A sprain or strain can cause persistent pain and interfere with your daily activities. What causes these pesky injuries, and how long do they take to heal? Is there anything you can do to speed up your recovery time? This blog post provides some important information that can help you get back on the road to restored musculoskeletal function.
What Causes Sprains and Strains?
While the terms “sprain” and “strain” are sometimes used interchangeably, they are actually different types of injuries. A sprain is an injury to the ligament or capsule that surrounds a joint. Sprains are most common to thumbs, ankles, and knees. A strain, on the other hand, is an injury that affects a muscle or its tendons. The most common locations for strains are calves, the groin, and hamstrings.
Both types of injuries can be caused by overuse or acute and sudden injuries. Athletes may incur sprains and strains as they repeatedly push their bodies to their limits.
How Long Do Sprains and Strains Take to Heal?
Just like other types of injuries, sprains and strains can vary in their severity. Mild injuries that cause minimal pain and swelling could completely heal within a couple of weeks if they receive proper care. Moderate sprains and strains can take longer to heal and may require professional medical care. The worst sprains and strains may never heal without surgical intervention.
Speeding Up Your Recovery
As soon as you suspect that you have a sprain or strain, you can start performing basic first aid. For example, you should rest the injured area and apply ice packs to control any swelling. Compressing the injury with bandages can also be helpful. If your symptoms continue to worsen after the first 24 hours, you should see a doctor.
Your doctor can properly diagnose the problem and recommend your next steps. Some treatment possibilities include:
- At-home care. For some injuries, rest and activity modifications are enough to facilitate smooth healing.
- Physical therapy. This can help to strengthen injured areas and return them to full function.
- Regenerative medicine. Shockwave therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, stem cell therapy, and other techniques can be used to encourage the injured tissues to heal themselves.
- Surgery. This is often necessary in cases where a tendon or ligament is completely torn.
Sprains and strains can be painful, but in most cases, complete recovery is possible! A qualified physician can help you understand your treatment options.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Paul Tortland is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine who is well-known for his commitment to regenerative medicine techniques, such as stem cell therapy and PRP. He and our team are well-qualified to address many types of injuries, including sprains, strains, and more. If you are dealing with persistent pain, we can assess the situation and make an expert recommendation on your next steps. Contact the New England Stem Cell Institute at 860-430-2821.