Fractures or fractures are common injuries in Indonesia and around the world. In fact, the average person in developed countries experiences at least 2 fractures in their lifetime. In the United States alone, nearly 7 million fractures are reported annually, and the most frequently injured body parts are the wrists and hips. Most fractures require a cast by a healthcare professional to heal properly. However, there are many things you can do to help the fracture heal.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Visiting the Hospital
Step 1. Visit a doctor immediately
If you have experienced severe trauma (a fall or a car accident) and experience severe pain – especially one accompanied by a crackling sound or swelling – visit a hospital or clinic immediately for medical attention. If your body's weight-bearing bone is injured, such as your leg or pelvis, don't put too much pressure on it. Better yet, ask someone near you for help to take you to the hospital, or call an ambulance to pick you up.
- Common signs and symptoms of a fracture include: severe pain, deformity of the bones or joints, nausea, difficulty moving, numbness or tingling, swelling, and bruising.
- X-rays, bone scans, MRIs, and CT scans will be used by the doctor to help diagnose fractures and their severity - mild compression fractures may not show up on X-rays until the swelling has worsened (up to about 1 week). X-rays are most often used to diagnose traumatic fractures.
- If your fracture is considered complicated -involving several bone fragments, there is a layer of skin punctured by the bone and/or the fracture is positioned too far away-, surgery will likely be required to correct it.
Step 2. Prepare the cast or support
Sometimes broken bones have to be put together and realigned before they can be placed in a cast. In many cases, the doctor will use a simple "reduction" technique by pulling the ends of the bone (creating traction) and manually bringing them back into position. In more complicated fractures, surgery is required and often involves the use of metal rods, hooks, or other devices to support the bone structure.
- The use of a cast or fiberglass support is the more common treatment for fractures. Most of the broken bones will be replaced more quickly if it is positioned correctly. Usually the doctor will initially place a splint, a partial support usually made of fiberglass. A full brace will usually be placed in 3-7 days after the swelling has subsided.
- Bone supports are made of a soft cushion and a hard outer layer (such as plaster, or fiberglass which is more widely used). This brace should usually be worn for 4-12 weeks, depending on which bone was broken and the severity.
- Alternatively, functional supportive supports such as rubber boots can also be used instead of hard supports, depending on the type of fracture and its location.
Step 3. Take the medicine
Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin can be a short-term solution to control pain or inflammation due to your fracture. Keep in mind that these medications may be heavy on your stomach, kidneys, and liver. So, you should not use it more than 2 weeks in a row.
- Children younger than 18 years of age should not take aspirin because it is associated with Reye's syndrome.
- Alternatively, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers such as paracetamol (Panadol). However, do not use paracetamol at the same time as NSAIDs without consulting your doctor.
- Your doctor may prescribe stronger medication while in the hospital if your pain is severe.
Part 2 of 3: Treating Fractures at Home
Step 1. Rest the injured area and apply ice
After discharge from the hospital, you will be advised to elevate the broken bone and apply ice to it, even if you are not wearing a cast or splint, to help relieve swelling and inflammation. Depending on the job and the location of the broken bone, you may need time to recover. You may also need to use crutches or a cane as a walking aid.
- Complete bed rest is inappropriate for most stable fractures because movement (even around the joint of the fractured bone) is required to stimulate blood flow and recovery.
- Ice packs should be applied for 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours for several days. After that, reduce the frequency as the swelling subsides. Never apply ice directly to the skin, but cover it with a thin towel first.
Step 2. Put some weight around it
In addition to a little movement in the joint around the fracture, applying a little weight to the area after about a week is also beneficial, especially for the weight-bearing bones of the body such as the legs and pelvis. Ask the right time to start burdening the doctor. Lack of activity and complete silence during the recovery period will trigger the loss of bone mineral, which actually interferes with the process of bone restoring its strength. A little movement and weight can pull more minerals into the bone which will make it stronger and less prone to fracture later in life.
- There are three stages of bone recovery: the reactive stage (blood clots form at both ends of the fracture), the repair stage (specialized cells begin to form the callus that holds the fracture together), and the adult bone formation stage (the bone has formed and the injured part is slowly forming). land returns to its original shape).
- The time it takes for a broken bone to heal can range from a few weeks to a few months depending on the severity and your general health. However, the pain symptoms usually subside before the bone is stable enough for normal activities.
