Signs and Symptoms of a Ligament Sprain

Ligament sprains can occur during a fall, after getting hit by another human being or when the body gets twisted in an accident or while participating in a sporting event. Recognizing the signs and symptoms is important. This allows the injured to obtain a diagnosis and treatment plan before further damage is done.

The first sign of a ligament sprain is hearing a popping sound at the time of the trauma. This snapping noise may also indicate a broken bone, so you’ll need to head to your doctor for an x-ray. If the x-ray shows the bones are healthy, your doctor may order magnetic resonance imaging (an MRI)to determine if there is a partial or complete tear of the ligament.

Second, you’ll need to watch for swelling in the joint where your injury occurred. Often, the swelling is accompanied by pain. Using ice packs on and off in 20 minute increments will help reduce the swelling and control the pain. If the swelling does not subside, you’ll need to seek medical treatment.

A third symptom to keep an eye out for is bruising and redness in the problem area that may also be warm when you touch it. If the bruising is combined with pain and swelling, your doctor may also suggest you take an over-the-counter pain medication to help you get more comfortable while you rest your injury.

A loss of function in the limb that was hurt is a fourth sign that may point to a ligament sprain. If you can’t put weight on the limb, or it buckles or gives way when you try to use it, then you may be looking at a sprain. This is usually an indicator of a tear, which may need surgery in some cases. Seek medical treatment immediately if you suffer from this symptom.

Finally, a person may begin to feel numb or have a tingling sensation near the sprained ligament. The ligaments may even have stretched, leaving a bigger range of motion than normal. If the sprain resulted in stretched ligament, you may also experience muscle spasms that can be quite painful. This occurs because the muscles are trying to contract the ligaments back into place.

Always keep watch and make note if your symptoms begin to get worse at any time. If this happens, contact your doctor or take a trip to the emergency room for treatment. Visit this website to learn more about x-rays in San Diego.

Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room

When disaster strikes or you’re coming down with a sickness, it can be helpful to know what type of facility to visit. Emergency rooms and urgent care facilities are both excellent choices but, depending on the nature of the visit, one can be more helpful than the other.

Emergency Room

The emergency room is where you should go when your injury is severe or life-threatening. This means that you have been in some type of accident that has resulted in an extreme condition, or you have had a persistent sickness that has gotten beyond the point of you being able to function. Since emergency rooms are located in hospitals, the most severe cases get treated first, and if you have a minor affliction you could be waiting a very long time.

Urgent Care

For all other situations, an urgent care facility is the best option for you. Urgent care is pretty much like visiting a doctor’s office, but without the formalities involved in a primary care physician. You will be able to go in, often without any form of appointment, and see the professional that you need to get well.

When you know where to go when you come down with an illness, it can make the process a lot easier to handle. For more information on where to find emergency urgent care in San Diego, visit this website.

Signs of a Common Cold

The common cold is one of the most frequent illnesses that people encounter in life. Most of the time, a common cold will go away in a few days with proper rest and medicine, but there are other times when it can worsen and require a doctor’s visit. It is important to know the signs of a common cold before you panic.

Pains

Aches and pains are some of the easiest ways to spot a cold. When you experience an ache in your muscles, or a soreness in your neck when you move your head, then you may be dealing with the common cold.

Nose and Throat

Your nasal passages and your throat will also help you to understand when you are coming down with a cold. A cough associated with the common cold can be either dry or one with a lot of phlegm. A discoloration of mucus, such as a green or vibrantly yellow hue, is a clear indicator that you are sick.

Fever

Though the common cold has many symptoms, a fever is the best way to determine the severity of your cold. When you have a high temperature and several symptoms, it is time to get the proper care.

Don’t let a common cold become a more serious problem, have it looked at when you think the problem will persist. Visit this website for more information on illness treatment in San Diego.

How to Handle an Injured Employee

There are many things that employers do to ensure the safety of their employees. Still, no matter how many precautionary measures are in place, accidents still have a way of happening. When an employee of yours is injured on the job, it can be beneficial to know how to react.

The Right Insurance

The law states that all employers must have a form of workers compensation insurance in order to run a business. Further than that, the law states the guidelines of your specific insurance policy must be visibly posted in an area that your employees frequent so they are aware of their rights. When someone is injured on the job, make sure to give them a copy of the policy guidelines so that they know what to expect.

Urgent Care

Rather than go to the emergency room of a hospital, it can be beneficial to suggest your employee go to an urgent care facility. Though under most policies an employee has the right to the establishment of their choice, you and your employee can both benefit from urgent care due to the prompt service and more affordable rates.

When the right steps are taken, a workplace accident can be handled in a simple and easy manner. For more information on employee injury care in San Diego, visit this website.