Fracture Recovery without Risks with Ayurveda

What is a Fracture?

A partial or complete break in the community of bone is known as a fracture. It usually happens due to car accidents, falls, and sports injuries. You might also increase the chance of experiencing certain types of fractures if you are under some medical condition and do repetitive forces like running or heavy weight lifting. A fracture needs surgery to repair it but sometimes people only need a cast, splint, brace, or sling to heal.

Difference Between Bone Fracture vs. Bone Bruise vs. Sprain.
Both are caused by a strong force hitting anywhere on the body – usually a fall, car accident, or sports injury.
Can understand the difference by measuring the level of damage.
A bone bruise is when the blood trapped under the bone surface starts to bleed without being broken after a strong hit on the body.
A bone fracture is when a part of your body is been hit by brute force not just to damage but to break it.
Fracture injuries are more severe and take a longer period to heal.
Sprain and bone fractures are known as common sports injuries.
A sprain is when one of the ligaments is torn or stretched.
If the injury is in the joints ( knee or elbow) you are likely to experience both ligament sprain and fracture.

Types Of Fracture

There are different types of fracture classified into 3 categories:
Pattern: the fracture pattern is defined by the shape of the break or how it looks like
Cause: these types of fractures are defined by how they happen.
Body Part: it is defined as the part of the body where fracture took place.

Fractures are diagnosed by pattern or shape.
Oblique Fractures: oblique fractures are also known as complete fractures.
In this, the bones are broken by an angle.
Transverse Fractures: this type of fracture is horizontally perpendicular to the bone, also the line in the break goes through the bone.
Longitudinal Fractures: in this, the fracture runs from the start to the end of the bone, also known as long bone fracture.
Greenstick Fractures: these occur when the bone is bent enough to crack it without breaking it into pieces.
Comminuted Fractures: these occur to any large or long bone that is broken and shattered in 2 places.
Segmental Fractures: in this, the affected bone is being broken and separated from the bones.
Spiral Fractures: this type of fracture looks like a corkscrew, it occurs when the bone is broken by twisting motion.

Fractures that are diagnosed by cause.
Stress Fractures: it is initially a bone bruise but later on if too much pressure is given without giving it a proper rest, it turns into small cracks on the bone’s surface.
Avulsion Fractures: They occur when a piece of bone breaks which is attached to the ligament or tendon of the main body.
Buckle Fractures: It is an incomplete fracture, in which the sudden pressure on the bone is hard enough to bulge it without snapping it.

Fractures are diagnosed by location in the body.
Clavicle Fractures: also known as (broken collarbones), this type of fracture can occur as a crack in one place or break into several pieces either it can stay still in a queue or end up out of place.
Shoulder Fractures: these occur when something breaks anywhere in the 3 bones of the shoulder joint.
Humerus Fractures: humerus (the only bone in the upper arm) fractures occur when the bone is broken by the brute force of trauma.
Elbow Fractures: this type of fracture occurs at the tip of the elbow.
Compression Fractures: it is a type of fracture or small break that happens to the bones in the vertebrae.
Facial Fractures: in this, the bones are broken around the face, i.e. in the nose, jaw, and eye sockets.

Fractures that affect the hands and legs include:
HAND
Barton fractures.
Chauffeur fractures.
Colles fractures.
Smith fractures.
Scaphoid fractures.

LEG

Pelvic fractures.
Acetabular fractures.
Hip fractures.
Femur fractures.
Patella fractures.
Growth plate fractures.
Tibia
Calcaneal stress fractures.
Fifth metatarsal fractures.
Jones fractures.
Lisfranc fractures.
Talus fractures.
Trimalleolar fractures.
Pilon fractures.

Fractures are described in 4 terms if diagnosed which include:
Open and closed fractures:
Open fractures are also known as compound fractures. An open fracture breaks through the skin, takes a longer period to recover, and increases the chances of getting an infection. On the other hand, a closed fracture is also very severe but the bone doesn’t break out through the skin.

Displaced and non-displaced fractures:
A displaced fracture is a gap caused by movements in the fractured bones. It mostly requires surgery to repair. Non-displaced fractures are also broken bones but the pieces don’t go out of alignment during the break.

Symptoms For Fracture

Swelling.
Pain
Tenderness.
Inability to move.
Bruising or discoloration
A deformity or bump that’s not mostly on the body.

