Dos and Don’ts After a Broken Bone
Accidents are a part of life, whether from playing sports, bad falls, or car accidents. Broken bones occur when trauma or pressure on a bone exceeds the bone’s ability to bend.
Healing a broken bone takes time, even after treatment. Your doctor may issue a splint or cast to help speed up the recovery process and help keep your body healthy and strong while you heal. It’s essential to get the best medical care available after a broken bone.
Dos and Don’ts After a Broken Bone
- Doseek medical attention right away. If you try to self-diagnose a broken bone, the bone could heal incorrectly, or an infection could develop – which would make the problem much worse than if you’d just had it treated adequately by a physician.
- Dofind an orthopedic clinic close to you. Time of the essence when dealing with a broken bone. Most orthopedic clinics have on-site imaging equipment and the ability to see an orthopedic (musculoskeletal) specialist immediately.
- Dotake the pain medicine your doctor prescribed or recommended. If you have a broken bone, keep in mind that you may experience some pain in the first few days.
- Doelevate the limb if there is swelling, and make sure to get a lot of rest. If there is a lot of swelling in your limb, the doctor may send you home with a splint until the swelling subsides.
- Dolet the doctor know if the cast feels too tight. If it is too tight, it can cause extremities to feel numb or turn bluish or purple. Try blowing cool air through the opening at the top of the cast from a hairdryer or a fan to relieve an itch.
- Do be patient. Your orthopedist will be there for you while you get better. Broken bones heal in their own time.
- Don’ttry to scratch an itch that’s inside the cast by sticking a pen or other object inside. If you do, you could cut the skin, which is already vulnerable due to its lack of access to normal levels of oxygen and air.
- Don’tget your cast wet in the tub or while swimming. If the cast does get wet, call your orthopedist in case you need to come in for a new one.
Speak with an Orthopedic Specialist Today
Are you suffering from a recent injury? Make an appointment with one of our orthopedic specialists today to start your healing journey. OrthoArizona has nearly two dozen offices throughout the Valley, each focused on quality care, compassion, and excellent customer service. Since 1994, OrthoArizona has been dedicated to compassionate care of the highest quality.
The advice and information contained in this article are for educational purposes only and are not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or other educational medical material.