Fractures

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The bone fracture is a crack or break in a bone. A fracture can be complete or partial. An open fracture is when the skin is pierced, while a closed fracture is when the skin is not broken. There is likely to be extreme pain and swelling and sometimes tingling or numbness around the fracture. The most common site of fractures are the wrist, ankle and hip.


Symptoms

• Out-of-place or misshapen limb or joint
• Swelling, bruising or bleeding
• Intense pain
• Numbness and tingling
• Limited mobility or inability to move a limb

Causes

• High impact of sport injuries
• Traumatic, forceful and unnatural movements
• Overuse- prolonged  long distance walking or running
• Falls
• Accidents
• Osteoporosis
• Tumors growing near the bone

Action plans

• Until the cast has set properly, avoid direct heat such as hot water bottles.
• Rest the limb as much as possible.
• Avoid any lifting or driving until the fracture has healed.
• If the skin under the cast is itchy, don’t poke anything between the cast and limb. Instead, use a hairdryer to blow cool air into the cast.
• Don’t get cast wet, as wet plaster becomes soft and does not provide the necessary support.When showering, wrap the cast in a plastic bag and tape it directly to your skin, to keep the area watertight.
• If presence of swelling, blueness or loss of movement of the fingers or toes, pins and needles, numbness or increased pain, do visit doctor immediately.
• Take fresh pineaaple which contains bromelain as anti-inflammatory effects.
• Take a bone-supportive supplement containing magnesium,calcium,boron,zinc,vitamins A,D and K.
• Take glucosamine sulphate as presence of anti-inflammatory properties and stimulates repairing of joints.
• Take vitamin c as it is important for bone health and repair
• Avoid soft drinks, red meats, tea, coffee, alcohol, processed foods. These can all act as anti-nutrient for bone healing.