Many people treat fractures as a minor inconvenience rather than something that needs immediate treatment. This is an extremely harmful approach, since untreated fractures, no matter how minor, can turn into bigger complications in the future.

You might think your home remedies will sort out the issue you’re dealing with. But here are just some of the complications that arise from an untreated hand fracture.

How Fractures Work

Before we discuss treating a fracture, it’s important to understand what a fracture is. When you have a fracture, you essentially have a broken bone. The severity of the broken bone may vary from being a hairline fracture to a completely broken bone that pierces through your skin. You can sustain a fracture from an accident or a fall, or you could get it from stressing your bones while playing a sport.

It’s very rare for you to not ‘feel’ your fracture. No matter how serious your fracture is, the common symptom in all of them is pain and discomfort. And if left untreated for too long, this pain will only increase.

The Necessity of Treatment

X-ray images of hands.

If you’ve been in an accident which has left you with a severely broken bone, then treatment can’t be ignored. The excruciating pain will make it difficult to move your hand, and the only way to treat it is with the help of a medical professional.

The most common types of fractures that are ignored are on the lower scale of severity. These include stress fractures and breaks due to osteoporosis, a condition that weakens your bones. However, treatment is still necessary, despite the lack of urgency your fracture may initially portray.

Stress fractures, if left untreated, can lead to you further overusing your muscles and putting added stress on your bones. What started as an initial discomfort will only worsen with time until you need extensive treatment to do away with the pain.

Additionally, osteoporosis leaves patients at a higher risk of broken bones. In fact, many individuals seeking treatment for a broken hip have already broken another bone which explains the prolonged pain they experience. Regular checkups and meetings with a hand therapist can ensure you’re not walking around with discomfort due to a broken bone.

Get your treatment for minor and major fractures from us at Able Hands Rehabilitation. We provide certified hand physiotherapist in NJ who provide targeted treatments. Contact us today for more information or to book an appointment.