Inability to move your arm or leg after an injury

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Inability to move your arm or leg after an injury

You may have trouble using your arm or leg after an injury. It may hurt when you move or you may not be able to move it as well as you normally do because of swelling. Home treatment may be all that is needed for a minor injury.

If your arm or leg is not stable or you can't use it normally, you may have damaged ligaments and tendons or have broken or dislocated a bone. An injured ankle or knee may not support your weight or may "buckle" when you try to walk on it. You may not be able to raise or straighten your injured arm. Trying to move the joint may cause severe pain. A child will protect or refuse to use an arm or leg that has been significantly injured.

You may have nerve damage, a ruptured muscle, or a torn tendon if you can not move or bend a joint. Loss of function that is not caused by pain requires prompt medical treatment.

Splinting or using a sling may be a good short-term treatment for painful injuries and will help keep an injured arm or leg from moving. This may help prevent further injury until you can see your doctor. Place a pillow under the injured area to protect it from hard surfaces.

Credits

Last updated:	July 28, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer