24/7 Emergency Care. Our patients are first.
A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. A strain is a stretched or torn muscle or tendon. A bruise forms when small blood vessels under the skin break after an injury. Many of these injuries improve with time and basic care. A broken bone does not fall in that same category.
Go to the ER right away if the injury causes:
Do not wait if the bruise or injury is getting more concerning instead of better.
Come in sooner if a bruise develops very painful swelling, a lump, or pain that is still significant after a few days. And after major trauma, do not assume a “bad sprain” is only a sprain — some fractures and joint injuries can look similar early on.
What each injury usually means
A sprain affects a ligament. A strain affects a muscle or tendon. A fracture is a broken bone. A bruise is bleeding under the skin after small blood vessels break. Patients often use these terms interchangeably, but medically they are not the same injury.
Not every injury needs the ER
Most sprains and strains can be managed at home at first. NHS says many get better without seeing a doctor, and Mayo Clinic notes that mild sprains can often be treated at home. That said, once the injury looks unstable, too painful, or too swollen to trust, or there is any concern for fracture, dislocation, nerve injury, or poor circulation, it needs medical evaluation.
First aid while you are deciding
For a likely minor sprain or strain, early care usually starts with rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Mayo Clinic advises icing for 15 to 20 minutes at a time and repeating every 2 to 3 hours early on. If the injury is clearly severe, skip the self-treatment experiment and get it checked.
Broken bones are the part you should not minimize
Mayo Clinic is direct: a fracture is a broken bone, and it needs medical care. If the fracture follows major trauma, has heavy bleeding, causes deformity, or breaks through the skin, that moves beyond a routine injury and into emergency territory.
Bruises are usually simple — until they are not
Most bruises improve with time, ice, and elevation. But Mayo Clinic says you should seek care for very painful swelling, a lump over the bruise, pain that continues after a few days, or frequent large unexplained bruises. For an injury page like this, the most relevant warning signs are the painful swelling and hematoma-type lump after trauma.
What Post Oak ER can do for these injuries
Post Oak ER publicly lists trauma/injury care, fractures, sports injuries, and sprains among the emergency problems it evaluates. The site also confirms on-site imaging, board-certified ER physicians, pediatric and adult care, and 24/7 access with no appointment needed. For this page, the most relevant capabilities are rapid injury evaluation and on-site X-ray-based assessment when a break is suspected.
A simple rule to remember
If it is improving, you can move it, and you are able to bear weight, it may be a minor soft-tissue injury. If it looks deformed, feels unstable, is too painful to trust, or comes with numbness, severe swelling, heavy bleeding, or inability to bear weight, get checked right away.
Whether you’re in Westchase, Midtown, or the Heights, getting to Post Oak ER is simple. We’re centrally located near major Houston routes like I‑610 and San Felipe — just a short drive from Memorial Park and River Oaks. Many patients reach us via Westheimer or Woodway Dr., depending on their neighborhood.
We accept most major insurance plans and also welcome self-pay patients with transparent, upfront pricing. Many Memorial-area patients visit us using Blue Cross, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Molina, and United Healthcare.
Yes. We’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our freestanding ER model is designed to minimize or eliminate wait times so you’re seen fast.
No. Walk in anytime. If it’s an emergency, come straight in or call ahead and we’ll be ready: 832-581-2277.
5018 San Felipe St, Houston, TX 77056 — near The Galleria/Uptown. Free, convenient parking right by the entrance.
Yes. Our board-certified emergency physicians care for all ages, including pediatric emergencies.
Chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache/migraine, abdominal pain, injuries and fractures, cuts requiring stitches, high fever, dehydration, allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and more. If you believe it’s life-threatening, call 911.
Yes. We offer on-site CT scans, digital X-rays, and a full laboratory, so most tests and results are done during your visit.
Absolutely. We routinely see patients from Uptown, The Galleria, River Oaks, Tanglewood, and Memorial.
A photo ID, insurance card (if available), a list of medications/allergies, and any recent medical records you have.
We accept most major private insurance plans. Coverage varies by plan; our team will help verify benefits and discuss any out-of-pocket costs. Questions? Call 832-581-2277.
Urgent care handles minor illnesses/injuries. ERs have advanced imaging, lab, medications, and emergency physicians for time-sensitive or severe conditions (e.g., chest pain, severe abdominal pain, serious injury, difficulty breathing).
Yes. If inpatient care or surgery is required, we coordinate a direct transfer to the appropriate hospital.
Times vary by condition and testing, but our no-wait intake and on-site diagnostics help you get answers and treatment as quickly as possible.