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Sprains, Strains & Possible Fractures

You rolled an ankle or jammed a wrist breaking a fall. It's swelling, it hurts — is it broken? That question is exactly what urgent care X-ray exists to answer, same-day, without an ER bill.

First aid first

Rest, ice, compression, elevation — the classic protocol — controls swelling in the first 48 hours regardless of diagnosis. Avoid bearing weight on a joint that can't take four steps.

X-ray-worthy signs

Inability to bear weight, bony tenderness at injury sites, rapid severe swelling, or any visible deformity warrant imaging. Urgent care can X-ray, splint simple fractures, and refer to orthopedics — the complete pathway for the large majority of limb injuries.

Straight-to-ER injuries

Bones visibly out of place, breaks through the skin, numbness or coldness below the injury, and high-energy mechanisms (car crashes, significant falls) are emergency cases.

Go to the ER instead if you have:

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General health-services information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.