Recognizing Broken Bone Symptoms | UrgentMED

Broken bones may have a lot of causes, ranging from a hard one-time impact, lots of smaller impacts causing a stress fracture (such as what runners can experience), or a rolling or twisting motion that applies more pressure than the bone can take. A weakening of the bones, such as from osteoporosis, can also lead to fractures. But what are the symptoms of a broken bone?

A broken or fractured bone is considered a medical emergency and needs medical attention as soon as possible, so if you think you may have broken a bone, head to Venice Urgent Care right away.

Symptoms of a Broken Bone

Do you think you may have a broken bone? Believe it or not, sometimes it’s not as obvious to determine as you might think. If you’re not sure, here are a few symptoms  of a broken bone to look out for:

Popping or Cracking Sounds – Some people report being able to hear the break happening. While abnormal sounds alone don’t guarantee that a bone has broken, they often warrant a trip to an urgent care or walk-in clinic, like our clinics in Venice and Long Beach.

Deformity – Some broken bones will stick out or be situated under the skin at angles they shouldn’t be, making it perfectly obvious they’re broken.

Bone Protrusion – If the broken bone is protruding through the skin, this is known as an open or compound fracture. Compound fractures are severe and require immediate medical attention.

Loss of Mobility – If you can’t say where any of them are broken, wiggle your fingers or toes. If doing so happens to be difficult or painful, you may have a break above that point.

Intense Pain – Breaks are painful, especially under pressure. If you’re experiencing a lot of intense pain, especially when the injured area is moved or put under pressure, you may have a fracture or break.

Numbness or Tingling – Sometimes an area that has suffered a broken bone will go numb or develop a tingling sensation. If this happens, get to an urgent care clinic as soon as possible.

Swelling or Bruising – Swelling or bruising around the spot of injury can also indicate a break.

Five Most Frequently Broken Bones

So which bones are the most common to break? Here are the five most common types of breaks.

Arm – Fully half of broken bones in adults occur in the arms, often when reaching out to stop or cushion a fall.

Clavicle – The clavicle, or collarbone, is another commonly broken bone. Because it’s long and thin, it can break easily if placed under pressure or duress, usually in the middle.

Wrist – The wrist is another common place to break a bone, especially on the side closest to your thumb. As with broken arms, this often happens when people reach out to catch themselves when falling.

Ankle – The ankle is another common area to break bones, usually by rolling or twisting the ankle, especially when wearing shoes that do not support the ankles.

Foot or Toe – You can break your toe or foot by tripping, dropping something on it, or even by repetitive stress that occurs with jogging, hiking, or other sports activities.

What to Do if You Think You Broke a Bone

A fractured bone requires prompt medical attention, as ignoring it can have serious consequences. For instance, even something as a broken toe or a slightly broken foot can cause lifelong chronic pain and arthritis if it doesn’t heal properly. Broken bones left unattended are unlikely to heal back to their normal shape and position. Walk-in clinic specialists can help set, cast, and splint a broken bone and can provide information on how to ensure the break heals as quickly as possible so that you can get back to daily life.

Let UrgentMED Take Care of Your Broken Bone

If you think you may have a broken bone, it’s important not to wait. Visit one of our 18 convenient locations in the UrgentMED and we’ll diagnose the issue. If it is a break or fracture, we can get it set properly right away so it heals correctly. Come into a location near you today. We offer free parking and are open every day of the year.

symptoms of a broken bone

Nerve injury after fracture or dislocation

Nerves travel in close proximity to the bones and joints. A fracture or dislocation could thus potentially damage a nerve, in addition to the bony injury. As the fracture or dislocation itself is a painful and distressing injury, the presence of a nerve injury may not be recognised immediately.

What are the potential signs of nerve injuries?

• Severe, excruciating, shooting pain which feels like electric shock
• Tingling and/or altered sensation in the injured limb
• Weakness or loss of motor power
• Dry and red skin due to interruption of sympathetic functions
• Tinel’s sign (gently tapping the nerve causes electric shock sensation)
• Laceration or open wound over or near the course of a nerve
• Vascular injury or loss of pulse (as nerve injury can be associated) 

Some Common Examples

Principles of Management (For the Treating Surgeon)

• If a nerve injury is present with an unstable fracture or dislocation, the urgent priority (after life-saving interventions) is reduction and stabilisation of the skeleton.
• When internal fixation of a fracture associated with a nerve injury is performed, in general, the nerve must be explored.
• In high-energy injury, the risk of nerve rupture and thus the need for early repair will be high. Exploration would allow the continuity of the nerve to be established.

