Broken bones can happen in a variety of ways. If you’ve never broken a bone before, it may be difficult to imagine not being able to tell. While in some circumstances, it might be difficult, there are signs.
What Happens When You Break a Bone?
When you break a bone, it means you’ve fractured it. A fracture can happen when you put too much pressure on a bone, so the bone fractures or splits. Sometimes, we think of our bones as indestructible and try to put too much weight on our bodies. This could be by lifting heavy weights or by trying to move furniture. Our bones are strong, but they are also fragile.
With a terrible break, the bone can puncture through the skin. A fracture like this is called a compound fracture. You can also suffer a stress fracture by repeating the same motion repeatedly. Repeated stress to the bones causes them to weaken in that spot, which eventually leads to a break.
What Causes a Break?
Several things can lead to a bone fracture. It could be something big, like a car accident, or something small, like tripping over a twig on the ground. Some of the main causes of bone fractures are:
- A Fall
- Trauma
- Car Accident
- Repeated Stress
- Being Hit
As we age, a minor event can cause a broken bone, especially if you have osteoporosis. Older people can break more bones when they fall, like their hips or legs.
Signs You Have a Broken Bone
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if you’ve broken a bone or not. But other times it’s obvious. Some signs to look for are:
- Joints or limbs out of place
- Swelling
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Intense Pain
- Numbness
- Bone is visible through the skin
- Unable to move the limb
What Should You Do?
If you think you may have broken a bone, go to the hospital. You may think it’s not a big deal, especially if you’ve broken your small toe or a finger. But it is a big deal and needs to be looked at immediately.
A broken bone that does not get the proper care can become dangerous. It can cause an infection. Or it can lead to a deformity. Not setting the bone means it won’t heal correctly, causing a deformity in your hand or foot, and altering how you go about your daily life. If the break is severe, you can go to the emergency room, or you can go to an urgent care center like Urgent Care Pros.
It can be challenging to tell if you have a broken bone or not. Even if you suspect it’s broken, go to the hospital. It is better to be safe than sorry. And if it’s broken and you don’t get it fixed immediately, you will suffer in the long run.