Causes For Fracture

The bone fracture is always caused by traumas, the most common are :
Falls, vehicle accidents, and sports injuries.
Even without trauma, you can experience fracture due to continuous repeating of the action which causes overuse syndrome and also leads to develop a stress fracture.
It can also cause conditions like osteoporosis and some kinds of cancer.

How Are Fractures Diagnosed?

The specialist will examine you through physical exam and imaging tests. Mostly in emergency cases, they treat your injuries and run all the tests to look for any kind of fractures.

Tests Run For Fractures:
X-ray:
An X-ray gives exact information about where and how the damage is placed.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):
MRI gives us the exact image of the damaged part and its surrounding such as cartilage and ligaments around that bone.
CT Scans:
A CT Scan gives a detailed picture of the damaged bones and the area around them.
Bone Scan:
Bone Scans help to get a clear and detailed view of the damaged bone which is not visible on the ray. This process takes up to 4 hours and 2 visits.

Treatment For Fractures

The broken bones most of the time are healed by themselves, people do medical treatment to ensure the pieces are lined up correctly. The bone should recover with complete strength, sensitivity, and movement. In some complicated fractures, you may need surgery or surgical traction.
These are the few treatments on depending where and how the fracture took place.
Splints– to stop and hold the movement of the broken limb.
Braces – to support and balance the broken bone
Plaster Cast – to provide support and immobilize the bone to heal faster.
Surgically inserted metal rods or plates – to hold the broken bone pieces together in a line
Pain Relief: to reduce or numb the pain.

The other types of treatments include:
Arthroplasty
In this, if you have an injury or fracture in your joints (shoulder, knee, or elbow), you may need an arthroplasty i.e. joint replacement. Wherein the surgeon will replace the broken joint with an artificial joint (prosthesis) made up of metal, ceramic, or heavy-duty plastic. There is no difference between them as it looks natural and works similarly.

Bone grafting
It is a procedure that heals after a joint replacement, when the bone isn’t healing, or when someone has severe fractures. It helps to repair the two adjoining bones to cure chronic pain.

Ayurveda For Fractures
Ayurveda offers a comprehensive approach to the treatment of fractures, focusing on the following key areas:

Reducing inflammation and pain: Inflammation is a natural response to injury, but it can delay bone healing and cause pain and discomfort. Ayurvedic treatments such as herbal pastes, oils, and fomentation can help to reduce inflammation and pain, making it easier for the bone to heal.
Promoting bone healing: Ayurveda recognizes the importance of certain nutrients, such as calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, for bone healing. Ayurvedic practitioners may recommend herbal supplements to help ensure that the body has the nutrients it needs to heal properly.
Nourishing the fractured bone and surrounding tissues: Ayurveda also emphasizes the importance of nourishing the fractured bone and surrounding tissues. This is done through a healthy diet, lifestyle, and herbal supplements.

Some of the most common Ayurvedic treatments for fractures include:

Snehana karma (oleation therapy): This involves applying warm oil to the body, which helps to improve circulation and reduce inflammation.
Swedana Karma (fomentation therapy): This involves applying heat to the fractured area, which helps to reduce pain and inflammation and promote healing.
Bashpa Sweda (steam therapy): This involves exposing the fractured area to steam, which can help reduce pain and inflammation and promote healing.
Parisheka (pouring therapy): This involves pouring warm medicated liquids over the fractured area, which can help to reduce pain and inflammation and promote healing.
Pindsweda (poultice therapy): This involves applying a warm paste of herbs and spices to the fractured area, which can help reduce pain and inflammation and promote healing.
Abhyanga (massage): This involves massaging the body with warm oil, which helps to improve circulation, reduce pain and inflammation, and promote healing.
Asanas (yoga postures): Gentle yoga postures can help improve range of motion and strength around the fractured area.
Pranayama (breath control): Pranayama can help to reduce stress and anxiety, which can promote healing.
Shamana chikitsa: Shamana chikitsa is a type of treatment that helps to pacify the doshas (biological energies) and restore balance to the body. This may involve taking herbal medicines, following a special diet, and practicing yoga and meditation.

Do’s and Don’t during Fracture:

Eat a healthy diet that is rich in calcium, vitamin D, and protein.
Get plenty of rest.
Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Exercise regularly, but avoid activities that put excessive stress on the fractured area.

NOTE:
Ayurvedic treatments for fractures are generally safe and well-tolerated. However, it is important to consult with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner before starting any new treatment, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.