British Orthopaedic Association has published useful guidelines with practical advice on the management of peripheral nerve injury. 

BOAST 5: Peripheral Nerve Injury

The Management of Nerve Injuries (The Blue Book) BOA 2011

Why do bones break due to weather and pressure, how is osteoporosis treated – June 1, 2021

1

Are all bones the same?

No, there are two main types of bone tissue: cancellous and compact bone. Different bones are made up of different types of tissue.

— For example, long bones — thigh, lower leg, forearm, shoulder — are covered with compact tissue on the outside, they have spongy bone tissue inside, — says Anastasia Sarapulova, rheumatologist at the New Hospital Center for Clinical Rheumatology, Candidate of Medical Sciences. – Bones such as the pelvic bones or the spine are mostly compact bone tissue because they carry a lot of load and have to support a lot of weight.

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2

Do bones differ from person to person?

On average, bone tissue takes up from three to five percent of a person’s weight, in men the bones are heavier than in women. Alexey Bazhenov, a traumatologist at the UMMC-Health clinic, says that everything depends on the constitution of a person.

– Hypersthenics usually have dense, wide, heavy bones, as the people say. It has a thicker cortical layer and is more resistant to mechanical factors,” explains the traumatologist. – If we talk about people with asthenic physique, then their bones, of course, are less strong. But if we are not talking about injuries, then any bone that is present in a healthy person in the body is definitely capable of carrying the weight of the body of the person to whom this bone belongs.

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3

How does age affect bones?

Bone density changes with age. Three main periods can be distinguished. The first, when bone density gradually increases, is childhood and adolescence. During this period, the cells that are responsible for building bone work harder than the cells that break down bone. The second stage is from about 25 years to 50–60 years: during this period, the amount of bone tissue formed is equal to the amount of destroyed bone tissue and equilibrium takes place. After 50-60 years (for men a little later than for women) – the stage when the destruction of bone tissue is stronger compared to its formation. At this point, osteoporosis can develop, which is manifested by increased bone fragility.

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4

Why do bones hurt?

Feeling of aching bones is a rather non-specific sign that can indicate a large number of symptoms.

– There may be several reasons. You should always think about some diseases, including bone tissue, explains Sarapulova. – It can be tumors, it can be pain due to some viral infections, the same COVID-19 has such a symptom as pain in the bones, joints and muscles. And finally, it can be pain associated with a change in the weather.

The traumatologist says that the bone tissue is very rich in receptors, signaling devices that react to the surrounding atmospheric pressure and can give a feeling of aching in the bones. More often, bones on which there was a fracture react to changes in atmospheric pressure. Also, aching bones can be from a lack of calcium – when it is low, bone density decreases. And if the bone density is below normal, then, loading your legs with body weight, a person may experience pain. Bazhenov says that first of all, patients, as a rule, complain of pain in the spine, in the lower leg and in the knee joints.

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5

What should I do if my bones start to hurt?

To start with, go to a therapist to determine the preliminary causes of pain, get a referral to a specialist. Osteoporosis may need to be ruled out. To do this, you need to do a study called densitometry.

“This is akin to an X-ray study – the optical density of the bone is measured using a special densitometer apparatus,” says Bazhenov. – It is always measured at the same points, traditionally it is the femoral neck and the first lumbar vertebra. Depending on the density of these structures, the degree of osteoporosis or osteopenia, if any, is determined. You also need to take tests for calcium and vitamin D.

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6

Is there a cure for bone density disorders?

Yes, but the treatment will be individual for each case. It is enough for someone to change their lifestyle, someone will need to take vitamins and trace elements, in some cases hormone therapy is needed (usually older women). Treatment will depend on the underlying diagnosis.

— If the pain is associated with changes in atmospheric pressure, then there is no therapy here, only the strengthening and prevention of joint diseases: maintaining a healthy lifestyle, weight control, proper nutrition and doing gymnastics, says the rheumatologist.

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7

What can I do to keep my bones healthy?

Speaking about the prevention of skeletal problems, people usually think that it is enough to have a lot of calcium in the diet. However, it is not the only micronutrient that affects bone health.

— Calcium is basically contained in the products that we consume: cottage cheese, meat, milk, and various other products, — Bazhenov explains. – In general, this is not a deficient trace element that is lacking in our food. The question is how to digest it. It is well absorbed with adequate levels of vitamin D in the body. If there is no vitamin D, then you can eat any kind of calcium: even in tablets, even in cottage cheese – it is unlikely that it will enter the skeletal system in sufficient quantities.

