What can you do if you break a bone? How can you help your body heal most efficiently? Last week, I broke my left shoulder in a bike accident and researched and dug deep to get a good list to follow. If you’re following my osteoporosis diet already, most of these will already be covered.
Check out these top 10 ways to speed the healing of a fracture!
1) No drinking.
It is best to abstain from alcohol while healing a broken bone. To heal properly, bone cells must first form a ‘matrix,’ which later hardens or ossifies into bone. Alcohol consumption changes the makeup of this matrix by hindering the formation of osteoblasts and decreasing their ability to respond to signals that normally trigger bone formation after a fracture.
2) No smoking.
Patients who smoke, have a much longer average time to healing, and a much higher risk of developing a nonunion (non-healing of the bone). Smoking alters the blood flow to bone, and it is that blood flow that delivers the necessary nutrients and cells to allow the bone to heal.
3) Eliminate caffeine.
Coffee, colas, and other caffeinated drinks increase the rate of calcium loss through the urine, and you need that calcium for bone building!
4) Eat a balanced diet that includes the recommended amount of calcium.
For a quick listing of great foods for encouraging bone health, check out my article, “Top 10 Bone-Building Foods.” For a more extensive listing, see the “Foundations” category of this website.
5) Follow doctor’s orders concerning your treatment plan.
*If you are told to use crutches, use them.
*If you are told to rest the injury, rest it.
*If you are told to move the joint to restore full mobility, move it!
*If physical therapy is scheduled, follow through with it!
6) Don’t overdo!
You may feel better on some days than others, but you still need to pace yourself to conserve the energy resources you body needs to use for healing.
7) Stay happy!
Read engaging books, watch comedies and movies with happy endings, call or e-mail an encouraging friend, pet your dog or cat. Simple joys can create happy moments while healing.
Take prescribed pain medications when you need them.
There’s nothing heroic about suffering when you don’t need to! On the other hand, foregoing pain meds can sometimes help you focus on the injury so that you can move carefully and protect the bone and affected muscles and joints. You are the best judge of what your body needs. If you need relief from the pain for a time, don’t hesitate to give yourself a break!
9) Do something for someone else.
Look around an you will find others with needs. Doing something to help them will take you out of yourself and your situation, and it will lighten their load–and yours! There may be something you can do physically, even with your current limitations. But even if you can’t move, you can listen to others. You can pray for them. Your time of healing can become a time of healing for them, too!
10) Bless others by opening your heart to receive their help.
If you refuse to allow friends and family to help you for fear of being a “burden” or for fear of losing your independence, you are robbing them of the blessing and happiness they would experience by giving of themselves to you. Why not let them, instead, be a source of joy and comfort to you? Love makes the world go ’round, they say. Giving and receiving love in service to one another transforms our lives into a fulfilling, heart-warming adventure!
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Tags: broken bone, fracture, osteoporosis, pain medication
June 25th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Great list!
June 26th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Thanks, Ryan! I’m posting a hard copy of this Top 10 list on my own bathroom mirror to encourage me on “cranky” days.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:54 am
thanks alot number ten i really have to work on
May 29th, 2010 at 2:49 am
i didn’t know I had a broken ankle for 3 months as it was a rare brake and am going to print out your list and stick it around the place, thanks a lot for this list
May 29th, 2010 at 5:02 am
You’re welcome, Gabi. I will keep you in my prayers for a speedy recovery.
God bless you,
Kathy
June 17th, 2010 at 11:38 am
This is a great list! I am at week 4 of recovering really well from a bad bimalleolar break and have been doing all of the above except I didnt know to eliminate caffeine so thank you for that added info!!
June 18th, 2010 at 5:22 am
You’re welcome, Brittany. I will keep you in my prayers for a speedy recovery.
February 5th, 2011 at 4:24 am
Broke my right foot doing MMA. Very slow recovery 7 weeks still feel bad pain. Great list very inspiring. Thanks
February 5th, 2011 at 10:41 am
Thanks, Frank! I will pray for you for healing and relief from pain. Please let me know how you’re progressing.
God bless you,
Kathy
April 7th, 2011 at 8:49 am
Hi Kathy,
Many thanks for the information – much appreciated.
Came off a ladder on the weekend straight onto my back from about 2.5m height, and fractured (compression) my L1 vertebra.
Fortuntaly spinal cord not impacted, and now focussing on healing of bone.
Diet will now take into account your advice – thank you as I can now understand how much real effect it will have on recovery.
May 5th, 2011 at 7:11 am
Hello, Arun. I’m glad you found this information helpful. I will keep you in prayer for a complete recovery.
