An ankle suddenly turning the wrong way. A trip that turns into a fall where you land on your wrist. Jamming a thumb into something rigid. You’re left in pain and also asking yourself this question: “Is this a sprain, or did I just break something?”

The reality is, sprains and fractures can share many overlapping symptoms. Both can result in bruising, swelling, and an inability to bear weight on the affected area.

While a fracture means a broken bone (which can range in severity from a stress fracture – or thin crack – to a complete break), a sprain is a stretching or tearing of the ligaments (or tissues) that connect bones to a joint. Though common perception is that a fracture (or break) is a worse injury than a sprain, in actuality a severe sprain can take as long as or longer than a fracture to recover. In some cases, a bad sprain can even call for surgery. 

To help determine whether an injury is a break or a sprain, you can look for some key differences:

• With an ankle fracture, for example, bearing weight will often be difficult if not impossible. With a sprain, though bearing weight can feel very uncomfortable, you can usually manage to limp while still bearing some weight.
• Pain directly over a bone is typically linked to a fracture. If the pain is more off to the side (where the ligament and bone connects), it’s more likely to be a sprain.

For a sprain, one thing we recommend is RICE therapy:

R=REST: Limit walking as much as possible

I=ICE: 15 minutes at a time, 4-5 times per day until the swelling subsides

C=COMPRESSION: At Pinnacle, we have premade ankle braces that can aid in providing stability while also adding compression

E=Elevation: For ankle sprains, elevate to the point that the toes are above the nose when lying down

Your best course of action, though, is to see a provider if you’ve experienced an injury that leaves you wondering if you’ve broken or sprained something. The sooner an expert can help you figure out what kind of injury you’re dealing with, the sooner you can start getting treatment to help that injured area heal.

At Pinnacle Urgent Care, we’re well equipped to deal with both sprains and breaks (we even have on-site X-ray capabilities!), and are always here to help you start the road to recovery when you’re injured. We even build custom splints to initially stabilize a fracture, helping you get started on the road to recovery.