Caution: Complications of Ankle Sprains Below
Posted on June 23, 2008
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Ankle sprains are quite common injuries especially in the world of sports. However, when not taken care of properly or when injuries can re-occurred, then complications of ankle sprains can occur. The complications of ankle sprains can be quite serious and should definitely be taken into consideration when thinking that an ankle sprain does not need to be attended to with care. There are four main complications that can occur. These include Synovitis, persistent swelling of the ankle, ankle instability, and nerve entrapment. These are all complications of ankle sprains that need to be approached with care and concern. The ankle bears a lot of weight throughout life and a permanent or persistent injury to the ankle can be quite disruptive to daily life and activities. Some of the complications are described below.
Synovitis is inflammation of the inner lining of the ankle joint capsule. Unfortunately this can occur even if there is proper treatment of the initial ankle injury. If the symptoms persist and continue to cause problems they can be fixed through arthroscopy of the ankle. This is one of the most common complications of ankle sprains. The next of the complications of ankle sprains is persistent swelling. This can be caused by the ligament tear not healing properly. The tearing of the ligament can take a few months to heal initially. In order to find the actual cause of the swelling an MRI is often used. This will determine the treatment of how to alleviate the swelling. The most common treatment is physical therapy. The third of the complications of ankle sprains is lateral ankle instability. This is when the ankle seems to roll on itself during daily activities. Instability of the ankle can also cause some swelling and low grade pain. The typical treatment for instability is temporary casting, wearing braces and splints, and physical therapy. The last of the complications of ankle sprains is nerve injuries. The most common reason for nerve injuries is severe swelling caused by rolling the ankle. The nerves around the ankle that are affected are called the cutaneous nerves. The pain that goes along with this condition is usually sharp and radiating. Simply walking can aggravate this condition. Treatment for this should be immediate and typically involves immobilization of the area. Surgery is very rare. All of these ailments can occur when an ankle injury has been sustained, however, with proper treatment of the initial injury it should heal quickly without complications. The key is to use care and caution when dealing with the initial ankle injury.
Careless Smoking and 3rd Degree Burns
Posted on June 16, 2008
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House fires often happen at night when everyone is asleep; especially if there is a smoker in the house. Smokers sometimes go to sleep with a lit cigarette. If you smoke, never smoke when you are sleepy. Always extinguish your cigarette in an ashtray, and make sure it is completely out. Empty ashtrays only after all the heat is gone from its contents. If a fire should start from a dropped cigarette, it may smolder for hours before a flame appears. Everyone could be asleep or unresponsive from smoke inhalation. No matter how a fire starts, whether from careless smoking or some other cause, serious burns can result.
Many 3rd degree burns happen at home, and sadly children are often the victims. Children playing with lighters can easily catch their clothes on fire. Parents can prevent this kind of injury by keeping their matches and lighters out of the reach of their children. Flame resistant clothing can help prevent 3rd degree burns, because if the clothes don’t catch on fire there will be no contact with the heat source.
All 3rd degree burns are serious; when the area burned is confined to a small area it may be able to be treated in a doctor’s office or emergency room as an outpatient. When a major burn involves a larger percentage of the body’s surface it is a medical emergency. If you are exposed to flames the immediate response is to stop what you are doing and drop to the floor or ground and then roll to put out the flames. So many extensive 3rd degree burns have been incurred because the person on fire panicked and ran, rather than doing the basic stop, drop and roll life-saving method.
With thermal injury the person is exposed to heat or flame. If you are in a situation such as this, after the stop, drop and roll maneuver, remove jewelry and clothing from the area burned if possible; the exception to this is if the jewelry or clothing are stuck to the burned area. Don’t ever try to remove anything that is stuck to the injury. Let the professionals deal with anything that is stuck to the wound. 3rd degree burns penetrate the whole thickness of the skin, and may also involve the fatty and muscular layers. 3rd degree burns sometimes involve the skeletal tissue; however, some professionals classify burning of bone tissue as a 4th degree burn.
