Fractures Specialist

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A fracture is a break or crack in the bone. Fractures aren’t always apparent when they don’t produce clear breaks. While you may be able to walk on a minor fracture, such as a stress fracture, doing so can permanently damage your bones, as well as the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support them.

The symptoms of a fracture can vary depending on its severity. A serious fracture can be apparent instantly and cause long-term symptoms, but a minor fracture may be less obvious. It’s important to address a fracture as soon as it occurs to prevent lasting damage.

Common symptoms of fractures include:

• Sharp or dull pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Clear deformity of the bone
• Difficulty using the limb

The best way to recover from a fracture is to get a diagnosis as soon as you experience pain or loss of function in your affected limb.

There are several different types of fractures that can impact your function and mobility, such as:

If you have a simple fracture, the bone hasn’t punctured the skin or exposed itself.

A hairline fracture is a common type of stress fracture that occurs as the result of repeated stress, such as impact from running.

A complicated fracture occurs when the bone and its surrounding structures become damaged, including injury to the nerves, arteries, or to the lining bone.

If you have a compression fracture, two of your bones can press against one another, causing chronic pain.

Fractures require a complete view of the bone to diagnose. Dr. Gifford has an orthopedic urgent care center onsite and uses X-rays to identify any breaks or cracks in the affected bone. 

The sooner you detect a fracture, the more likely you are to recover without complication. Early intervention ensures you can treat the fracture as quickly as possible to accelerate healing.

Immobilization is essential if you have a fractured bone. Holding your bone in place with a cast, brace, or metal rods can prevent further complications after a bone break. If your pain continues after your bone starts to heal, you may need further treatment.

Dr. Gifford may recommend injections if you have chronic pain from a previous bone fracture. If you don’t experience lasting relief from nonsurgical treatments, surgery can repair damage to the affected bone, muscles, tendons, or ligaments.

To learn more, call 417 Sports Medicine & Orthopedics or schedule an appointment online today. You can also visit the orthopedic walk-in clinic for urgent care needs.