Maybe you twist your ankle. Maybe you fall on your wrist. Perhaps your child collided with another player during a game. Initially, you convince yourself it’s “just a sprain.”
But what if it isn’t?
Some injuries look minor but may hide fractures beneath the skin. Knowing when to get an X-ray can help get the right treatment and prevent delayed healing, chronic pain, and long-term complications.
Below, Dr. Rogers Walker and Shelley Gilbert, PA-C, share the five signs you might need an X-ray here at Walker Family Care in Little River, South Carolina.
If you can’t stand, walk, or put pressure on the injured area without significant pain, that’s a red flag.
With ankle or foot injuries, especially, the inability to bear weight right after the injury (or for several steps) increases the likelihood of a fracture.
Hand and wrist fractures may make it difficult (or impossible) for you to lift with your injured limb.
Mild swelling is common with sprains and strains. Rapid swelling, significant bruising, or visible deformity may indicate a broken bone.
If the area looks misshapen or continues to swell despite rest and ice, it’s time to get evaluated.
Most minor soft tissue injuries begin improving within 48 to 72 hours.
If your pain stays the same, worsens, or feels deep and sharp with movement, an X-ray can help rule out a fracture.
A popping sound doesn’t always mean a broken bone, but it can signal something more than a simple strain.
In some cases, a pop may indicate a fracture, an avulsion injury (where a small piece of bone pulls away), or a tendon or ligament injury. Knee injuries like ACL tears are notorious for popping.
An X-ray can reveal whether a bone has cracked, shifted, or separated. Although X-rays don’t show ligaments or tendons, they help rule out fractures and determine whether additional imaging or treatment is needed.
Some of the most commonly fractured areas include the wrist (distal radius), hip (proximal femur), ankle, shoulder (proximal humerus), and hand bones (metacarpals). These bones are frequently injured during falls, sports, and everyday accidents and account for half of all fractures.
These bones are also heavily involved in everyday movements. If you can’t move a joint normally, fully straighten a limb, or rotate it without significant pain, you may need imaging.
Limited motion combined with tenderness over a specific bone increases the likelihood of a fracture rather than a simple sprain.
Waiting too long to get checked out can lead to improper healing. For example, untreated stress fractures can worsen, and untreated breaks can result in long-term instability.
At Walker Family Care, we provide on-site X-ray services for quick answers. Our team evaluates your injury, reviews your symptoms, and determines whether imaging is necessary.
If your X-ray confirms a fracture, we can stabilize the injury with a splint or brace and guide you on the next steps for healing. If X-ray confirms a sprain or a soft tissue injury, we can provide supportive wrapping, bracing, pain management guidance, and a clear recovery plan.
If you need further treatment or referral to a specialist, we help coordinate the next steps so you are not left wondering what to do.
Walk in anytime or call ahead at 843-280-8333.