A state of shock often sets in after a 3rd degree burn. Hypovolemic shock is caused when there is massive fluid loss when a large area of the body is burned. The immediate treatment for shock is to lie the victim down and elevate the feet about 12 inches (30 cm) so that the feet and legs are above the heart. It is necessary to keep the blood flowing to the vital organs. Cover the victim with a blanket to prevent chilling.
Dial 911 immediately. Emergency workers will immediately insert an intravenous line to keep a vein open for any emergency drugs that need to be administered. The IV is to replenish the body’s fluid and electrolyte balance, but it is also a route for medications to be administered to treat the effects related to 3rd degree burns.
Everyone should have a working smoke detector in their home. Check it regularly. Have an escape plan in case of fire. Practice your escape route. Make sure everyone in the family understands what they are to do in case of fire. Practicing an escape route several times a year will help to avoid panic. Most often people die because they panic.
Broken Tail Bones – Didn’t Even Know I Had One!
Posted on June 15, 2008
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It comes as a real surprise to many people that broken tail bones are something that happens to humans. A lot of people don’t know a tail bone even exists on the human skeleton. Called a coccyx, it’s a small bone located at the bottom end of the spinal column. It is actually composed of up to 5 small bones that are connected.
Broken tail bones can be extremely painful in some cases. Though some people are tempted to laugh at the thought of breaking a tiny human tail bone, the pain experienced is not funny at all. This is especially true when you try to sit down with a broken tail bone.
There are lots of reasons why broken tail bones can be fairly common. The bone breaks as a result of trauma, just like any other bone break. Tail bones are often broken as a result of injury sustained while participating in athletic or recreational sports like football or hockey. Broken tail bones are often the result of falling too. When you fall hard on your buttocks, the result can be broken tail bones. For example, people can break a tail bone in the winter when falling on icy driveways or on slippery steps. Any kind of direct blow to the bones, or any kind of strain placed on the bones, can result in broken bones.
First aid treatment for broken tail bones concentrates on making life bearable until the bone heals. When you have a broken tail bone, sitting can be very painful. Pressure applied to the tailbone area for any reason can cause increased pain. Some people get a donut shaped pillow to sit on so there’s no pressure on the bottom of the spine. There are also specially made pillows designed for broken tail bones that serve the same purpose as a donut pillow, but offer other comfort features too.
Other first aid treatments for broken tail bones include using ice packs to reduce swelling. If the pain is too bad, the doctor can prescribe a pain killer. You should try over the counter medications first though. There’s seldom a need for surgery. The tail bone will eventually heal, but it’s like any other bone in the body. It can take months for the bone to properly heal so it takes a lot of patience.
Broken tail bones are very seldom considered serious problems, but they can be very painful. First aid for broken tail bones concentrates on finding ways to relieve the pressure on the bones so the pain is minimized. The best cure for broken tail bones is lots of time.
Take a Drink and Flea the Scene: The Scoop on Flea Bites
Posted on June 15, 2008
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Flea bites are a common complaint of dog and cat lovers especially when they jump from the animal onto a human host. Fleas have three separate mouthparts. They inject saliva into their host. They will then have a blood meal and flea the scene, often time unnoticed by they unsuspecting human host. Fleas are non host specific and will jump from host to host for a blood meal.
Fleas bites are characterized by tiny red blotches which are extremely itchy. Fleas bites generally form a line of three bites which helps to distinguish a flea bite from other insect bites. Fleas are so tiny that they appear to the naked eye as tiny black specks. The larvae of the flea resemble a grain of sand. Flea larvae is sensitive to light and therefore are found embedded into the deep fibers of carpets.
