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Sprains and Strains

When to see a doctor

By , About.com Guide

Updated November 05, 2010

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Do I need to see a doctor for my sprain or strain?
The National Institutes of Health offers the following guidelines for information about when to see a doctor for a sprain:

  • You have severe pain and cannot put any weight on the injured joint.

  • The area over the injured joint or next to it is very tender when you touch it.

  • The injured area looks crooked or has lumps and bumps (other than swelling) that you do not see on the uninjured joint.

  • You cannot move the injured joint.

  • You cannot walk more than four steps without significant pain.

  • Your limb buckles or gives way when you try to use the joint.

  • You have numbness in any part of the injured area.

  • You see redness or red streaks spreading out from the injury.

  • You injure an area that has been injured several times before.

  • You have pain, swelling, or redness over a bony part of your foot.

  • You are in doubt about the seriousness of the injury or how to care for it.

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  6. Sprains and Strains - When Do I Need To See A Doctor?

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