Coming Out of Hibernation Safely

As soon as the spring sun shines, Coastal Urgent Care clinics begin to see more patients coming out of hibernation with injuries of all sorts — especially strains, sprains and breaks. It’s not that spring is dangerous, but rather, that for most people winter is a quiet time. When spring comes along and people go from “0 to 60” on the activity scale, it can create all sorts of issues. In fact, childhood injuries spike by 46% by the time summer has arrived, compared to winter. (Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24401728/)

Arms and legs are particularly prone to post-hibernation pain, injuries, bangs and bumps — and Coastal Urgent Care in Baton Rouge is here to help with diagnosis and treatment. Knowing when to simply ice and elevate an injury and when to head to our walk-in urgent care in Baton Rouge is handy. Here are some basics to help you decide and a quick reference for the ‘RICE’ protocol for pain.

Common injuries include:

• Fractures and breaks.
• Dislocations, which are when a bone is pulled out of a joint.
• Skin injuries like cuts, abrasions and tears.
• Bruises, from mild to more major like bone bruises.
• Overuse that shows in muscle fatigue and aches.
• Sprains, which are tears or stretches between bands of tissues that connect two bones.
• Strains, which are tears, stretches or injuries to a muscle or to the band of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone.
• Joint issues like tennis elbow, bursitis and knee injuries.

Wondering when to see our urgent care in Baton Rouge providers? Some injuries are easier to identify than others and the urgency of getting care varies, too. Head to a Coastal Urgent Care if:

• You heard a snap or cracking sound.
• You are unable to manage pain.
• There is new or worsening pain.
• Movement is restricted.
• You experience numbness or tingling.
• The area that’s injured is pale or cooler than usual.
• You can’t apply pressure to get the bleeding to stop in 15 minutes.
• If the skin is involved, if there is redness, warmth, pus or if you have a fever.
• The combination of rest, ice, compression and elevation don’t work.

How To Avoid Injuries:

To avoid injuries, be sure to gradually increase your activity level and listen to your body. “Overuse” injuries like shin splints are common, but you can avoid them by warming up, stretching, easing in and taking rest days. If you stumble, slip or end up on the wrong end of a tackle, we’re here to help. Walk in and we’ll treat you well.

This is important: If you have arm, shoulder, neck, jaw or back pain that appears without cause, is severe, or occurs with pressure, fullness or squeezing in your chest, head to the Emergency Department at your hospital or call 911. Pain as noted above can be a sign of heart attack and you should not delay. You should also go to the hospital if you can see bone, or bleeding is “gushing”.

Fun Fact About Hibernation and Good Health:

1. Check out this interesting article about hibernation and health: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/bear-essentials-of-hibernation/

Reviewed by: Frank Garber, APRN, FNP-C

If you are in a situation that might be life-threatening, go straight to the emergency room or call 911. Situations like this include shortness of breath or breathing problems; seizures or ‘blackouts’; sudden vision problems; confusion or dizziness; heavy bleeding; possible breaks that appear to be deformed or blue, or that include bleeding; serious burns; the inability to speak or move; head and neck injuries.

Urgent Care in Baton Rouge:

If you’re in need of reliable urgent care in Baton Rouge, look no further than Coastal Urgent Care. Our clinic offers comprehensive urgent care services, from treating minor injuries to providing timely medical evaluations for non-life-threatening illnesses. At Coastal Urgent Care Baton Rouge, we understand the importance of convenience, which is why we offer extended hours and walk-in appointments to accommodate your busy schedule. When you’re looking for an “urgent care near me” trust our experienced staff to provide the best urgent care tailored to your needs. Visit Coastal Urgent Care in Baton Rouge today for prompt, efficient, and quality urgent care services.