Avulsion fractures happen when a small piece of bone breaks off the site of the main fracture, sometimes – and often – also affecting the ligament located near the break. They can be very painful, and even after healing over, they can cause a lot of pain and discomfort even years after the initial injury.
If a doctor suspects that you have sustained an avulsion fracture, the first step is to have the affected limb x-rayed in order to establish the extent of the injury; from there, treatment options include placing the affected limb in a cast for about six to eight weeks, sometimes treatment for avulsion fractures might include surgery to remove the bone fragment and support the healing bone, and other times the insertion of staples or screws might be necessary.
Here are 8 home remedies to relieve the pain and discomfort that can be associated with an avulsion fracture to combine with your treatment.
1. Resting the Affected Limb
If you have sustained any kind of muscle injury or bone fracture like an avulsion fracture, the first thing that emergency personnel will recommend is to immobilize the affected limb – and from there, to rest it as much as possible over the coming six to eight weeks. This resting period gives the affected break time to heal naturally, often while being held in place by a cast which helps to prevent further accidental injury while the body part is healing.
This is one of the best things that you can do, and it counts for most types of strains, injuries, and fractures – but especially for avulsion fractures, where any movement can make the pain worse and impair the body’s natural healing process.
Combine resting the limb affected by the fracture together with some of the methods mentioned on this list, whether your injury is recent or whether you’re a few weeks into recovery.