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A bone fracture can be a defining moment in a womans life the break itself is an isolated incident, while the healing process can take weeks, months, or even years depending on the injury. After youve fractured a bone, all your systems are called upon to repair the injury. Cells and tissues proliferate, hormones are released, antioxidants and amino acids are brought into play, and all this happens while the body carries out its usual everyday duties. Needless to say, it takes a lot of energy and sometimes a lot of time to heal a fracture. Very few of us who have broken bones have been told we can make our bones heal faster at most, the advice were given is to limit the use of the injured bone or limb (not easy to do if the fracture is in your spine!). Women are always surprised when I tell them that there are a number of natural methods they can use to reduce their healing time and get back on the move sooner rather than later. The human body is amazing in its ability to heal itself. Taking a closer look at how our bodies heal bone reveals excellent opportunities to support that process naturally. You can make a significant difference in your recovery time and at the same time, in your overall health by working with nature. Lets take a look at five simple steps you can take to speed bone fracture healing.
While protein and minerals serve as the building blocks for bone healing, vitamins are the catalysts for myriad biochemical reactions that are equally important. In fracture healing, we can clearly identify vitamins like C, D, and K as integral to laying down minerals in new bone.
Find a high-quality supplement like the one we offer in our Personal Program for Better Bones, that can add to this much-needed vitamin and mineral support. A 2006 Swedish study found that hip fracture patients given complex multinutrient supplementation had only a 15% rate of complications, as compared to a 70% complications rate among the non-supplemented group.
One of the first things we reach for with an injury after the ice, of course is frequently aspirin or ibuprofen. Cells damaged from the trauma of fracture release large amounts of inflammatory prostaglandins at the site of fracture. The ensuing inflammation causes pain, and the natural tendency is to want to block this painful reaction. But certain ways of blocking pain can interfere with your healing. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors) like aspirin and ibuprofen can delay fracture healing. As it turns out, prostaglandin-induced inflammation is an essential component of the fracture healing process, and cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2) play important roles in fracture repair. These inflammatory prostaglandins are a natural and essential part of initial tissue repair, and the initial inflammatory immune response is crucial to fracture healing. Aspirin, ibuprofen, indomethacin, etodolac (Lodine), meloxicam (Mobic), nabumetone (Relafen), and naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn) are all among the NSAIDs to avoid when healing damaged bone and cartilage. One alternative to help reduce the pain of fracture is acetaminophen (which is found in Tylenol). In severe cases, narcotics such as codeine can be given along with the acetaminophen. Natural pain-relief alternatives. In clinical use at the Center for Better Bones, we have found that the well-studied bioflavonoid, quercetin, used in doses of 23 grams per day, has a synergistic effect with vitamin C, amplifying the pain-relief benefits. These nutrients, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, reduce inflammation without inhibiting the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. Enzymes such as bromelain and trypsin (available in the combination formula called Wobenzym) have also been found helpful in reducing inflammation, edema, and pain in fracture patients.
#5 Exercise
While it makes perfect sense that increasing your nutrient intake would help healing bone, exercise would be unlikely to pop into your mind as a means to accelerate fracture healing. Yet it is. In general, bone tissue responds to patterns of loading by increasing matrix synthesis and by altering matrix composition, organization, and mechanical properties. And there is scientific evidence that the same holds true for bone under repair. Biomechanical stimulation enhances bone fracture repair and regeneration, and is also required to restore the fractured bones structural strength. Fracture healing also requires good circulation and an adequate flow of nutrient-replenishing blood to the fracture site both of which are enhanced by exercise. To avoid stress on the broken bone, exercises that focus on joint loading and range of motion can be employed to accelerate healing and assure return of function post fracture. For example, in the case of a broken forearm, recommended exercises would involve movements of the fingers and hand, as well as the elbow and shoulder joints. Consult a physical therapist about exercise thats best for you.
An unfortunate fall or accident resulting in broken or fractured bone can certainly slow you down, but it can also be a wake-up call in many ways. Support your body with a natural approach that will have you moving again in no time. This approach will work with your bodys built-in mechanisms for healing while also improving your overall bone health. Because your bones serve as a vitamin and mineral reservoir for your body, healthy bones mean better overall health. Theres never been a better time to fall into optimal bone health!
http://www.womentowomen.com/bonehealth/speedbonefracturehealing.aspx
Introduction 1 Broken Bones Explained 2 Inflammation Stage 3 Soft Callus Formation Stage 4 Hard Callus Formation Stage 5 Bone Remodelling Stage
There are over one million fractures (broken bones) each year in the UK alone. Fractures can occur in people of any age, but two groups of people tend to sustain most fractures - the elderly and the childhood age groups. In children a broken forearm is the most common fracture, with boys sustaining fractures more than girls. Teenagers tend to be the most active age group, which increases their risk of injury, and their bones are more prone to breaking following the period of rapid growth during adolescence. In the elderly age group a combination of Osteoporosis (decreased bone density) and increased incidence of falls means that the number of broken bones increases with age. In the older age group women suffer more fractures than men - this is because hormonal changes during the
menopause increase the incidence of Osteoporosis. The most common fractures are the hip and wrist. This guide explains exactly what bone is and the four main stages of bone healing. By understanding bone healing better you can feel more in control of the rehabilitation process and help your fracture to heal.
http://www.physioroom.com/injuries/bone_fracture/2_bone_science.php
The rate of healing and the ability to remodel a fractured bone vary tremendously for each person and depend on your age, your health, the kind of fracture, and the bone involved. For example, children are able to heal and remodel their fractures much faster than adults. Problems Fractures heal without problems in most people. However, when they occur, fracture problems are almost always a result of a severe injury. Compartment syndrome: Severe swelling after a fracture can put so much pressure on the blood vessels that not enough blood can get to the muscles around the fracture. The decreased blood supply can cause the muscles around the fracture to die, which can lead to long-term disability. Compartment syndrome usually occurs only after a severe injury. Neurovascular injury: Some fractures are so severe that the arteries and nerves around the injury site are damaged. Infection: Open fractures can become infected when the jagged bone ends are exposed to the air where they have torn through the skin. Post-traumatic arthritis: Fractures that extend into the joints (intra-articular fractures) or fractures that cause the bones to meet at an abnormal angle in the joint can cause premature arthritis of a joint. Growth abnormalities: A fracture in the open physis, or growth plate, in a child, can cause many problems. Two of these problems are premature partial or complete closure of the physis. This means that one side of a bone or the whole bone stops growing before it naturally would. If one side of a bone stops growing before the other side, the bone will grow at an abnormal angle. If the whole bone, such as a thigh bone, stops growing prematurely, it will be shorter than the other thigh bone, making one leg shorter than the other. Delayed union: A fracture that takes longer to heal than expected is a delayed union. Nonunion: A fracture that fails to heal in a reasonable amount of time is called a nonunion. Malunion: A fracture that does not heal in a normal alignment is called a malunion. These problems and complications do not often occur. When they do occur, orthopaedists have methods for managing them. Richard Johnston III, M.D. Atlanta, Georgia