Sprain or Strain: A Guide to Recognizing Your Pain (Part 1)

Pain in any body part can cause worry, but an even bigger headache can stem out of not knowing what caused it. Is your pain a result of a ligament sprain or a muscle strain, and more importantly, what are the differences? The best way to get the most out of your treatment is to correctly identify the injury. The good news is that Total Pain Care has the information you’ve been looking for.

Spotting a Sprain

Have you fallen and landed on your arm or on the side of your foot? Or maybe you twisted your knee while out on your morning run? Chances are the resulting pain is a sign of a sprain. Sprains occur when the ligament that connects two or more bones at the joint is stretched or torn. This type of injury commonly occurs in the ankle but can also affect the wrists or thumbs due to sports or other physical activities.

Sprains can be mild, moderate or severe. One of the most common signs of this injury is a popping sensation in the affected area, but other symptoms can occur. These include:

  • Pain in the affected area
  • Swelling
  • Inability to move or use the injured joint
  • Bruising

Trust in Total Pain Care

You don’t have to deal with the pain and discomfort of a sprain on your own. Take the first step towards relieving your joint pain with Total Pain Care of New Jersey. Our board-certified pain management specialists will thoroughly evaluate your injury to give you the care you need at the pace you are comfortable with.

Category: News

  1. Ronald Amaya, PA-C is a Physician Assistant. He attended Weill Cornell Medical College and received his physician assistant degree in NYC. He has 18 years of experience in cardiothoracic surgery and over 8 years in pain management. Dr. Amaya is NCCPA board-certified in medicine and surgery.

    Full Bio

  2. Paulette Scott, MD is a pain management specialist. Dr. Scott is also the pain management representative at East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, Boston. She fulfilled her physical medicine and rehabilitation residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and completed her fellowship in pain management at Harvard Square Clinic. Dr. Scott is board-certified in physical medicine, rehabilitation, and pain management.

    Full Bio

    New Jersey Top Doctors
  3. Andrew D. Bunn, MD is a pain management specialist. Dr. Bunn also serves as the co-director of East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, as well as the Program Director for Lahey Hospital & Medical Center and Newborn Services | MassGeneral Hospital for Children. After earning his medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine, he completed his anesthesia residency at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania where he also completed his fellowship in pain management. He is board-certified in both anesthesiology and pain management.

    Full Bio

    New Jersey Top Doctors
  4. David D. Ford, MD is the Director of Pain Management. Dr. Ford earned a medical degree and completed his residencies in both surgery and anesthesiology. He joined the staff of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates Watertown in 1990. He is board-certified in both anesthesiology and pain management. Dr. Ford specializes in painful disorders of the spine and sports-related injuries. He has initiated the use of advanced interventional techniques for the successful treatment of these and other conditions.

    Full Bio

    New Jersey Top Doctors