Your elbow joint actually consists of three different bones. Getting your elbow fractured may involve a break in any one or all of them at the same time. An injury may leave you with a broken elbow. Your risk of getting it is increased if you have osteoporosis, a condition characterized by soft and brittle bones that are prone to breakage.
There are various signs and symptoms of an elbow fracture, depending on the severity of the trauma as well as the kind of fracture — non-displaced (the bones cracked but remained in place), displaced (the bones separated), comminuted (the bones broke into many pieces) and open (the broken bones pierced the skin). These are the things you may encounter if you have elbow fracture:
• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Deformity
• Trouble moving the arm or bending the elbow
• Weakness in the arm or hand
A CT scan, MRI, or x-ray will help a doctor determine whether or not you have fractured your elbow. Most of the time, the application of a sling, brace or cast will help heal the broken bones by limiting the arm movement. There are instances wherein surgery is warranted to repair the damage.
If currently you are nursing a fractured elbow, there are a few tips and tricks that you may count on in order to bounce back from the injury. The goal is to heal the fracture in no time and strengthen the site of the breakage to prevent the problem from recurring. These are some of the things that you may do:
• Consume fresh pineapples – Including pineapples in the diet is a great way to help ease the swelling and inflammation because of its bromelain content. Pineapples are also loaded with vitamin C, a nutrient known to accelerate the healing of fractured bones. Choose fresh pineapples and not the processed kinds.
• Opt for vitamin C-rich foods – As mentioned above, vitamin C can help you bounce back from the problem quickly. That’s why it is a good idea to make sure that your diet has plenty of foods that are packed with vitamin C. Some good examples are bell peppers, citrus fruits, papaya, strawberries, kiwis and cauliflower.
• Reach for foods rich in calcium – Naturally, you should ensure that you are getting sufficient amounts of calcium in the diet in order to help heal the fracture as well as prevent future ones by making your bones really strong. Beans, collard greens, kale, Brussels sprouts and sardines are all loaded with it.
• Have a well-balanced meal each time – It’s not just calcium that you need to hasten the healing process of a broken bone. You also have to supply your body with the likes of vitamins C, B6, D and K, as well as copper, phosphorous, zinc, magnesium and silicon. To get them, make sure that your diet is well-balanced.
• Limit your intake of pro-inflammatory foods – In order to speed up the healing of your fractured elbow, it’s important to dodge foods that cause inflammation. Otherwise, you may have to spend a longer amount of time putting up with the signs and symptoms of the injury. Some pro-inflammatory foods are sugar, red meat, dairy, processed food products and those with trans fat.
• Restrict caffeinated beverages – According to the experts, caffeine promotes the loss of calcium through the urine. This is exactly the reason why you should refrain from drinking coffee while healing your fractured elbow. Similarly, you should avoid tea, soda and energy drinks with caffeine in them.
• Stay away from drinking alcohol – Other than caffeinated beverages, it’s also recommended for you to avoid drinking alcohol. That’s because alcohol can interfere with the proper absorption of calcium by the bones, thus keeping the fractured bone from attaining accelerated and effective healing.
