Crack on the icy road...How to deal with parents' fall situations
Jan 27, 2025
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◇Caution of 'fracture and ligament damage' in case of wrist injury
Usually, wrist injuries are likely to occur because the hand is often touched reflexively when falling. This can lead to radial distal fractures (Colles' fracture) or ligament damage. If you can move your wrist, you can try RICE therapy (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). It is important to get enough rest without using your wrist, cold compress every 15 to 20 minutes, wrap the pressure table gently to stabilize it, and keep your wrist higher than your heart to reduce swelling.
If wrist pain is severe and you can't move, you should doubt the possibility of a fracture. In this case, the wrist should be fixed using a hard object such as a splint or book, and the wrist should be stably fixed to the chest using a triangle gun or cloth, and then visited the hospital for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
◇In case of knee injury 'Initial response and progress observation'
It may be a simple bruise when the knee is struck, but there is also the possibility of patella fracture, cartilage damage, and ligament damage. If the pain is mild, cold compress should be performed three to four times a day for 20 minutes, and the knee should be stabilized by winding a compression band, and the leg should be raised higher than the heart to reduce swelling.
However, if the pain is severe when bending or stretching the knee or the swelling gets worse, the patella fracture or cartilage damage is suspected, so you should be diagnosed through an X-ray or MRI examination at the hospital. If the knee is swollen or throbbing over time, it may be a sign of fracture and cartilage damage, so a thorough examination is required. If there is no abnormality in the examination results, it is likely to be an inflammatory reaction, and in this case, a cold compress can reduce swelling, and after the first 48 hours, a hot compress can promote blood circulation to help recovery. In addition, it is recommended not to use your knees excessively and avoid putting on weight. If necessary, you can control inflammation and pain by receiving a prescription for analgesic anti-inflammatory drugs at the hospital.
◇ In case of a tailbone injury 'Long-term care required'
If you stub your hip and injure your tailbone, it may be a simple bruise, but the risk of fracture cannot be ruled out. The tailbone is an area under a lot of pressure in daily life, so initial management should be done thoroughly. It is helpful to reduce swelling with a cold compress and reduce pressure by using a donut-shaped cushion instead of a hard chair. If the pain lasts for more than one to three weeks or it is difficult to sit down, you should visit the hospital to check for fractures and receive additional treatment such as physical therapy or prescription of anti-inflammatory drugs.
◇Possibility of 'Damage the Disk' in the event of a back injury
Sprain of the back often results in lumbar sprain or muscle damage, and in severe cases, it can lead to disk damage. For the first 24 to 48 hours, it is effective to reduce inflammation and swelling with a cold compress, and then to help relax muscles with a hot compress. You should rest enough without strain on your back, and when pain is severe, it is better not to try stretching or posture correction excessively. If the pain persists for more than a week or is accompanied by radiating pain in the lower extremities, you should visit the hospital to check for lumbar disc damage.
Professor Han Sang-soo said, `During winter, wearing thick clothes reduces agility, stiff muscles due to cold weather, and falls often occur on snow or icy roads. In particular, falls for the elderly not only threaten the quality of life, but also can be dangerous to life, so prevention is of paramount importance."
Then "The elderly may experience swelling, pain, and joint dysfunction over time, even if there is no significant pain immediately after the fall due to slow neural responses. Therefore, even if the pain after the fall is mild, it is safe to visit the hospital to check for fractures, and if you have swelling, deformation, or pain in a specific area that cannot be loaded with weight, you should visit the hospital immediately for examination."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
