Bone fractures are common, affecting over 6 million Americans annually. The fracture can occur due to an accident, injury, or medical conditions like osteoporosis. This situation requires immediate medical attention, and the fractures East Brunswick specialists are ready to help. The recovery process is not simple, but you can recover quickly and get back to your quality of life with the proper care. You can streamline your recovery by combining rest, following your doctor’s advice, immobilizing your affected part, and making healthy lifestyle changes. Here are some fracture coping tips for you.
Allow Your Fracture to Heal
Your body requires time to rebuild itself and generate new bone structures. Therefore, understand that you might need about 6-12 weeks to recover from a fracture injury.
Your bone undergoes three stages when healing, including inflammation, bone production, and bone remodeling. Your body will take time to provide the bone structure and stability for bone regrowth. Your bone will continue to form for several months or years until blood circulation returns to its pre-fracture state.
Take Your Medications Carefully
Your doctor can recommend some painkillers and other medications to minimize your discomfort. You must consult your doctor before getting over-the-counter painkillers from the local stores or the pharmacy. They will instruct you how to use the drugs, considering that some painkillers can have adverse effects when misused.
Also, pay attention when using medications and report any severe side effects to your doctor.
Immobilize Your Fracture
As you allow your fracture to heal, keeping it as immobile as possible is crucial. Depending on the fractured part of your body, minimize movements and activities, especially in the initial stages of healing, to avoid interfering with the healing process; also, prevent extreme lack of mobility to avoid slowing down the healing process.
Therefore, consult your doctor to understand the activity and movement necessary as your fracture heals to avoid abnormal healing.
Consider Surgery
Some fractures can heal with rest and reduced mobility. However, some severe injuries might require surgical intervention in addition to the therapies. Your doctor can perform a physical exam on your fracture to understand if surgery is necessary to stabilize the bone, remove bone fragments, stop blood loss, and improve range of motion.
Ensure you consult adequately about any surgical intervention to understand better what you can expect and how to prepare for the treatment.
Rest
Resting a fractured bone is not just limiting mobility. You must discuss how to relax your bone and promote healing with your doctor effectively. This includes attending to therapy consistently to prevent muscle wasting. But that depends on the severity of your injury, age, and overall health. Observe your injury site as you rest and report any signs of infections and other complications such as swelling, smelly discharge, blood clots, and nonunion or malunion of the bone. Please do not be afraid to ask for help as you recover. The fracture recovery process can be frustrating, slow, and sometimes painful, and you might need support.
If you have fractured a bone, take action fast and reach out to Mid Atlantic Orthopedic Associates, LLP specialists. You can make a call as soon as possible or book an appointment online right away.
