When you read through lists of possible injuries you can suffer in an accident, sprains and strains are inevitably part of the list. Sometimes, they are listed together, but this does not mean they are the same type of injury. Sprains and strains, though they can occur simultaneously, are two distinct injuries that can have different repercussions for an accident victim.
Take the time to learn about the differences between sprains and strains, how to treat them, and how to take steps to reduce your chance of suffering these kinds of injury. If you do suffer from a sprain, strain, or another type of injury in an accident that could have been prevented if another party had taken greater care to protect others from harm, you could have grounds for a personal injury. You may be able to file a claim to seek compensation for your damages, such as your medical bills, your lost wages due to spending time out of work to recover, and your pain and suffering damages associated with the injury.
Sprains
A sprain is a stretch or tear to a ligament. Ligaments are the fibrous tissues that connect the bones and joints. Often, accident victims suffer sprained wrists or ankles. This type of injury is fairly common in falls and accidents that twist the affected area of the body.
Sprains can cause the victim to feel pain in the affected area and a loss of movement. The victim may experience bruising or swelling at the point of injury as well. Treatment for sprains includes rest and icing the affected area of the body. For some individuals, using a decompression bandage can reduce the pain and swelling of a sprain. In some cases, sprain victims need physical therapy to recover use of the sprained area.
Strains
Strains are tears and stretches to muscles and tendons. Tendons are the tissues that connect muscles to bones. When an individual falls or twists, he or she can suffer a strain to one or more tendons in his or her body. Symptoms of strains include pain in the affected area, difficulty moving the strained muscle, muscle spasms, and swelling at the point of injury.
Treating a strain can often be done at home with rest and icing the affected area. In certain cases, though, surgery is necessary to repair the damaged muscle or tendon. In less severe cases, a doctor may use a splint or brace to prevent the victim from moving the affected area, which facilitates healing.
Work with an Experienced La Crosse Personal Injury Lawyer
If you are suffering from financial damages after being injured in a preventable accident, you could be entitled to recover compensation for those damages through a personal injury claim. To learn more about the compensation you are entitled to receive and how to move forward with a legal claim to seek it, speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Contact our team at Moen Sheehan Meyer, Ltd. to schedule your initial consultation in our office.