Do You Have a Broken Bone?
A broken bone is not always obvious. Some people imagine that every broken bone begins to extrude from the body. Although this is true of compound fractures, most breaks are not visible. Instead, you will need to rely on other symptoms to figure out if you should go to the doctor.
Have You Suffered a Traumatic Blow to the Body?
Bones break when too much force is applied to them. Anything that gives a traumatic blow to your body could break one or more bones. At Earnhart Law, many of our clients break bones in the following:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Slip and falls
- Trip and falls
- Workplace injuries, such as falling to a different level
- Boat accidents
- Dog bites
Do You Experience These Symptoms?
Bone fractures cause certain symptoms that should put you on alert that you have suffered a break. Many of these symptoms are also found with other injuries, such as sprains or strains, so it is not 100% certain that you have suffered a break. Nevertheless, these symptoms should inspire you to go to a doctor for an evaluation.
When a bone is broken, people will experience the following:
- A constant dull ache in the area where the bone is broken
- Sharp pain when moving the affected limb
- Bruising
- Swelling around the affected area
How Will a Doctor Diagnose and Treat a Break?
If you have suffered an accident and experience pain or swelling, you should head to the doctor’s office. It is vital that you properly treat a broken bone promptly. If you don’t, then the bone could fuse back together in a deformed way, rendering mobility difficult.
Your doctor will probably order an x-ray to see if a bone is broken. Because x-rays often fail to diagnose a fracture in certain parts of the body (such as the wrist), your doctor might order additional tests, such as a bone scan, CT scan, or an MRI to check whether the bone is broken.
Once the doctor diagnoses a break, he or she will position the bone in place so that it can heal properly. Depending on the break, you might require surgery and the insertion of screws, pins, or plates to hold the bone in place. Severe breaks can also damage the surrounding soft tissue, such as ligaments or tendons, which might also need surgical repair.
Your bones also need to be immobilized, usually with a cast or a splint which can stay on for weeks or months. Your doctor might also prescribe painkillers to help you cope with the pain as the bone heals.
Speak to Earnhart Law Today
Broken bones are not minor injuries. Instead, they can cause considerable pain and leave victims unable to work for months as they struggle to recover.
If you have broken a bone in an accident, you might be able to hold another party responsible for your injury. At Earnhart Law, we have provided caring legal guidance for 30 years, and we are eager to help you, too. Call us today to schedule your free initial consultation, 561-265-2220.
