It’s surprising to think that a person can walk around with a broken bone without even knowing it. Yet, this happens more often than you think. This is why it’s important to know how to tell if you broke a bone.
This can help you fix the problem before it becomes worse. For instance, the bone can mend at a wrong angle, rendering you immobile or less capable.
Let’s take a quick look at six signs of a broken bone.
One of the first signs of a fractured or broken bone is bruising and discoloration. This is because blood escapes from the capillaries in the area with damaged tissues. It can also occur when you have blood seeping from a bone that’s broken.
When you see a big bruise, then this is a sign of deep damage – sometimes down to the bone.
When a bone breaks, it’s common for the area to begin to swell. This is due to fluids and blood leaking into your muscles, skin, and fat (caused by the accident). The swelling becomes hard to the touch over time.
It’s not uncommon for your bone and joint to become misaligned after an orthopedic injury. This can occur in your knees, shoulder, leg, and so on. It’s important to note that dislocations can be worse than a bone fracture.
This is because broken bones normally stay in their proper location. However, when a dislocation’s involved, it can result in tearing of the tendons and ligaments.
This sounds ominous, and it kind of is. Crepitus is when you can feel crunchiness beneath your skin. That’s not supposed to exist anywhere in your body. However, if it does, then this is a sign there are broken pieces of bone rubbing against one another.
Here’s a sure sign of a fracture or broken bone – deformity. This is a clear indicator that something’s gone wrong. For instance, your leg or arm bending at an angle it’s not designed to. When this happens, your bone’s out of place and needs correction.
In some cases, you may even see the bone poking out of the skin. This means the bone’s either broken or dislocated.
Ever hurt your hand as a child and a grownup asks you to move it? This is because broken bones lose their function. So if you were unable to move your hand, then this is a sign of a broken bone. The next time you hurt your arm or leg, try to wave or walk. If you can do it but feel pain, then it could be another type of injury or bruising.
All this information is great to have for yourself and your family. As we all know, children can get pretty wild, so it’s good to know when it’s time to head to the emergency room. With these signs of how to tell if you broke a bone, you can ensure this.
If you’d like more information about identifying serious injuries or medical services, then check out the services Coastal Urgent Care of Baton Rouge offers today!
