Painkillers may prevent broken bones healing

Some painkilling drugs may delay or even prevent the healing of fractures, researchers have warned.

"It's time to tell the public," says Thomas Einhorn, an orthopaedic surgeon at Boston University Medical Center and also a paid consultant to Merck, which makes one of the drugs under scrutiny. "It would seem that a prudent approach is to temporarily avoid the use of these drugs during bone healing."

The main concern is the new generation of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). When Patrick O'Connor's team at the University of New Jersey gave these newer painkillers to rats their broken bones did not fully heal. Both drugs, Rofecoxib (sold as Vioxx) and Celecoxib (Celebrex), are often used to ease the pain of broken bones.

Merck, the maker of Rofecoxib, rejects the claim that healing could be impaired in people too. It pointed out a study on spinal fusion operations that found no bone healing problems in people given Rofecoxib. Celecoxib's maker Pharmacia did not respond to queries before New Scientist went to press.

Delay or block
But for over 20 years there have been occasional reports of impaired bone healing in patients taking NSAIDs. The issue may have escaped attention because the older generation of NSAIDS, such as ibuprofen and indomethacin, only appear to delay healing by a few weeks instead of blocking it. Aspirin is one of the few NSAIDs that appears to kill pain without this side effect.

"Ibuprofen and indomethacin delay bone healing by about one to two weeks in rats, which is the equivalent to slowing it down by 25 to 50 per cent in humans," says O'Connor. None of the rats treated with Rofecoxib managed to heal their bones. In those treated with Celecoxib, none managed to completely heal their bones but about half had some form of bone regrowth.

Traditional NSAIDs inhibit the enzymes cox-1 and cox-2. Cox-2 catalyses the production of hormone-like chemicals known as prostaglandins involved in inflammation, while cox-1 has a variety of roles not specific to the inflammatory response. Since the new generation of NSAIDs such as rofecoxib block cox-2 almost exclusively, it was hoped they would have fewer side effects.

But it now seems that cox-2 may be crucial in helping bone-forming stem cells and growth factors do their work. This area now needs to be investigated urgently, says Jeremy Saklatvala of the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology in London. "In the meantime, people with healing fractures should steer clear of these drugs."

Journal reference: Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (vol 17, p 963)

Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2364-painkillers-may-prevent-broken-bones-healing.html

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Lasers accelerate healing of broken bones

Broken bones can sideline anyone for months, but now a high tech device is helping heal those bones and other injuries faster.Advertisement

Many professional sports teams already use it, and now this healing invention is helping the rest of us.

While Judi Charron was painting her kitchen last november, she fell off a stool and broke her wrist.

The break required a metal stabilizer that Judi was expected to wear for at least three months.

Twice a week her chiropractor C.J. Valenti used a cold laser on her wrist to stimulate healing.

"Due to that fact I got rid of that contraption I'd say at least six weeks ahead of schedule, the doctor was very surprised," said Judy.

No one's sure exactly why it works, but there are theories.

"What a cold laser does is simply increase the energy that a cell can produce and quite frankly the more energy a cell can produce, the faster the cells can heal," explained Valenti.

Erchonia is the first company that received FDA approval for using cold laser for accelerated healing.

Valenti says the technology's been used in the states for about ten years, but in Europe it's been used for three decades.

The laser has different frequency settings for bone and soft tissue.

Valenti uses it almost every day in his practice.

Treatments take about five minutes and are covered by insurance.

The Erchonia laser can be used to help speed healing in bone, open wounds, burns, tissue injury, deep tissue injury or active infections.

WKYC-TV, Cleveland, Ohio
Source: http://www.wbir.com/news/health/story.aspx?storyid=48022

Homeopathic Remedies for Broken Bone Support

If an injury involving a bone is very painful, and the person has difficulty moving the body part or bearing weight on it, the bone could be fractured. A doctor’s care should always be sought because correct assessment and proper setting of a fracture is very important for healing. Homeopathic remedies can ease the pain and swelling associated with broken bones, as well as help to accelerate the healing process.

For dosage information, please read the information at the end of this section. See also “Using Homeopathy With Professional Guidance” in What Is Homeopathy?

Arnica: This remedy is useful for reducing the pain and swelling that accompany any new injury, and should be taken as soon as possible after a break occurs. It may also be helpful in calming the person, since breaking a bone is traumatic as well as painful. Doses may be taken frequently, according to how the person feels. Arnica may be used for several days while pain and soreness are prominent. Another remedy may be indicated later, to encourage proper healing of the bones and surrounding tissues.

Bryonia: This remedy may help to bring relief if excruciating pain results from even the slightest motion. The person usually wants to remain completely still and not be touched or interfered with.

Calcarea phosphorica: This is a useful remedy for aching and soreness in bones and joints, especially when the area feels cold and numb. It can help relieve the pain of fractures and bone bruises, and encourages repair and strengthening if a fracture is slow to heal.

Eupatorium perfoliatum: This remedy is well-known for its use in flu and fever when the bones are extremely painful ( “as if broken”) and is useful to relieve the deep or aching pain of actual broken bones.

Hypericum: This remedy is very useful for crushing injuries to body areas that are well-supplied with nerves. If smashed fingertips or toes are severe enough to traumatize the bones, Hypericum can be a welcome form of pain relief.

Ruta graveolens: This remedy is known for its effect on bone-bruises and on injuries to the periosteum (the covering of the bones); both of these types of trauma are involved when a fracture of a bone occurs. Ruta is also indicated when the pain around a fracture is extreme, and the person feels lame or weak. This remedy is also helpful in many cases when pain persists after treatment with Arnica.

Symphytum: This remedy is best known for helping broken bones rejoin and heal. It should be taken after a bone is set to ensure proper joining of the bone. (A common recommendation is to take it several times in the first few days, then once a week while the bone is healing.) It is also useful in many cases when pain persists in old, healed fractures.

Full article: http://www.naturesbounty.com/vf/healthnotes/HN_live/Homeo/Broken_Bone_hm.htm