Why an X-Ray Might Be a Good Idea If You Are Injured

Maybe you collided with an opponent in your weekend soccer league or were involved in an automobile accident. You might have fallen down the stairs or had an accident at work. Whatever caused your injury, you should get checked out by a doctor. If they recommend an X-ray, you should have one. 

Our team of urgent care providers here at American River Urgent Care in Orangevale, California, treats a lot of injuries. We use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to assess your injury so we can give you customized and appropriate treatment to reduce your pain and help you heal. If we need more detail about your injury, we offer in-office X-rays to examine your bones. 

Get an accurate diagnosis

X-rays are safe, painless diagnostic tools that allow us to examine your bones for fractures, dislocations, or other injuries. Minor fractures cause pain but are often hard to identify from the outside of your body. While painful, many other injuries could be the culprit. 

With an X-ray, we can make sure we diagnose your injury correctly. For example, if we don’t find a fracture, we move on to examine your tendons, ligaments, and muscles to confirm your precise injury. 

Ignoring injuries can make them worse

If you’re injured while training or competing in a sport, you might be tempted to “walk it off.” Additionally, after an automobile collision or another type of accident, adrenaline could be surging through your body, masking pain, and other symptoms. 

Also, remember that stress fractures can also occur from repetitive pressure or strain. If you’re adding more time or intensity to your training, whether you’re getting ready for that half marathon or want to increase your competitive edge, increasing your activity levels too quickly can lead to injury. 

However, if you have a fracture, even a minor one, if you continue to walk or put pressure on your injured bone, it will get worse. We can usually treat a hairline fracture with an immobilizing device like a boot or cast, and your bone heals in 6-8 weeks. 

However, if your fracture worsens and your bone separates in a compound fracture, chances are you need surgery to repair your bone. You might end up needing months to recover and rebuild your strength. 

What to do when you’ve been injured

You should always seek urgent medical attention after an automobile accident or if you have an obvious injury. Our providers can assess your injury and start treatment before you even begin to feel pain or other symptoms. 

However, if you develop pain after a tough training session or game or have unidentified pain, you can try to rest and treat it home with ice and over-the-counter medication. If your pain gets worse or doesn’t go away after a day or so of rest, come into American River Urgent Care for an accurate diagnosis of your injury. 

Don’t ignore injuries or pain. Call us here at American River Urgent Care or make an appointment online today for expert diagnosis, including X-rays.