What Is A Bone Fracture?
A bone fracture is nothing but a crack in the bone. A great percentage of fractures are a result of stress or high force impact. In some individuals, a bone fracture can also be a result of medical conditions that weaken the bone like osteoporosis, cancer, and osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease). Your bone can be fractured in various ways. If a break in the bone does not affect the surrounding tissue or damage it in any way, it is called a closed fracture. A bone fracture that damages the surrounding skin is called an open fracture or a compound fracture. So, how many types of fractures are there? And how are they different from each other? Let’s find out!
Types Of Bone Fractures
Avulsion fracture – A fracture caused by a muscle or ligament pulling on your bone. Comminuted fracture – This results in shattered bones. Compression or crush fracture – This type usually occurs in the bones of your spine, like the front of your vertebra. Fracture dislocation – Dislocation of a joint and fracture in one of the bones. Greenstick fracture – A fracture on one side of the bone that does not cause it to break completely. Hairline fracture – A partial fracture. Impacted fracture – Occurs when one fragment of your bone enters the other as a result of a fracture. Intraarticular fracture – When a fracture or break extends into the joint surface. Longitudinal fracture – A longitudinal break along the bone. Oblique fracture – A fracture diagonal to the bone’s long axis. Pathological fracture – A medical issue causes your bones to weaken, making them fracture easily. Spiral fracture – A fracture accompanied by a twisted bone. Stress fracture – When a bone breaks due to repeated stress and strain. Torus or buckle fracture – Deforms your bone without cracking. Transverse fracture – A straight break across your bone.
Bone fractures also exhibit a few symptoms depending on the affected bone. The most affected bones are the orbital bone (eye socket), tailbone, pelvic bone, the clavicle or collarbone, the fibula or calf bone, heel bone, and the femur. Let us now look at the symptoms of bone fractures.
Signs And Symptoms Of Fractures
A few common symptoms associated with fractures are:
Swelling Bruising Pain Skin discoloration Angulation (bending of the affected area in an unusual angle) Inability of the patient to put weight on the affected area Immobility A grating sensation in the affected area Bleeding (in the case of an open fracture)
Usually, an external force or stress causes a fracture. Let’s take a quick look at the other causes.
What Causes A Fracture?
Fractures are caused due to a bad fall or an automobile accident. Most healthy bones are tough enough to withstand powerful impact. Aging and other health conditions can weaken your bones, making the probability of fractures higher. A few underlying medical conditions that can cause your bones to get fractured easily are:
Osteoporosis Infection Tumor or cancer
You may also be at an increased risk of getting fractures due to the following factors:
Age: Older adults and young children are more prone to fractures because of weak bones. Repeatedly injuring the affected area (common among sports professionals) Menopause
After an accident or injury, if you suspect you have fractured your bone, get yourself diagnosed by a medical professional.
How To Diagnose A Bone Fracture
The doctor will first ask you to undergo a physical examination if they suspect a fracture. You may further be asked to undergo any of the following tests:
X-ray MRI scan CT scan
If you have ended up fracturing your bone, it is best to initiate treatment immediately. While medical treatment is a must, you can also give the remedies listed below a shot to help your bones heal faster.
Home Remedies To Treat A Broken Bone
How To Treat A Fracture Naturally
1. Turmeric
You Will Need
1 teaspoon of turmeric powder 1 glass of slightly hot milk
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Drink this mixture once every night.
Why This Works
The presence of curcumin in turmeric makes it apt for healing fractures faster. Curcumin acts as an immunomodulator and exhibits anti-inflammatory activities that can help regulate your immune responses and inflammation (1).
2. Essential Oils
a. Elemi Oil
3-4 drops of elemi oil 2 teaspoons of coconut oil
You must do this 5 to 6 times daily. Elemi oil promotes circulation to the fractured area. This aids faster healing of the fracture, especially once the cast is removed (2).
b. Lavender Oil
3-4 drops of lavender oil 2 teaspoons of coconut oil (or any other carrier oil)
Do this several times daily for effective results. Lavender oil offers multiple benefits when it comes to healing a fracture. It can help in reducing inflammation and pain in the fractured area with its anti-inflammatory action (3).
