Carolina Back Institute is the region's premiere center for non-surgical spine and joint care. We treat chronic and acute pain of the back, neck, and extremities. We have locations in Raleigh & Cary.
If you’ve recently fallen or had an accident that causes intense pain, you may have suffered a sprain or a break. The first step in addressing your situation is to have a physician or sports medicine doctor evaluate the injury to determine if it is a sprain or a break and choose the best course of treatment. Continue reading to learn about the main differences between a sprain and a break:
Site of Injury
Essentially, sprains and breaks differ in their specific injury sites within the body. A sprain is a joint injury that occurs due to a tearing in one of the joint’s ligaments. A break, also referred to as a fracture, is caused by trauma that breaks or cracks a bone.
Degree of Pain
Although pain perception varies from person to person, it is generally accepted that a break will cause a higher sensation of pain than a sprain, and will therefore require greater pain relief. Someone who has broken a bone may be unable to move, have difficulty breathing, and may even go into shock if the injury is severe.
Appearance of Injury
Sprains and breaks cause somewhat different visible symptoms. Typically, a sprain will cause the surrounding area to become bruised and swollen. In many cases of fractures, the person will not show obvious signs of bruising at the impact point. If the fracture was on a limb, small bruises may develop on the toes or fingers.
Required Treatment
Many sprains heal with little medical intervention. However, in more serious cases, a person may need to have a sprain treated surgically. Some fractures must also be repaired using surgery, and many fractures are treated using a period of immobilization which may be followed by rehabilitation.
If you have recently experienced a major sprain or fracture, be sure to find out how Carolina Back Institute can help you regain your strength and mobility. Our medical services are aimed at healing the body while improving the client’s overall quality of life. Call us today at (919) 781-9950 or visit us online to learn more.
Neema Patel, NP- Dear Neema, Thank you for all your good care! I've just come off of a six day trek in the Nepal Himalayas and I know I couldn't have done it without you, your nurse, and the PT staff. You are the BEST! I am sending this all the way from India. I've thought of all of you often as I have completed this challenge!...
Orthopedic pain can range anywhere from a mild ache to a paralyzing condition. If you would like to learn more about pain and your possible treatment options offered by the Carolina Back Institute, take a look at the following links.
Physical therapists will help you manage pain while guiding you towards a quick recovery. Read this article from Lower Extremity Review Magazine to learn more about the phases of physical therapy following a knee injury, and how physical therapists can help address your pain.
The Carolina Back Institute specializes in treating acute and chronic back pain without surgery. Read more about non-invasive treatment options for back pain in this ABC News article.
The position in which you sleep may be a contributing factor to your back pain problem. Here, the Mayo Clinic demonstrates how to adjust your most comfortable sleeping position to protect your back.
Prolotherapy is a cutting-edge procedure used to treat chronic, musculoskeletal pain that uses the body’s own healing process to stimulate the growth of new tissues, strengthening the area around the damaged tissues.
Acupuncture is another type of non-invasive therapy that can be used to treat chronic back pain. Read this article from Med Page Today to learn more about the benefits of acupuncture compared to typical pain management methods.
Contact Carolina Back Institute by visiting our website or calling us at (919) 781-9950 to learn more about the non-invasive pain management methods offered by our specialists.
Most people understand back pain caused by strain, injuries, and chronic conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis—but even the way you sleep can lead to neck, back, and lumbar spine pain. You wouldn’t sit at your desk for six to eight hours a day in a position that strains your neck and contorts your spine; and neither should you sleep in positions that twist your spine’s natural shape. The following is a list of sleeping positions that may contribute to chronic back pain and what you can do to manage it:
Sleeping on Your Stomach
Many stomach sleepers turn their head to the left or right and lay their arms above their head to find a comfortable position. This pinches your upper back muscles and throws your neck off balance as half of your neck muscles contract, and the other half extend. Furthermore, sleeping on your stomach compresses your lumbar spine, causing lower back pain. If you really can’t fall asleep any other way, try placing a pillow under your pelvis to reduce the strain on your back.
Sleeping on Your Back
Sleeping on your back is one of the best ways to support the entirety of your musculoskeletal system, but it can cause problems if your knees are not fully supported and your lower back arches high to compensate. If sleeping on your back is most comfortable for you, try placing a pillow under your knees to help maintain the natural curve of your lower back.
Sleeping on Your Side
Sleeping on your side is one of the best ways to protect your back, if done correctly. However, many people allow one leg to overlap the other, which can throw your hips out of alignment and cause tightness in your hips and lower back. To best protect your back, keep both knees bent and place a pillow between your two legs to maintain normal leg and hip alignment. Don’t forget a supportive pillow under your head to protect your neck.
If you experience back pain and would like to learn more about noninvasive procedures to reduce your symptoms, call Carolina Back Institute at (919) 781-9950 to schedule an appointment at either of our Raleigh and Cary offices today.