Flea bites appear on areas of the human body found closest to the ground; feet, ankles and calves. Another reason why flea bites are most commonly found on the feet and ankles is that these insects bite areas that are exposed. In the summer people tend to wear sandals and other open shoes. Normally socks are not worn with these types of shoes. Fleas will invade beds and mattresses and normally people do not wear socks to bed. However these insects can jump as high as thirteen inches which is an incredible 200 times their actual size. Therefore fleas can jump off their animal hosts or from the floors and carpets of your home and can bite any exposed area of the human body.
Fleas require warm temperatures to survive. Fleas found in colder climates such as Canada and the northern United States are seasonal in nature. The flea season far these climates is from March to October. Unfortunately, flea season is year round for warmer climates. Fleas also strive in damp climates.
Flea bites itch and cause swelling. Sensitive individuals may contract hive-like rashes. Secondary infection can occur due to intense scratching. When flea bites become infected they will fill with fluid. Scratching can also break down skin cells and cause burning. Intense scratching sometimes cause the bite wound to bleed, afterwards a scab will form.
The best cure for flea bites is prevention. Make sure your dogs and cats have flea collars and treat their infestation before the fleas come after you. There are flea powders and flea baths and medication such as frontline to clear up your pet’s problem. A dehumidifier set at 50 will take enough humidity out of your home to sufficiently prevent the breeding of fleas.
Once you have a flea infestation the best way to rid the infestation is to get rid of the fleas. Make sure to clean all surfaces of your home, bedding, clothing, floors, carpets, etc. Empty vacuum cleaner bags after every use (the fleas will live inside). Spray floors, surfaces and bedding, clothing and furniture with a solution of pyrethrin.
Flea bites will normally disappear on their own, but in the case of severe reactions take one or two Benadryl capsules every six hours. You may also require a topical hydrocortisone cream and medication for open cuts and wounds.
Love Bites: There Must Be Less Painful Ways To Show Me You Love Me
Posted on June 15, 2008
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Love Bites – What are they? What kinds of ways can humans bite other one another?
The first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of love bites is the traditional teenage hickeys. Young love, fresh and new, experimenting, showing love, or marking territory “she is mine.” Whatever the case may be, a hickey is a minor hematoma; a discoloration of the skin caused by the bursting of blood vessels under the derma as a result of forcefully kissing, sucking or biting. The bruising usually lasts up to two weeks then goes away on its own. However, if you absolutely want to try to hide it or make it go away faster, you can:
• Hide it with clothing.
• Cover it up with make up; green tint works best on the reddish bluish bruise.
• Place an icepack, cool compress ( ice in a towel), on the site for about twenty minutes, remove and repeat a second time.
• Freeze a spoon and apply pressure to the site. You will have to do this several times, as the spoon will no doubt warm up fast.
• Lightly brush love bites with a toothbrush, or any surface like a comb that will move or shake the skin. This vigorous activity will stimulate the blood cells and break up the clot beneath. Stimulate the area for about 18 minutes then add a cold compress and repeat action if necessary.
• The coin method involves taking your fingers and spreading the area as far a part as you can then take a coin and vigorously scrape the bruise. By doing so you will be moving the blood lodged underneath the skin. This method might be slightly uncomfortable but requires less explaining. For some teenagers it is less embarrassing justifying scrapes on your neck rather than love bites.
You love toddlers and they love you. Sometimes they even bite. Fortunately these little love bites rarely break the skin.
However, love bites from humans may are may not be loving but they can be more serious. Human bites can carry more infection than animal bites because of the bacteria found in the mouth and human saliva. The transmission of viruses such as aids and osteomyelitis (bone or bone marrow infection) is also funneled through human bites.
Even if someone scrapes their knuckles across another person’s teeth in an altercation is considered a bite if the skin has been broken.
The chomping type of bite; biting a finger can look relatively innocuous, but can damage the tendons close to the surface of the finger.
A bite to the head is especially problematic when young children are involved. Their scalps and foreheads are thin and the risk of infection from the tooth bite should not be taken lightly. Seek medical attention before self medicating.