God bless you,
Kathy
June 6th, 2011 at 10:48 am
Hi,
I had a injury in my right leg. It’s a major accident. Doctor told for bed rest for atleast 3 months. And you all knows that how difficult it is. Can any one suggest which diet i need to follow for fast recovery. What food ???
My email : shamshu4u@gmail.com
June 6th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Hello. Wow! Three months in bed! I sure hope you have a working TV, some jazzy music, and a good book or two to keep your mind occupied. As for healing bones faster, please check out this article that I wrote on that topic at http://osteodiet.com/2008/06/2.....ne-faster/. I will keep you in prayer for a speedy recovery!
Blessings to you,
Kathy
June 14th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Hi! Miss Kathy! I am only in 6th grade and just broke my tibia fibia and ankle playing soccer
. Summer has just begun and I am stuck on the couch for four weeks with a thigh high 30 pound cast. Then after I get that off I get a cast below knee for 2-6 weeks. That means my summer is gone the 3rd time in a row. Yes, I have broken a leg 3 straight years. I really wanted to have a great summer but now it’s gone. I had trouble wih number 10. And I really want to have this heal the fastest that it can. Thank you!!!!!
Abby
June 16th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Hi, Abby! Yes, it can be really hard to accept other people’s help, especially when you are used to be being strong and independent. I will keep you prayer for a complete and speedy healing, so that you will be back in the action soon! I used to teach middle school, so I have special place in my heart for you.
God bless you and keep you safe,
Kathy
June 28th, 2011 at 3:03 am
hi! kATHY
i broke my 4th and 5th metacarpal!! it has been 1 n half months now im recovering but stil im suffering from swelling…..and i was drinking n smoking but now reading this i will stop smoking..thnx alot foh the list! and 1qsn is tobacoo bad too? or not plz answer me…..ok thank u kathy
June 28th, 2011 at 3:05 am
and im on doing physiotherapy ive jammed hand so but im recovering slowly but it hurts too much and deu to swelling of hand it made more painfull:(
June 30th, 2011 at 10:44 am
hi. Thanks for d tips. Am presently on bed due 2 broken tibia n fibula on d right leg while playin football at skool. I hop 2 b back on my feet soonest bcos my xams are fast approaching. Guess these tips wil help me in my recovery.
July 5th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
I broke my femur June 2nd of last year, unfortunately the plate supporting it broke after 10 months of non-union.Had bone graft but seems the broken bone hasn’t shown any improvement. It was exactly 10 weeks today after the 2nd surgery.
July 7th, 2011 at 3:14 am
There is a highly rated product out from Garden of Life called “Grow Bone System.” It’s available at my local health food store, but you can also order it on Amazon.com. (Link: http://www.amazon.com/Garden-L.....roduct_top) This product contains the nutrients that I took to rebuild my bones, and if I were to break a bone today, I would immediately purchase this product. I don’t know if it will help in your situation, but it might be worth a try. I will pray for you that your femur will heal.
God bless you,
Kathy
July 7th, 2011 at 3:22 am
Anmol, giving up smoking and drinking definitely will improve your body’s ability to rebuild bone tissue. You’re on the right track!
God bless you and keep you,
Kathy
July 7th, 2011 at 3:23 am
Mapis, what a painful football injury! I will keep you in prayer for a quick recovery and for success with your exams.
Blessings to you and yours,
Kathy
August 4th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
Six weeks ago I stumbled while stepping of my bicycle, landed on my butt and got a 40% compression fracture of L3. (An earlier herniated disk at L5/S1 wasn’t too happy about that either!) Recovery seems to be taking a LONG time, so I’m excited to have found your website with so many helpful ideas. I’m especially interested in the acid/alkaline food balancing suggestions. I gotta get back to being able to pick up my precious grandbabies! Bless you for sharing!
September 24th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
have any of you heard of fasst patch??? i just ordered one to see how it goes.. along with comfrey and dr christopher complete bone & tissue.. i am 5 1/2 weeks ..wih proximal humerus fracture.. doing good .. quit smoking to speed things along. been doing exercises since week 2.. wondering what other exercises i can do.. dont have a doctor.. so i am making this up as i go along..almost can put my hand on my hip now..
October 15th, 2011 at 6:50 am
Hi. Last week by a bike skit my right leg febula bone is minor broken.how many times takes it fr heal
October 20th, 2011 at 8:26 am
Ashish, I wish I knew what to tell you. Every fracture is different. Mine healed in about 6 weeks, if I remember correctly, but yours may heal faster or slower. I will keep you in prayer for a quick recovery.
