SPRAIN/STRAIN

Sprains and strains vary in severity. Signs and symptoms depend on the severity of the injury.

Sprains
Sprains can cause rapid swelling. Generally, the greater the pain and swelling, the more severe the injury.

• Mild. Your ligament stretches excessively or tears slightly. The area is somewhat painful, especially with movement. It's tender. There's not a lot of swelling. You can put weight on the joint.
  
   

• Moderate. The fibers in your ligament tear, but they don't rupture completely. The joint is tender, painful and difficult to move. The area is swollen and may be discolored from bleeding in the area. You may feel unsteady when you try to bear weight on your leg.
  
   

• Severe. One or more ligaments tear completely. The area is painful. You can't move your joint normally or put weight on it. If you try to walk, your leg feels as if it will give way. The joint becomes very swollen and also can be discolored. The injury may be difficult to distinguish from a fracture or dislocation, which requires medical care. You may need a brace to stabilize the joint or surgical repair in certain ligament injuries.
  
   

Strains
Depending on the severity of the strain, signs and symptoms may include:

• Mild. Pain and stiffness that occur with movement and may last a few days.
  
   

• Moderate. Partial muscle tears result in more extensive pain, swelling and bruising. The pain may last one to three weeks.
  
   

• Severe. The muscle is torn apart or ruptured. You may have significant bleeding, swelling and bruising around the muscle. Your muscle may not function at all, and you may need surgical repair if the muscle has torn away completely from the bone.

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