Although the human body is built to withstand a certain degree of stress, it is not made of steel. The bone structure is designed to merely support the whole body and its regular movements. A certain ...
Although the human body is built to withstand a certain degree of stress, it is not made of steel. The bone structure is designed to merely support the whole body and its regular movements. A certain degree of stress can cause our bones to break. While most of the time bone injuries are immediately emergency situations, there are instances that a person is unaware that he has broken a bone or two already. This injury may be caused by a simple fall, a strong hit, and an overextension of a body part. Sometimes, it is hard to determine whether a bone is broken or not. To admonish proper care of the injury, one must can know whether a bone is broken or not through the following symptoms.
Symptoms of a Broken Bone
Severe Pain with Movement ?This is the most common symptom of a broken bone. There are times that the pain is not present at the time of impact due to shock and adrenaline. The pain may gradually be felt as the situation gets calmer. If pain has developed overnight or after a few hours after an impact, it may be a broken bone.
Swelling and Bruising ?A swollen skin might mean a muscle or tissue injury, but it could also be a bone fracture. If a bruise or a swelling develops in a body part that is recently hit, chances are it is a bone injury especially if it really hurts. This symptom could also be absent during the time of impact.
Deformed bone ?If a finger bone is out of its regular position, then it is obviously a fracture. It could be a dislocated elbow or wrist that needs immediate medical attention.
Bone Fracture First Aid
牋 1. Do not let the victim move its broken bone. Whether it is a hand or foot fracture, make the victim lay still on a stationary position.
牋 2. Apply an ice pack to the fracture. This will reduce pain and decrease swelling on the injured part.
牋 3. Seek medical assistance immediately. Call an ambulance or rush the victim to the nearest hospital.
牋 4. Do not attempt to reconnect the broken bone by yourself. There is no sense in putting back a broken bone or try to treat the victim. This could seriously worsen his condition by further injury or by infection.
Maintenance and Follow Up
In the case of surgery, make sure that it would be administered by a credible orthopedic surgeon. After the surgery, encourage the victim to be patient and have a positive outlook on getting better. Regular check-ups and rehabilitation is required to injuries that have caused inability of movement. When fully healed, avoid any situation that might cause the injury to recur.
But as they always say, prevention is better than cure. Avoid all circumstances that might pose a big risk of injury. If it is inevitable, always wear protective gear. Being alert, conscious, and aware of the possibility of an injury from a certain activity will help you be careful in engaging, or even get away from it.