Athlete, Heal Thyself

The worst thing about most sports injuries is wasting time in hospital waiting rooms. "Guys often come to the ER in search of a magic bullet," says ER physician Travis Stork, M.D. "But many injuries are minor enough that you're discharged a few hours later with nothing more than a few pricey anti-inflammatory pills and a bruised ego." Treat these five common sports slowdowns yourself.

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1. Jammed finger

This injury results in a bruised, swollen finger. "It can actually break a bone or tear a tendon," says Jeffrey Manko, M.D., an assistant professor of emergency medicine at New York University. "But often you have nothing more than a big bruise." If you're still able to fully flex and extend it, you can probably deal with it yourself. If you have any concerns, though, go to the ER for x-rays.

Play doc: Ice the distended digit and "buddy tape" it to a neighboring finger. After 3 or 4 days, remove the tape and begin range-of-motion exercises, such as drawing circles with your finger. Then advance to everyday motions, like typing. Continue to buddy tape it during sports as needed.

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2. Fractured rib

A body blow that brings on a sharp pain in your rib cage might have broken a rib or two. If you have difficulty breathing, pee blood, are unable to take deep breaths without severe discomfort, or if you experience lower-abdominal pain, head to an ER to check for a punctured lung. Otherwise, head home to recover.

Play doc: Apply ice and consider this pain-fighting regimen: four 200 mg ibuprofen tablets every 8 hours, or two 220 mg Aleve twice a day. Add two 500 mg Tylenol every 6 to 8 hours if needed. The drugs may act synergistically for better pain control, says Warne Fitch, M.D., an assistant professor of emergency medicine and orthopedics at Vanderbilt University.

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3. Bloody nose

Catching an elbow to the face in basketball may make you see red in more ways than one. "True gushers, or posterior nosebleeds, warrant a trip to an ER," Dr. Stork says. But front bleeders—anterior nosebleeds—require just a steady hand to seal them off. If you can't stop the bleeding or feel light-headed or dizzy, go to the ER.

Play doc: Firmly pinch the soft part just below the bridge of your nose for 10 minutes. Don't pause to check your progress; this can interrupt the clotting process. Don't tip your head back—you'll only choke and swallow the blood. Avoid blowing your nose (or sticking your finger in there) for the next few days, until the busted vessels have healed.

4. Road rash

Wiping out on your Trek can leave you with all sorts of oozing ugliness. But superficial road rash is nothing more than a glorified scrape. As long as your appendages seem to be working fine, the wounds aren't deep, and there are no other sources of pain, treat yourself.

Play doc: Use a syringe to irrigate the wound and remove debris, and thoroughly cleanse the area with soap and water—and nothing more. "Hydrogen peroxide is an indiscriminate killer," says Dr. Manko. "It will destroy good tissue that's key to the healing process." (Road dust may contain tetanus bacteria, so make sure you're up to date on your shots.) Apply antibacterial ointment, and then wrap the wound in nonadherent gauze.
5. Black eye

If there's severe bruising and swelling around your eye but your vision is not affected and there's no visible deformity to the bones surrounding your eye, you can probably steer clear of the ER. If you're worried about an underlying head injury, that's another story. Have it checked out.

Play doc: For 24 to 48 hours, apply a cold pack for 10 to 15 minutes every hour you're awake. You can minimize swelling by keeping your head elevated above heart level. If you take a painkiller, stick with Tylenol. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) can increase bleeding into the bruise, Dr. Manko says. The bruising will typically subside within a week or two.

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