Step 3. Take good care of the bone supports
Don't let your cast or fiberglass bandage get wet because it will become weak and no longer able to support the broken bone. If necessary, use a plastic bag to protect the bone supports while you shower. If you wear plastic compression boots (which are generally recommended for compression fractures in the sole of the foot), be sure to maintain the pressure.
- If the bony supports make your skin itchy, don't stick anything into them because a sore may form and develop into an infection. See a doctor if your bone supports are wet, cracked, or have a bad odor or discharge.
- Exercise the unsupported joints (elbows, knees, toes and hands) to promote blood circulation that carries oxygen and nutrients to the tissues.
Step 4. Drink the necessary nutrients
Bones, like any other tissue in the body, need proper nutrition in order to recover properly. Eating foods rich in vitamins and minerals has been shown to help heal fractures. Try to eat fresh foods, whole grains, lean meats, and drink lots of pure water and milk.
- Minerals such as calcium and magnesium are essential for strong bones. Foods rich in both include: dairy products, tofu, beans, broccoli, whole grains, sardines and salmon.
- Avoid foods that can hinder your recovery process such as alcohol, soda pop, fast food, and foods high in sugar.
Step 5. Consider taking supplements
While essential nutrients should be obtained from a balanced diet, taking vitamin and mineral supplements that are essential for bone healing will ensure that you get all the nutrients you need without increasing your caloric intake. A higher calorie intake and lower activity level will lead to weight gain, and this is not a healthy effect once your bones have healed.
- Calcium, phosphorus and magnesium are the main minerals in bones, so look for supplements that contain all three. For example, adults need 1,000-1,2000 mg of calcium daily (depending on age and gender), but you may need even more because of a fracture. So, consult your doctor or nutritionist.
- Important trace minerals include: zinc, iron, boron, copper, and silicon.
- Important vitamins include: vitamin D and vitamin K. Vitamin D is important for the absorption of minerals in the intestines, your skin produces these vitamins as a natural response to sunlight. Vitamin K binds calcium with bones and stimulates collagen formation which aids healing.
Part 3 of 3: Undergoing Rehabilitation Therapy
Step 1. Consider physiotherapy
After the bone supports are removed, you may feel that the muscles around the broken bone appear to be constricted and weak. If so, you should consider undergoing rehabilitation therapy. A physical therapist can provide specific stretching, mobilization and strengthening exercises for you. Physiotherapy usually requires 2-3 training sessions every week for 4-8 weeks until the results are felt by the patient with fractures. Often, a physical therapist can train you at home, and you don't have to go back to the clinic over and over again.
- If needed, a physical therapist can stimulate, tense, and strengthen weak muscles with electrotherapy, such as electronic muscle stimulation.
- Even after the bone supports are removed, you should still limit your activities until the bone is solid enough for normal activities.
Step 2. Visit a chiropractor or osteopath
Chiropractors and osteopaths are muscle and bone specialists who focus on restoring normal movement and function of joints, muscles, and bones. Manual joint manipulation, also known as "adjustment" can be used to open or reposition a joint that is wrong or stiff due to trauma causing a fracture. Healthy joints allow bones to move and heal properly.
- You can often hear a "crackling" sound as the therapist makes adjustments. However, this sound was not the same as the crackling of a broken bone.
- While a single adjustment can sometimes restore complete joint mobility, it often takes 3-5 treatment sessions for results to begin.
Step 3. Try acupuncture
Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific energy points on the skin's surface or within muscles to reduce pain and inflammation (beneficial in the acute phase of fractures), as well as stimulate healing. Acupuncture is not a commonly recommended treatment for fractures, and should only be considered as a second option. However, some people find it beneficial to stimulate healing of various types of muscle and bone injuries. You can try this therapy if the cost allows.
- Based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture will relieve pain and inflammation by releasing various compounds including endorphins and serotonin.
- In Chinese medicine it is also stated that acupuncture can stimulate the flow of energy or chi which may be the key to stimulating healing.
- Acupuncture is practiced by a variety of health professionals, as well as several doctors, chiropractors, naturopaths, physical therapists and massage therapists. Whoever the acupuncture therapist you choose, make sure they have official certificates and permits.
Tips
- Always stick to a schedule of follow-up checks with your doctor to make sure your bones are recovering well. Also, always let your doctor know if you have any concerns during your recovery.
- Don't smoke because it's been proven that smokers have a harder time recovering from fractures.
- Osteoporosis (brittle bones) greatly increases the risk of fractures in the limbs, pelvis, and spine.
- Reduce repetitive motions as they can tire the muscles and increase the load on the bones, and lead to compression fractures.
