Quiz: Pain Due To Fractures

Pain can occur long after a fracture in the bone has healed. On one hand, sub-acute pain takes place when the soft tissue around the fractured bone is healing while on the other hand, chronic pain occurs long after the bone and tissue in the area of the fracture has healed. At this stage, physical therapy and the use of painkiller medication is done to suppress the symptoms of pain and ease movement of the affected part of the body.

Foods that are rich in calcium are the best for providing strength and nutrition to fractured and broken bones. These foods help build bone and improve skeletal health, easing the pain of the fracture and speeding up the healing process. Milk and dairy products are the most common sources of calcium. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale have high calcium content as well. Seafood such as salmon and sardines and certain varieties of seeds such as pumpkin and chia seeds contain a lot of calcium as well.

Exercising in the water is the best way to heal fractures while experiencing little to no pain. The buoyancy of the water absorbs most of the shock of movement and provides a kind of cushioning to the fractured area. Slow movements in the shallow end of the pool will help heal the fracture with minimum pain. Keep in mind that the cast or brace on the fractured area should be waterproof and well sanitized before stepping into the pool.

Not all pain that occurs after a fracture is due to the rupture in the bone. Many a times, the soft tissue around the bone (which includes muscles, cartilage, tendons and ligaments) gets torn and damaged, often leading to inflammation which causes pain. These tissues will heal along with the fracture and the pain caused by them can be treated with medication or with, depending upon the cause and nature of the damage that has been done.