Can a broken bone hurt years later?

Full healing from a fracture can take anywhere from several weeks to several months and occasionally even several years. Pain that persists after full healing is expected to have taken place is called chronic pain.

What causes old broken bones to ache?

The current accepted explanation for bad-weather-related aches is that the drop in barometric pressure that comes with a storm allows soft tissue and fluid around joints to expand, irritating nerves and causing pain, especially at the sensitized site of an old injury.

Can broken bones cause problems later in life?

Once you've had one fragility fracture, you're much more likely to experience another. It's important to prevent these breaks because of their serious potential consequences, including chronic pain and a loss of mobility, independence and self-esteem. Long-term nursing home care may be needed.

Why do old injuries hurt years later?

Old injuries can linger around, causing pain for decades. That's because they create compensation in your muscular system, increasing your chances of getting injured again or developing arthritis. Treat the problem early, but if you can't, treat it late. Physical therapy is effective in either case.

Why do healed bones ache?

The source of sub-acute pain is partly from the break—especially from scarring and any inflammation you may still have—but much of it stems from the immobility that's needed for your bones to heal properly. The connective tissues get stiff and the muscles lose strength.

Why does your broken ankle hurt years later?

Can old injury flare up?

Many people with long-term pain will experience flare ups. These are a normal part of having persistent pain and are not a sign of new injury or damage. It is common for pain to flare-up even though you have been pacing, building up your activities and exercises gradually and practising relaxation.

When does a broken bone stop hurting?

Your Recovery

Your doctor fixed a broken (fractured) bone without surgery. You can expect the pain from the bone to get much better almost right after the procedure. But you may have some pain for 2 to 3 weeks and mild pain for up to 6 weeks after surgery.

Can old fractures be seen on xray?

Some of these missed diagnoses are followed by excellent functional recovery, and later only radiographic deformities can be found as positive evidence of an old healed fracture.

Can you get arthritis after breaking a bone?

Post-traumatic arthritis is a type of osteoarthritis that's caused by an injury like a bone fracture or dislocation. The damage from the injury creates arthritis quickly in the affected joint.

Can an old fracture break again?

There is an old adage that states you can't break the same bone twice because the bone grows back stronger than before. Unfortunately, this is a myth. There is still a chance you can fracture it again in the same place in the future. The odds are no higher or lower.

What are the long term effects of breaking a bone?

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.

Can you get PTSD from breaking a bone?

PTSD in Orthopaedic Trauma

A study found that many patients who experienced an orthopaedic trauma, such as a gunshot wound or a fracture from a motor vehicle accident, developed symptoms of PTSD.

How do you know if you have a malunion?

Symptoms of a malunion or nonunion can include constant pain long after your fracture was treated. Both can cause inflammation or infection because of damage to surrounding tissue.

How can you tell the difference between muscle pain and bone pain?

Bone pain usually feels deeper, sharper, and more intense than muscle pain. Muscle pain also feels more generalized throughout the body and tends to ease within a day or two, while bone pain is more focused and lasts longer. Bone pain is also less common than joint or muscle pain, and should always be taken seriously.

Why do my bones hurt when I touch them?

While bone pain is most likely due to decreased bone density or an injury to your bone, it can also be a sign of a serious underlying medical condition. Bone pain or tenderness could be the result of infection, an interruption in the blood supply, or cancer. These conditions require immediate medical attention.

Does osteoporosis cause pain if there are no fractures?

Osteoporosis is often referred to as a 'silent condition' and often a fracture is the first symptom that leads to investigation and diagnosis of the condition. Pain is not a symptom of osteoporosis in the absence of fractures.

Why does my wrist hurt years after breaking it?

Fractures that extend into a joint can cause arthritis years later. If your wrist starts to hurt or swell long after a break, see your doctor for an evaluation. Nerve or blood vessel damage. Trauma to the wrist can injure adjacent nerves and blood vessels.

How soon does arthritis set in after an injury?

Post-traumatic arthritis can develop months to years after any physical injury to your joints. Most commonly, physicians see arthritic development in patients who have suffered from vehicle accidents, past sports injuries, military injuries, and falls.

Can an old injury cause osteoarthritis?

Arthritis Caused by Injuries

This process may lead to pain or stiffness, and in extreme cases, cause advanced deterioration to the point where bones scrape against each other. There's no sure way to prevent post-traumatic arthritis following an injury, and about 40 percent of severe injuries lead to osteoarthritis.

What is considered an old fracture?

Old fracture generally refers to fractures for more than 3 weeks, and complications caused by delayed treatment or therapy: delayed union, malunion and nonunion of fractures. Delayed union means that fracture healing is not taking place within the expected time, but the definition of fracture nonunion is controversy.

Do old fractures show up on bone scans?

Since a bone scan reflects the bone metabolism, it may play an important role in the differentiation of old fractures and to detect metabolic diseases or fracture that is undetected by simple X-rays.

What happens if you fracture a bone and don't get it fixed?

Delayed Union. When a bone fracture is untreated, it can result in either a nonunion or a delayed union. In the former case, the bone doesn't heal at all, which means that it will remain broken. As a result, swelling, tenderness, and pain will continue to worsen over time.

What is the most painful bone in the body to break?

The Femur is often put at the top of the most painful bones to break. Your Femur is the longest and strongest bone in your body, running from your hip to your knee. Given its importance, it's not surprising that breaking this bone is an incredibly painful experience, especially with the constant weight being put on it.

Why does my broken foot still hurt after a year?

If your foot starts to hurt long after a break, see your doctor for an evaluation. Bone infection (osteomyelitis). If you have an open fracture, meaning one end of the bone protrudes through the skin, your bone may be exposed to bacteria that cause infection. Nerve or blood vessel damage.

Does a stress fracture still hurt after its healed?

Your injury is healed. You may have mild symptoms for 3-6 months. You can begin to resume normal, day-to-day activities but be guided by any pain you experience. X Heavy tasks or long walks may still cause some discomfort and swelling.