Accidents happen, whether from a car accident, playing sports, climbing, or a bad fall. If you think you have a broken bone, it’s important to get the best medical care available.
Once you receive treatment, healing the bone takes time. If you have a cast or splint, there are steps you can take to speed up the healing process and keep your body healthy and strong while you recuperate.
What Should I Do if I Have a Broken Bone?
Falls, sports injuries, or other accidents can result in a fracture. A fracture occurs when there is trauma or pressure on a bone that exceeds the bone’s ability to bend.
Below are the dos and don’ts of managing a broken bone:
Do seek immediate medical attention.
Don’t try to diagnose or treat a broken bone yourself. If you do, 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 properly by a physician.
Do go to an orthopedic urgent care clinic if there is one close to you. It is a big time-saver when there is a possibility of a fracture or other injury that requires immediate care. In addition to having on-site imaging equipment, they offer the ability to see an orthopedic (musculoskeletal) specialist immediately, instead of having to wait for a referral – or having to wait for hours in an emergency room.
Do take 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.
Do rest and elevate the limb if there is swelling. If there is a lot of swelling in your limb, the doctor may send you home with a splint until the swelling subsides.
Do make sure the cast isn’t too tight on your or your child’s fingers and toes. If it is too tight, it can cause extremities to feel numb or turn bluish or purple.
Don’t try 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.
Do try blowing cool air through the opening at the top of the cast from a hair dryer or a fan in order to relieve an itch.
Don’t let your cast get wet.
Do keep the cast outside the bathtub while you bathe. If the cast does get wet, call your orthopedist in case you need to come in for a new one.
Do be patient. Broken bones heal in their own time, and your orthopedist will be there for you while you get better.
Orthopedic Urgent Care Doctors in Michigan
Movement Orthopedics in Macomb County, Michigan, offers orthopedic urgent care for same-day appointments – for broken bones and more. For non-life-threatening orthopedic injuries, skip the emergency room and see Dr. Jeffrey Carroll or a member of his experienced team.
Using advanced on-site diagnostics, we will make sure you get the help you need for your fracture right away – with casting and splints available here in our facility. Call us at (586) 436-3785 for an appointment, or just walk in during our extended office hours.
You can also fill out our online request form for an appointment with Dr. Carroll. We look forward to helping you get well so you can get back in the game.
