. Saylor offers platelet-rich plasma injections, a treatment that uses a solution made from your own blood to boost your innate healing ability.
Platelets are filled with special proteins called growth factors. When injected into a damaged joint, PRP goes to work reducing inflammation and prompting new cell development. This can speed healing for ligament injuries.
Learn more about your treatment options during a personalized consultation. Same-day appointments are available, and you can book a visit after hours by using the online scheduling tool.
