Whats the difference between a sprain and a strain?

And can you do either to your thumb?

Whilst pushing down, very hard, on a car tyre to see if it was flat, is how i hurt my thumb, pathetic i know but,,, today its very stiff and if you touch the topside of thumb hurts, suggestions what to do with it please.

A sprain is an injury to a ligament. Ligaments are strong tissues around joints which attach bones together. They give support to joints. A ligament can be stretched during a sudden pull. This may partly tear some of the fibres in the ligament. A strain is the equavalent injury to a muscle which causes the muscle fibres to tear as a results of overstretching.

 With any sprain, strain or bruise there is some bleeding into the underlying tissues. This may cause swelling, pain and delay healing. Ice treatment may be used in both the immediate treatment of soft tissue injuries and in later rehabilitation

During immediate treatment, the aim is to limit the body's response to injury. Ice will:

• Reduce bleeding into the tissues.
• Prevent or reduce swelling.
• Reduce muscle spasm and pain.
• Reduce pain by numbing the area and by limiting the effects of swelling which causes pain.
• Ideally, ice should be applied within 5-10 minutes of injury for 20-30 minutes

Medic Sinead at your service x