Call 911 right away if:
- The limb is bent the wrong way, a bone is poking through the skin, or the area below the injury is cold, blue, or numb
A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament (the bands that hold a joint together). A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. Both cause pain, swelling, and sometimes bruising.
What to do (R.I.C.E.)
- Rest the injured area. Avoid putting weight on it for the first day or two if it hurts.
- Ice it as soon as you can. Use an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a thin towel. Ice for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day, for the first 2 days. Never put ice right on the skin.
- Compress it with an elastic bandage. Wrap it snug but not tight. Loosen it if the area below goes numb, tingles, turns pale, or swells more.
- Elevate it. Keep the injured area raised above the level of your heart when you can, such as on pillows.
- Ease pain with an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed. Follow the package directions.
- Start moving gently as the pain and swelling get better. Most mild sprains improve within a few weeks.
Avoid
- For the first couple of days, avoid heat, alcohol, and massage on the area. They can increase swelling.
- Don’t return to sports or hard activity until you can move the joint without pain.
See a doctor or go to urgent care if:
- You can’t put weight on the leg or use the joint, or it feels loose or unstable
- There is pain right over a bone, or you heard a pop or crack when it happened
- Swelling or bruising is severe
- Redness or red streaks spread from the area (possible infection)
- It isn’t getting better after 2 or 3 days