Sunday, March 20, 2011

Health Tips for March 20

Health Tip: Returning Home After Hip Fracture

Home life after surgery to repair a hip fracture is much different than it was before your injury. The simplest activities become more challenging, including the task of getting comfortable without pain.

The ADAM Encyclopedia offers these suggestions:

  • Continue with exercises recommended by your physical therapist.
  • Continue using your cane or crutches until your doctor or physical therapist says you can stop.
  • Try to get up and move around at least every 45 minutes.
  • Sit in chairs that have arm rests, and avoid low chairs that place your knees higher than your hips.
  • Instead of crossing your legs, sit with both feet flat on the floor, with your legs and feet pointed slightly outward.
  • Use a raised toilet seat for the first few weeks.
  • Avoid bending over to pick up things off the floor.
  • Don't sleep on your stomach or on the side affected by your surgery.

Health Tip: Signs That Shoulder Pain is a Broken Collarbone

The collarbone doesn't completely harden until about age 20 years. This makes younger people -- especially participants in contact sports -- more susceptible to a broken collarbone, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says.

The academy says common symptoms of a broken collarbone include:

  • Having a shoulder that droops.
  • Being in too much pain to lift one or both arms.
  • Feeling a "grinding" as you try to lift an arm.
  • Feeling pain when touching the collarbone.
  • Detecting an abnormal bump or swelling on the collarbone.

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