First Aid for Human Bites:
• Apply pressure to stop the bleeding
• Cleanse the wound with soap and water
• Apply an antibiotic
• Bandage the wound
• Seek medical help
• Get a tetanus shot if you haven’t had one in the previous five years
• Certain bites may require plastic surgery.
Hand wounds from bites can be very dangerous, bacteria can enter the wound site and lodge very deep inside, medical intervention may be required. Surgical drainage of fluid may be required. A bad infection left unattended may cause permanent damage. Love bites, unfortunately, can prove rather troublesome.
Wrist Sprains: Essential Information Below
Posted on June 15, 2008
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Just like any other sprain, wrist sprains are an injury to the ligament. The wrist has several ligaments this means that the chance of a sprain is increased. The most commonly injured ligaments in the wrist are the collateral, dorsal, and volar ligaments. The most common method of injury is the extension or flexion of the wrist. The treatment of wrist sprains is essential because the wrist is such a commonly used is of the body, that re-injury is high. Also, because people need to use their hands and wrists so often, typically the period of rest that should be taken after an injury is not. This can result in an improper healing of the current injury as well as the heightened chances of injuring that same wrist again. As tough as it may be, it is essential to rest and ice the wrist. To ensure that the area is rested, there are many different products that can be worn. The most common in the first few weeks after wrist sprains is a compression bandage or tensor. These can be provided by the hospital or physician, or they can be purchased at any drug store or pharmacy.
However, with wrist sprains it is more commonly advised than with other sprains that a splint be worn for quite a while after the injury. There are many different types of splints available. The most common splint is one that is made of cloth or fabric but then has a metal supportive bar that can be shaped to the curvature of the wrist. This metal bar is located in the splint on the underside and extends up the forearm. Because the splint is somewhat flexible while being supportive it can be worn during most activities. These activities could include cooking, typing, other computer work and even worn during some sports. There are also splints that offer a little less mobility if the injury is a little worse. These splints are typically made from hard plastic that does not bend and keeps the wrist in one place. The splint that you should wear will probably be suggested by your physician or physical therapist so that it is not quite so much of a guessing game. Because the wrist is such an important body part and used so often, it is important that the injury heals as best as possible so that the possibilities of a re-injury are reduced. Several injuries to the same joint can result in arthritis and arthritis in the wrists can be quite debilitating. Wrist sprains should be taken seriously so that mobility and daily activity are not reduced.
Bug Off! How to get Relief from Bug Bites
Posted on June 14, 2008
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Bugs come in all shapes and sizes. The effects of bug bites and stings depend largely on the bug that has bitten or stung you and the intensity of the allergic reaction you have from those bug bites. People have allergic reactions to bug bites and stings because of the venom these insect inject into the skin of their victims. This venom or saliva aids in their digestive processes. In the case of certain spiders, the venom paralyzes their prey so feeding can occur.
Most bug bites are annoying but harmless causing a lot of itching, a bit of swelling, and some redness around the affected area. Many bug bites can be quite painful as well. Spiders and scorpions are bugs to watch out for because of the pain factor.
Most severe reactions to bug bites cause a condition called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis symptoms are more dangerous than the common allergy reaction to bug bites. Some of the anaphylaxis symptoms include: trouble breathing, wheezing, dry mouth, sore throat, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, chills, coma and death.
Treatment for bug bites
The most logical first step is get away from the assaulting colony of bees or which ever insect is the culprit.
If you have been stung by a bee you must remove the stinger immediately, the more time spend in the skin the more possibility of venom entering the wound site. Remove the stinger with tweezers.
A word of caution, if you have not successfully removed the stinger you will need to get medical attention. Thoroughly wash the affected area with soap and water.
Apply an ice pack to sting bites to help prevent inflammation.
For tick bites remove the tick with tweezers, or adhesive tap.
If the bug bite site is very itchy, you can take an antihistamine such as Benadryl; one or two tablets every six hours.
