For absolutely no reason whatsoever – that most definitely has nothing to do with my real life this evening – I’m thinking about: “Is it broken?!
Can Google – or urban myths – help you decide if your injury is a broken bone? Let’s ‘break’ down 10 myths:
1. “If you can move it, it’s not broken” FALSE! You may be able to move a limb even if broken. Though if you can’t move it, that is definitely a concerning sign and seek medical advice from a professional.
2. “If you can walk on it, it’s not broken.” FALSE. Not necessarily. People can definitely walk on some broken bones (painfully), though if you can’t walk it, that is concerning and you should seek medical advice from a professional.
3. “You can tell it’s broken by looking at it.” FALSE. Swelling and bruising might be worse for some people than others for many reasons. A broken bone might not always look too impressive from the outside. But if there is obvious deformity, that is concerning and you should seek advice from a professional.
4. “A broken bone is the worst pain ever.” FALSE. How someone experiences pain is affected by many, many things. But if your pain is very severe, seek medical advice from a professional.
5. “If it isn’t broken, you don’t need to worry because it’s ‘just’ soft tissue.” FALSE. Some soft tissue injuries (Achilles tendon, knee ACL, wrist TFCC…) can be serious and need treatment.
6. “Never take pain killers before going to the doctor/ED/injury unit.” FALSE. It will not “mask” anything. Also do first aid while you are waiting to go: ice and elevation, as appropriate. This will make you more comfortable for waiting, exam, xrays and can even speed things up.
7. “Xray was OK so it’s fine.” MAYBE. Some injuries are straightforward. Some injuries may require repeat examination or additional imaging including a second interval xray 7-10 days later (especially in kids), or ultrasound, CT, or MRI. So if follow-up is recommended, make sure you are clear on what’s needed – ask before you leave ED/urgent care.
8. “I heard a ‘crack’ so it’s bad.” NOT ALWAYS. Joints in your body can make a cracking or pop sound when pushed beyond normal range of motion in injury. It can be caused by that same phenomenon that makes that sound when you crack your knuckles (or that one friend you know who can crack every joint as a party piece.) But again, cracks can be bad so if concerned, seek medical advice from a professional.
9. “It’s better to wait to see if it gets better first.” FALSE. (This one I suspect circulates from US where cost of healthcare is prohibitive for many.) For significant injuries, prompt diagnosis and early treatment usually lead to better patient outcomes.
10. “You’d know if you broke something.” FALSE. Not always. Sometimes, it’s just bad injury with obvious deformity and everyone can see its broken. But definitely not like that for every injury.
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