Bone dislocations and fractures feature among the most common medical ailments, among people from all over the world. While most bone fractures get cured within 3-4 weeks, not following certain basic treatment procedures can prolong the agony. In case of serious hip fractures and other joint problems, permanent deformities can also be an offshoot of such negligence / ignorance. Over here, we will list out 10 steps for getting your fractured / dislocated bone (s) quickly healed, and in the proper manner:
a. Consult an orthopedic doctor as soon as possible – If you have taken a heavy fall, or been in an accident – and have been feeling acute pains in bone joints (coupled with a loss of mobility in the concerned limb) since, get in touch with an orthopedic expert immediately. Get the radiology tests, as recommended by him / her, done. A proper diagnosis is of essence, for pursuing the right course of treatment.
b. Keep the affected area protected – If you have suffered a wrist, arm, ankle, or shinbone fracture, keeping the reset bones plastered for at least a couple of weeks is important. However, things can get a bit tricky, if there is a hip or an acetabular fraction. In most of such cases, advanced treatment would be necessary.
c. Prepare yourself for surgery – In case you have a fracture in your shoulder, hip, or knee joint, a replacement surgery would probably be necessary. A pelvic fraction also generally requires corrective operational procedures. Prepare yourself mentally for the surgical process. Make the requisite financial arrangements too – and request the surgeon to use artificial joints of the finest quality.
d. Manage your diet – During the bone-healing process, following a healthy diet routine is practically imperative. Ask your doctor about the level of strengthening proteins, vitamins, and other necessary nutritional supplements that should feature in your meals. Have plenty of fluids too. Stay away from fizzy drinks.
e. Keep an eye out for post-operative inflammations – Complications can arise, even after the successful completion of a bone surgical process. While inflammations and swellings can occur soon after knee or hip replacements, you may experience sharp pains, within a few days after a pelvic fracture surgery. Do not pop strong OTC painkillers on your own, and seek medical help as quickly as possible.
f. Go for regular checks – There is a specific time-frame for the complete healing of most health ailments, and bone fractures are no exceptions to this. Fix appointments with the doctor who had supervised the surgery / joint replacement, and go for regular checkup sessions during this period. This will give the orthopedic expert the opportunity to find out while the healing process is going well.
g. Do not smoke or drink – Affinity to cigarettes and alcoholic beverages is harmful for your bone structure in general – but during the fracture-healing period, they are an absolute 'no-no'. Have chewing gums (preferably of a medically approved variety), which you can take, every time you feel the craving to have a puff.
h. Ask about extra protection for the tender, healing bones – If there has been a femur / hip fraction, doctors often recommend patients to wear a medical belt – to ensure that the reset bone (s) do not get removed again. Such additional protection can also be necessary during the couple of weeks after a pelvic or acetabular surgery. Please ask your doctor about this issue, and don the protective gear that (s) he suggests (if any).
i. Start exercising the affected area / limb – After a few days of the plastering / joint replacement procedure, you need to start gently moving the concerned limb. For instance, if you have an arm fraction, you will be advised to move your hand up and down a certain number of times every day. There can be cases of severe mobility injury after a knee or hip replacement surgery – and if you are experiencing any such problems, inform the orthopedic expert immediately about the same.
j. Resume your daily chores only when you feel fully fit again – No matter how busy your daily routine might be, never compromise on the required amount of rest, during the bone healing phase. If you have an underlying knee, shoulder, or hip replacements – trying to get back to normal life too soon can result in further, even more serious accidents. Even for relatively smaller fractures in the arm or the acetabular area, you need to keep the affected bone / joint nice and relaxed, until the fracture is diagnosed to be completely healed.
With the evolution of medical treatment methods, treating even very serious forms of acetabular, hip, and pelvic fractures is now possible in India, easily. All that you need to do is to contact a reputed, reliable orthopedic surgeon, and follow the health guidelines mentioned above. Once you do so, you can be confident of regaining complete fitness, in the matter of a few weeks!