You can also use a topical cream containing hydrocortisone.
For anaphylaxis symptoms you must get a prescription for epinephrine or adrenaline depending up the area of the world that you live in. Follow the directions to the tee and carry the prescription around with you at all times.
Having the proper medication on hand when an anaphylaxis reaction occurs can be the difference between life and death.
If you do not have a prescription, call 911 or find the way to get yourself to the hospital immediately for medical care.
It is always wise to keep a first aid kit handy, not buried under piles of junk in the attic or garage. Find a place such as a kitchen or bathroom cabinet in your home to store the bug bites kit. Have a kit tucked in the glove compartment of your car and take it on outings and trips with you. The items you will need the most often are tweezers, pain relievers, ice packs, topical ointments with hydrocortisone, adhesive tape, bandages, scissors, alcohol and or alcohol pads, band-aids, sterile gauzes, peroxide, anti bacterial cleaning swaps, and even though not included in your kit, make sure you have a cell phone that you can use if you are in an out of the reach place such as a remote camping area
Broken Foot Bones – It Hurts When I Walk!
Posted on June 7, 2008
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Usually the first indication you have broken foot bones is when it hurts to walk. It’s amazing that more people don’t break the bones in their feet more often considering the heavy load they carry during a lifetime. It’s even more amazing when you learn a single human foot has 26 bones, and any of them can be broken.
The foot has 3 basic sections called the forefoot, the midfoot and the hindfoot. The foot is actually attached to the leg bone at the heel. The set of five bones in the middle of the foot are called Metatarsal bones. The forefoot is where you find your toe bones. Each toe is connected to a Metatarsal bone and the Metatarsals are attached to the hindfoot. The foot is an elaborate and wonderful system of bones that couldn’t have been designed any better by a professional engineer.
Broken foot bones typically occur when a bone is crushed, impacted or twisted the wrong way. Children break foot bones more often then adults. This is probably due to the fact children are involved in lots of physical activities and their bones are still growing. Metatarsal bones are usually broken in adults as a result of participation in strenuous sports activities or from dropping something heavy on the foot. Toe bones are usually broken due to an impact of some kind such as walking into a bed post or kicking something hard. Heel bones aren’t often broken in adults, but when they do break, it’s usually due to jumping off of something onto the hard ground.
Most people discover they have broken foot bones, because they can’t put weight on the foot, or it looks bruised and swollen. First aid for broken foot bones includes elevating the foot and applying ice the first 24 hours in order to reduce the amount of bruising and swelling. When toe bones are broken, all that can really be done is to splint the toe to keep it immobile.
Breaks in larger foot bones may require a removable cast which covers most of the foot, the ankle and the lower portion of the leg. The cast keeps the foot bones immobile until they heal. It can be removed periodically in order to rotate the foot to keep tendons and ligaments flexible. In many cases, crutches will be required to keep body weight off the foot until the bones are partially healed. In the most serious breaks, the foot bones may have to be pinned in order to reconnect the bones.
The most important thing to do is follow your doctor’s orders to the letter. When the broken foot bones begin to feel better, it’s tempting to discard the crutches too soon. As you age, it takes bones longer to heal but with proper care your foot bones will recover. It certainly pays to take care of your feet, because they keep us mobile all of our lives.
Pictures of Broken Bones – A Thousand Words
Posted on June 7, 2008
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The old saying claims a picture is worth a thousand words and that’s true of pictures of broken bones. It’s easy to throw out words like femur and fibula, but if you can’t picture the bones then the words are virtually meaningless. Pictures of broken bones are also useful for showing the different kinds of breaks bones can experience. They show how the break looks if you could actually see the bone.
