Can your leg be broken and still walk on it?

Can your leg be broken and still walk on it?

Sometimes, a really bad complete fracture will not be able to carry weight or otherwise function properly. Most of the time, however, fractures can indeed support weight. The patient can probably even walk on a broken leg—it just hurts like the dickens.

How serious is a broken leg?

A broken leg (leg fracture) will be severely painful and may be swollen or bruised. You usually will not be able to walk on it. If it’s a severe fracture, the leg may be an odd shape and the bone may even be poking out of the skin.

What to do if someone has a leg fracture?

Take these actions immediately while waiting for medical help:

1. Stop any bleeding. Apply pressure to the wound with a sterile bandage, a clean cloth or a clean piece of clothing.
2. Immobilize the injured area.
3. Apply ice packs to limit swelling and help relieve pain.
4. Treat for shock.

Can a broken leg cause death?

It’s not unheard of for blood clots to form after someone breaks a leg, which happened to Wertz, or fractures an ankle, which happened to Balogh. They occur in about 8 percent of injuries, said Dr. Robert Friedman, an orthopedic surgeon at Coordinated Health. But very few people die as a result.

What are the signs of a broken leg?

Signs and symptoms of a broken leg may include:

• Severe pain, which may worsen with movement.
• Swelling.
• Tenderness.
• Bruising.
• Obvious deformity or shortening of the affected leg.
• Inability to walk.

Will a broken leg heal on its own?

Bones are very flexible and can withstand a lot of physical force. However, if the force is too great, bones can break. A broken bone or fracture can repair itself, provided that the conditions are right for the break to heal completely.

How do you comfort a broken leg?

Invest in a specialized pillow, like a body pillow, for elevation—keeping the broken bone above your heart prevents blood from pooling and causing swelling. Try sleeping on your back first while propped up on a few pillows. If that doesn’t work, slowly adjust yourself to a side position if possible.

Does breaking a bone shorten your life?

Fractures – Any Fractures – Shorten Life Expectancy Fractures shorten life expectancy. A study of 30,000 women and men in Denmark, led by Jack Cush, M.D, found that a fracture, any fracture, increased that patient’s 10-year mortality risk—but that the risk of death was highest in the first year after the fracture.

How do you treat a broken leg at home?

Treating a broken leg at home

1. Keep your leg as still as possible until help arrives.
2. Rest.
3. Put an ice pack wrapped in a pillowcase or towel on your leg to ease swelling.
4. If possible, keep your leg raised with pillows or cushions to reduce swelling.
5. Often with a broken leg, surgery is necessary.

What are the long term effects of broken bones?

Any serious physical injury can cause serious psychological trauma as well. Depending on the severity of the fracture and the way it has impacted your life, you may experience a range of psychological conditions. These can include depression, anxiety, stress and nightmares.

How likely are you to break a bone in your life?

Fractures, or broken bones, are extremely common. On average, every person will experience two broken bones over the course of a lifetime. Vertebral or spinal fractures are the most common fractures occurring in 30-50% of people over the age of 50 and result in significantly increased morbidity and mortality.

What is the best medicine for broken bones?

To reduce pain and inflammation, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or a combination of the two. If you’re experiencing severe pain, your doctor might prescribe stronger pain medications.

What is the prognosis of a broken leg?

If treated promptly and properly, a broken leg usually will regain normal function. Because the major bones of the leg support our weight, at least 6-8 weeks is usually required before the bone is healed. The severity of the injury and your age may cause problems.

What are the symptoms of a broken leg?

Signs and symptoms of a broken leg include severe pain that is worsened with movement, swelling, and misalignment or deformity of the leg. There may be shortening of the leg, twisting of the leg below the knee, or an abnormal angle to the leg.

How do you treat a broken bone?

Treatment for a broken bone involves setting the bone back in place. The orthopedic doctor may use a case, splint, or a brace to keep the bone in place and immobilize the affected limb.

What is the treatment for a broken leg?

Treatment of a broken leg depends on the location and severity of the injury. A severely broken leg may require surgery to implant devices into the broken bone to maintain proper alignment during healing. Other injuries may be treated with a cast or splint.