Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

cliche · 10-31-2003, 04:41 AM

As we are always told "a fracture is a clinical diagnosis, not an X-ray one".
It's difficult to tell just from what you say whether it's broken or not. You can have cracks in a bone which don't go all the way through (all the more likely with a direct impact like a weight) so the bone is still in one piece. As the real, nasty pain in a fracture comes from bone ends rubbing against each other; your gf may have avoided that.

Basically, be sensible. Keep it elevated; try the painkillers you were given. If it's painful to move it may benefit from strapping or a cast, and keep it protected!

The painkillers you have (they go under a different name in the UK but I'm pretty sure they're the same thing) are a mixture of paracetamol and something called dextropropoxyphene (an opioid, like codeine). They work best if taken regularly (usually 2, 3x daily - but take your doctor's advice, not mine). If the pain's still bad, something extra can be added eg ibuprofen (assuming your gf is not asthmatic etc, ask your pharmacist if you buy some).

Hope that helps, and good luck to your gf!

10-31-2003, 04:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
cliche Rookie Location: Oxford, UK	As we are always told "a fracture is a clinical diagnosis, not an X-ray one". It's difficult to tell just from what you say whether it's broken or not. You can have cracks in a bone which don't go all the way through (all the more likely with a direct impact like a weight) so the bone is still in one piece. As the real, nasty pain in a fracture comes from bone ends rubbing against each other; your gf may have avoided that. Basically, be sensible. Keep it elevated; try the painkillers you were given. If it's painful to move it may benefit from strapping or a cast, and keep it protected! The painkillers you have (they go under a different name in the UK but I'm pretty sure they're the same thing) are a mixture of paracetamol and something called dextropropoxyphene (an opioid, like codeine). They work best if taken regularly (usually 2, 3x daily - but take your doctor's advice, not mine). If the pain's still bad, something extra can be added eg ibuprofen (assuming your gf is not asthmatic etc, ask your pharmacist if you buy some). Hope that helps, and good luck to your gf! __________________ I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones. -- John Cage (1912 - 1992)