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8

Who needs vitamin D?

The traumatologist says that almost everyone needs it, especially in regions where there is little sun (under the influence of sunlight, the body synthesizes vitamin D itself).

– In the absence of full sunlight for most of the time of the year, vitamin D is highly recommended for constant intake, says the doctor. – Better in oil form in the form of droplets. The exact dosage should be selected depending on the age of the patient and the initial level of vitamin D in the body. You have to take it constantly. It helps calcium to be absorbed and incorporated into bone tissue. With vitamin D deficiency, calcium is not absorbed, no matter how much we take it.

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9

What else to read about the health of bones and joints?

• Why do knees crackle and what does excess weight have to do with it;
• five mistakes you make when your back hurts;
• how to deal with neck pain without hurting yourself.

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Ekaterina Bormotova

Journalist of the national editorial office

BonesHealthRheumatologyTraumatologyOsteoporosis

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Uncomplicated vertebral fractures are quite common. The most common mechanism for this injury is forced flexion of the spine. For example, in a collision in an accident, a person without a seat belt bends forward very quickly. The most mobile in this case is the lower back, it is there that several vertebrae can break.

If a person falls on the buttocks, forced flexion of the spine also occurs, which often ends in a fracture of one or more vertebrae. Of course, it is impossible to predict a domestic or street injury, but in case of accidental falls, of course, inactive, non-sporting people suffer to a greater extent. A bit of anatomy. The spine is an elastic column, the axis of our body. The flexibility of its design is provided by the intervertebral discs, and the strength is provided by the massive vertebral bodies, as well as dense bone-ligamentous structures, known as the posterior support complex.

Uncomplicated fractures with mild vertebral compression are most often treated without surgery. Has not lost its relevance and functional method of treatment. It implies a strict regime in order to exclude secondary injuries, and special gymnastics. Bed rest is needed for several days, then the victim is allowed to get out of bed. However, for a long time it is forbidden to bend over and take a sitting position. For a speedy recovery, special gymnastics is carried out according to the Dreving and Gorinevskaya method, it is best to start doing it under the guidance of an experienced instructor.

At all stages of treatment, we recommend using our company’s products.
This will make your recovery faster and more comfortable. electrical stimulation with
ANMS “Mercury” will make your exercise therapy more effective.

Method of application of ANMS “Mercury”

Location
On the damaged spine.

Operating mode
CHANCE, BACK.

Current intensity
To a slight tingle.

Duration of procedure
15-20 minutes, 2 times a day, 20 procedures per course.

BROKEN ANKLE

The ankle joint is a strong fork formed by the inner and outer ankles. Inside this fork, the work of the joint takes place, the main sliding surfaces of which are the surfaces of the talus and tibia. The ankle joint is very strong and allows the foot to slide up and down, but the ankles and powerful ligaments firmly hold the foot from lateral tilts and displacements. Ankle fractures are the most common leg fracture. It occurs when the leg is twisted, often inward.

When a person puts all their weight on the leg, while the foot is on the outside, the block of the talus rests on the inner ankle and splits it from the tibia. Such a displacement is possible if powerful ligaments are torn outside the joint, or a bone is torn off – the outer ankle (this is a continuation of the fibula). When the doctor determines such a condition in the victim, he will numb the patient, turn the foot a little and press it outward, correctly positioning the toe of the foot. These manipulations are called “reposition”, that is, the elimination of the displacement of the inner ankle. Then plaster can be applied.

The timing of plaster fixation depends on the “scale of destruction”, the number of broken ankles and torn ligaments, the age of the victim, and whether repositioning was necessary. This period can stretch from a harmless 3-4 to a tedious 12-16 weeks. The impossibility of a good, accurate reposition or the expected long duration of treatment may be an indication for surgery.

If two ankles are broken, a cast must be applied for 6 weeks. In this situation, the doctor will ask you not to load the leg for the first 2-4 weeks, to lie more with an elevated position of the limb, and then try to step on the leg to improve fusion. The timing in which you can start loading the leg is entirely within the competence of your attending physician. The question arises, how else can you help yourself in this situation?

1st days

For the first 2-3 days after an ankle fracture, it is necessary to lie down, holding the elevated position of the injured leg, and apply dry ice to the cast for 40 minutes every 2-3 hours – this will save the leg from increasing swelling.

