An injury is any damage or harm to your body caused by an accident, hit, fall, weapon, and more. Every year, millions of people injure themselves in the United States. These injuries can be minor or major/life-threatening. Injuries can happen both indoors and outdoors, at work, during sports play, or while driving a car.
Pain and discomfort associated with injuries can compromise your quality of life, mobility, and function. Different injuries affect your body differently. Minor injuries can heal themselves, but it’s important to clean and treat them correctly. Serious injuries require a visit to urgent care. Similarly, a deep wound that is not healing or stopping bleeding also demands urgent care.
Let’s take a look at some common types of injuries and how they affect your body.
Bruises
A bruise or muscle contusion can result when you fall or hit a hard surface or piece of equipment. During the formation of a bruise, muscle fibers and connective tissues are crushed and blood vessels are torn, resulting in a bluish appearance. Minor bruises heal on their own, but severe bruises can cause extensive damage, requiring urgent care.
Sprains
A fall can tear or stretch your ligament – a band of connective tissues that joins the end of one bone with another – and cause a sprain. A sprain ranges from a minimally stretched ligament (first-degree sprain) to a complete ligament tear (third-degree sprain). Having a sprained ankle, knee, or wrist demands urgent care quickly.
Strains
Over-stretching or over-contraction can result in a strain. A strain occurs when you pull, twist, or tear a muscle or tendon. A strain manifests itself in the form of muscle spasms, pain, and loss of strength. If you are not treated professionally, a strain can cause further tissue damage or loss of muscle function.
Burns
Excessive exposure to heat, chemicals, sunlight, or radiation can damage your skin and cause burns. Minor burns result in swelling, blistering, and scarring, while severe burns can cause shock or death. When a burn occurs, your body’s outer protective layer gets damaged, which makes you more vulnerable to infection. Visiting urgent care can reduce pain associated with burns and the risk of infection.
Fractures
A break in a bone is called a fracture. Fractures can happen because of falls, car accidents, or sports injuries. If you suffer from osteoarthritis or have low bone density, your bones are more vulnerable to fractures. You can experience intense pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, and deformity at the site of the fracture. For any fracture, you need urgent care right away.
Animal Bites
Usually, wild animals don’t attack unless they feel threatened or are protecting their territory or young ones. A wild animal can bite you and cause deep wounds. These bites are not always life-threatening, but you can develop a severe problem if the wound becomes infected. If an animal bites you, you should immediately contact urgent care to avoid further complications.
Urgent Care for Sports Injuries in Rochester, NY
If you or any family member or friend have any injury or illness that requires urgent care, visit us at Cornerstone Urgent Care Center. We know health issues don’t take a vacation; therefore, we take care of our patients every day of the year – including holidays. Our experienced medical team offers on-site diagnostic services to ensure you get a prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
If you have any questions, call us today at (585) 207-0088. You may also send us a message online if you would like more information. We look forward to providing you urgent care you deserve!