3. Castor Oil
Cold pressed castor oil (as required) A clean washcloth
Do this daily. One of the main active compounds present in castor oil is ricinoleic acid. This compound exhibits anti-inflammatory activities that help in soothing the inflammation and pain associated with a fracture (4).
4. Black Caraway Seed Or Kalonji Oil
1 tablespoon of black caraway seed (kalonji) oil Do this 3 to 4 times daily. Black caraway seed oil is used for treating a range of medical conditions. What makes it effective in treating fractures is its bone-strengthening action. Black caraway seed oil reverses osteoporosis, according to a study published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine (5).
5. Sesame Seeds
1-2 tablespoons of roasted sesame seeds You must do this at least once daily for best results. Sesame seeds are rich in nutrients like calcium and iron that help in faster recovery from a fracture. They also exhibit powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions that can help in dealing with the symptoms of swelling and pain associated with a fracture (6).
6. Boron
3-20 mg of boron You must do this on a daily basis. Boron is a necessity for various bone building factors, such as calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, estrogen, etc. Post menopause, boron is also believed to stimulate hormones that help you deal with osteoporosis and debilitating fractures (7), (8).
7. Coconut Oil
1 tablespoon of cold pressed coconut oil Consume coconut oil regularly to get the desired results. Supplementing your body with coconut oil can help in strengthening your bones and prevent bone loss associated with osteoporosis (9). The anti-inflammatory action of coconut oil can provide relief from pain and inflammation (10).
8. Epsom Salt
1 cup of Epsom salt Water
Do this once daily or every alternate day. Epsom salt is also referred to as magnesium sulfate due to its composition. The presence of magnesium in Epsom salt imparts amazing anti-inflammatory properties to it that can help reduce the pain, inflammation, and swelling accompanying a fracture (11).
9. Aloe Vera Juice
1 cup of latex-free aloe vera juice
- Consume a cup of latex-free aloe vera juice daily. 2. You can also apply aloe vera gel to the affected area for momentary relief from pain and inflammation. You must drink it once daily for a few weeks. Aloe vera possesses natural healing and soothing properties due to the presence of a polysaccharide called acemannan. It can also help in increasing your bone density, thus accelerating the healing of the fractured bone (12). Here are a few tips you can follow to prevent fractures in the future.
Prevention Tips
Make sure to get enough calcium through your diet. Get enough sunlight daily as it is one of the best sources of vitamin D, which is a much-needed nutrient for strengthening your bones. Indulge in physical activities and exercise like short weight lifts, skipping, walking, and running. Don’t smoke. Limit your alcohol intake. Keep the affected area as immobile as you can until the fracture heals completely.
Was this article helpful? If you are aware of any other remedies that can heal broken bones naturally, let us know in the comments section below. What foods are good for bone fractures? To help bone fractures heal faster, you must consume calcium-rich foods like milk, cheese, fish, meat, yogurt, nuts, beans, soy products, and fortified cereals. How long does it take to heal a broken bone? While some fractures can heal in as early as 3 weeks in children, they may take about 6 weeks in teens and adults. Also, some fractures may take as long as 10 weeks to heal, and it may take even longer for you to return to your normal activities. What are the stages of fracture healing? There are three stages of fracture healing. They are: 1. 1st Stage (Reaction) – This stage involves inflammation and formation of granulation tissue. 2. 2nd Stage (Repair) – This stage involves the formation of cartilage callus and the deposition of lamellar bone. 3. 3rd Stage (Remodeling) – This stage involves remodeling to the original bone contours. Can a fracture heal in 2 weeks? No, it usually takes 6-8 weeks for a fracture to heal. Children sometimes may take 3 weeks to heal, but it is not possible for a fracture to heal in 2 weeks. What foods should you avoid with broken bones? Avoid food that is too salty as it can make you lose more calcium through urine, thus weakening your bones. Also, avoid drinking too much coffee as it will make you pee more and lose more calcium, thus slowing down the bone’s healing process. What vitamin helps heal broken bones? Vitamin D enhances the bone healing process as it helps your body absorb calcium (13). How do I know my fracture is healing? There will be a decrease in pain, increase in mobility, and reduced swelling and bruising that indicate that the fracture is healing. Is drinking water good for broken bones? Yes, drinking water and staying hydrated will help in moving nutrients and oxygen to the cell repairing areas and help in healing faster and keeping your bones and joints healthy.