Breaks to bones have been classified by the medical community. When a bone breaks into pieces, it’s called a fracture. When a bone breaks on one side only, it’s called a greenstick fracture. In a greenstick fracture the break does not go all the way through. A comminuted fracture is when a bone breaks into more than 2 pieces. A compound fracture is when the broken end of the bone breaks through the skin. When bone bends in a child, but doesn’t actually break, it’s called a bowing fracture. An oblique fracture is a break which occurs at an angle.
After describing all the different types of fractures, it can still be hard to imagine what the fracture looks like. How do you adequately describe a broken ankle bone creating a large lump? How can anyone properly explain a crushed bone with words? Pictures of broken bones can graphically show breaks which make clear the impact of the trauma.
There are many uses for pictures of broken bones.
• Graphic description
• Research
• First aid training
• Documentation
• Medical analysis
• Information
Pictures of broken bones are also useful for showing how various repair techniques are progressing. For example, a bone that has been in a cast for several weeks can be x-rayed to show healing progress. Other pictures of broken bones may show fixation device placement such as rods and screws. Some complicated bone fractures require elaborate surgeries and special devices to hold the bones together until they heal.
If you’re interested in looking at pictures of broken bones, there are plenty online. You can find images of x-rayed bones, screwed bones, bones which have been healing and newly fractured bones.
There are many different kinds of bone fractures. Understanding the differences between the fracture types is much easier when you can look at pictures of broken bones. It’s always comforting to know as much as possible when experiencing body trauma such as a broken bone. Having a clear picture of how the bone is healing can help you stay on track and continue to follow the doctor’s advice. That’s how you’ll heal as quickly as possible!
Broken Leg Bones – Tingle, Mingle, Single
Posted on May 31, 2008
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There are hundreds of combinations that describe broken leg bones and the related symptoms. When a leg bone breaks it can cause a tingling sensation for example. The break may be a simple single break that doesn’t go all the way through the bone, or it can be a multiple fracture, and the bones slip apart. This is the kind of mingling you hope to avoid in your life!
In most cases, the broken leg bones will cause a significant amount of pain and swelling. It’s almost impossible to put any weight on the leg without increasing the level of pain. There can be obvious signs of breakage too. For example, with a compound fracture the broken end of a bone pierces the skin (ouch!). In other cases, there are signs of bleeding where your broken bone mingled with soft tissue causing damage. Of course, the interior of the bone is composed of spongy tissue containing blood vessels, so a break can cause bleeding until the vessels clot.
Recommended immediate first aid for broken bones is relatively simple. The leg should be elevated and immobilized. You can also apply ice. Using ice and elevating the leg will reduce swelling. Immobilizing the leg will prevent the situation from becoming worse. If you have a broken leg and try to walk on it, more damage can be caused. For example, a complete bone fracture can be turned into a complex fracture with associated soft tissue damage. A bad situation is turned into a worse one.
There are actually four bones in the leg:
• Femur or thigh bone
• Patella or knee cap
• Tibia or shin bone
• Ankle
Any of these bones can break for many different reasons. Broken leg bones are serious, because they play such an important role in the ability of the body to stand upright, walk, sit and do a number of other activities. When leg bones are broken, they can also affect the bones in the hip and back due to the inability to walk correctly.
Fortunately, leg bones are quite strong due to their dense bone mass. Broken leg bones are usually the result of some kind of trauma such as a car accident or sports injury. Constant pounding of the leg bones can cause stress fractures. A stress fracture is crack in the bone, but the bone doesn’t separate. A common cause of broken leg bones in older women is osteoporosis where the bone mass has declined.
Immediate first aid treatment for broken leg bones is only intended to get the person to a doctor without causing additional damage to the leg. Almost all broken leg bones will require immobilization. The doctor will put the leg in a splint or cast to be determined by the severity and kind of break. In many cases, a broken leg requires surgery in order to realign the broken bones though sometimes clean breaks can be set without surgery. During surgery the bones will be pinned or screwed back together to hold them in place until the new bone growth is complete. There are other techniques used also including adding a rod to the leg to add stability and strength to the broken bones.
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