God bless you,
Kathy
October 25th, 2011 at 8:52 am
i broke ma femur bone in january and had to go on a surgery again after 6 months ..now its been more than three months i feel better…and da top 10 way i really liked it a lot especially da joy stuffs ..sometimes i lack joy newaz hope u recover soon i pray 4 u n others n maself
good daY
October 26th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
i rate this article a 15/10. i just got a scaphoid fracture and it will probably take 6-12 weeks of recovery,so by reading this article it made me feel much better than before. i especially loved points 7, 9, and 10.
November 25th, 2011 at 10:14 am
i fell off a fence and shattered my radious (elbow) Drs say i wont be able to put my arm straight again and i cant turn my hand over can u suggest anything i could do to get my mobility back in my hand
November 27th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Sam, I’m so sorry to hear about your accident. I wish I could help you to know how to get the mobility back in your hand. Have you asked for a second opinion from another doctor? I know that physical therapy often works miracles for joint mobility. I will keep you in prayer for a complete recovery. Please let me know about your progress.
November 29th, 2011 at 1:21 am
I just found your early this morning. I like you list of ten. I broke my ankle last month. I had two breaks in the Tibia and one break in the fibula. I will bookmark your website on my desk computer. Number ten is very hard to practice, but I can’t bear any weight for hopefully for another month. Tv is burning me out. I will start making a prayer list and start reading the Bible .
November 30th, 2011 at 6:27 am
Godspeed on your recovery, Patty! I will keep you in prayer.
Kathy
December 31st, 2011 at 8:36 am
Hi, I’m 27 years old. I had very bad accident 26th of October. My left leg tibia bone broken doctors says i don’t need surgery. But stile not recovery. how to speed recovery ? I have my wedding 19th January.
thank you,
Podi
January 2nd, 2012 at 7:03 am
Hi, Podi. One additional trick you might try is taking Garden of Life’s Raw Vitamin Code “Grow Bone” system. You can check out these supplements at your local health food store or online at http://www.amazon.com/Garden-L.....038;sr=8-1.
Blessings and best wishes to you on your upcoming wedding!
Kathy
January 8th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
Hi, My 17 yr old son sustained a mid shaft left clavicle/collar bone fracture while snowboarding on January 3. The fracture was 1.84cm.
2cm is where they recomend putting a plate and screws in which then usually have to be removed a year or two later. We decided to let it heal without the surgery using a sling support. The ortho-surgeon said it was basically 50-50 which way to go and left it up to me. Tough decision but I thought we would go the less invasive route. Is there anything further you would recommend to aid proper healing at his age? He’s a competitive snowboarder and this is a fairly common injury and may happen more than once. I forgot to ask the doctor if the bone will be as strong as before. The bone will be shorter on one side and I hope it really won’t greatly affect his mobility or cause back pain in the future. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks and god bless
January 10th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
My goodness! What a dramatic injury! I, too, hope that your son’s fracture will be able to heal without surgery. The only I haven’t listed in the article is that my naturopathic doctor, Dr. Steven D’Antonio, had me take a liquid calcium-magnesium supplement, and the injury did heal in record time. (See http://www.vitaminlife.com/pro.....g+Ratio%29)
I will definitely keep your son in my prayers for complete and speedy recovery!
January 21st, 2012 at 7:40 pm
I had a fracture in my base of fifth metatarcel. its 3 weeks now and I am in non weight bearing cast. not allowed to put weight on the broken foot. Swelling is still there and it hurts. but thanks God I never smoke and used alcohol. And i understand why its use is discouraged in most religions. These advises are very helpful. I would definitely use the food as recommended to heal it much faster. I want to see if not smoking and alcohol all my life would pay off.
January 26th, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Great list! I believe I have broken the sesamoid bones on my foot from a running incident, and having been trying to rest it, but it’s been nearly 3 months so far, and it’s still hurting. I never went to the doctor, because we don’t have the money (my husband gets ssi), so I’ve just been wearing a gel insole taped to the middle of my foot to keep weight off the ball of my food where the pain is at. I hope it heals soon. It’s very discouraging, especially for someone trying to lose weight and better themselves.
January 27th, 2012 at 1:51 am
Steph, you may need a walking cast, such as “aa” is wearing. Better to get an x-ray to find out what is wrong, even if you have to go to the ER to get it, and then pay for it a little at a time. You are worth the money! The body needs a strong foundation for movement. I applaud you for trying to lose weight and better yourself. I hope you will do this for yourself as part of that effort.
God bless you,
Kathy