Method of application of ANMS “Mercury”

Location
The electrodes are placed at the base of the fingers and outside of the knee joint.

Operating mode
CHANCE, ANKLE.

Current intensity
Until the first sensations.

Duration of procedure
15-20 minutes, 2 times a day.

2. Starting from the second week

During this period, it is necessary to start active gymnastics for a healthy ankle joint: do 20-30 up and down movements of the foot (flexion-extension) with maximum amplitude and at a slow pace. Such activation will not allow the muscles on the sore leg to atrophy and will improve blood flow.

Application method of ANMS “Mercury”:

Location
The electrodes are placed at the base of the fingers and outside of the knee joint.

Operating mode
MASSAGE.

Current intensity
Until the first sensations.

Duration of procedure
It is necessary to carry out 10 procedures, 1 procedure per day.

3. Long periods of plaster fixation
If the doctor has prescribed long periods of plaster fixation, more than a month, then after a 10-day break, another course of treatment can be carried out according to a similar scheme.

4. After removing the cast
We continue active gymnastics for a healthy ankle joint: do 20-30 foot movements up and down (flexion-extension) with maximum amplitude and at a slow pace.

Method of application of ANMS “Mercury”

Location
The electrodes are placed at the base of the fingers and outside of the knee joint.

Operating mode
EMS, ANKLE, program P1, P2 alternate.

Current intensity
The strength of the current until a distinct muscle contraction.

Duration of procedure
20 minutes, 2 times a day.

Radius fracture

A slippery pavement, a fall, awkward leaning on the arm, acute pain, an emergency room… Thousands of our compatriots are injured in this or a very similar scenario every year. It is especially sad that from 40% to 80% of such injuries lead to disability, persistent and long-term disability.

Of course, our products can provide significant assistance to this category of victims. We decided to tell you in detail what could cause complications with such a seemingly “trivial” injury. And also to tell you how to prevent these complications, and how the ANMS “Mercury” will help you with accessories.

The main types of fractures of the radius in a typical location are flexion and extensor fractures. In the first case, the fracture occurs when falling on the back of the hand, in the second case, when falling on the palm. What is a “typical place”? This is the radius next to the wrist joint, just above the hand. If at the same time the articular surface is damaged, the fracture is called intra-articular. At the same time, the styloid process of the ulna can break.

What are the problems in the treatment of fractures of the radius? Why so many bad results? First of all, it can be difficult to put the radius in place. Fragments pull together powerful tendons, through the wrist joint, “in transit”, there are three very important nerves. The radius at this level consists of spongy substance, which is crushed when fractured. Then, having put the bones in place (having completed the reposition of the fracture), the question arises, how to keep the fragments in this position and is this possible in principle? Sometimes reposition or fixation of fragments at this level can be so difficult that it is better to abandon the attempt at reposition. However, the doctor’s decision must be made without delay.

In most cases, for the fixation of fractures of the radius, traumatologists choose gypsum. In a standard situation, a cast fixes the hand from the base of the fingers to the upper third of the forearm. To avoid secondary displacement of fragments, plaster is often circulated immediately after injury. This measure is forced, it avoids some dangers and gives rise to others. For example, the arm may swell strongly in the area of ​​the fracture, but since the circular cast does not allow the arm to increase in volume, the edematous tissues press strongly on themselves. Nerves are especially affected by such pressure: they are very delicate and vulnerable structures. Also, blood vessels can suffer from pressure, which disrupts the nutrition of tissues. The above causes in combination can cause Zudeck’s syndrome, one of the names of which is “spotted osteoporosis”. At the same time, the hand acquires a bluish color, which persists even after the removal of the plaster. The fingers and wrist joint stiffen in a contracture that is very difficult to work out.

Dear friends! We sincerely wish you never get injured. But if this happens, remember: there are no “simple” fractures, you must carefully follow the doctor’s instructions.

For the speedy bone fusion, to relieve swelling and to relieve pain, you will be helped by ANMS “Mercury” with accessories.

Method of application of ANMS “Mercury”

Location
One electrode must be fixed at the base of the fingers, the second – on the back surface of the forearm immediately above the plaster.

Operating mode
CHANCE, WRIST.

Current intensity
Until you feel a slight vibration.

Duration of procedure
30-40 minutes, 2 times a day.

During 4 weeks, until the cast is removed, it is necessary to move the fingers as often as possible, doing light gymnastics, and also conduct electrical stimulation of the ANMS “Mercury” in the MASSAGE, WRIST mode. The attachment of the electrodes is the same as for anesthesia.