1. Get a Little Rest
Sternal fractures are almost always caused by injury, with automobile accidents accounting for about 60 to 90 percent of them. People over age 50 have a greater chance of suffering sternal fractures because of weaker bones and osteoporosis. Women have a slightly greater chance of a sternal fracture than men. Sternal fractures almost never lead to death or permanent disability, but they can cause a great deal of pain and take some time to heal correctly. Your doctor may be able to make the diagnosis because of the type of injury you have suffered. He may order x-rays, ultrasound or a CT scan. The first line of treatment after the diagnosis of sternal fracture is made is simply rest. Your doctor will not tape or splint your chest, because this will restrict chest expansion during breathing and can cause a host of other more serious problems. You may need to alter your sleeping position for a few days. Some patients find sleeping partially upright is more comfortable than lying down. You may find coughing or sneezing will bring on pain. Your doctor can show you the best position to help you avoid pain. You will need to rest and avoid liberal movement for several weeks and then slowly build up exercises to get your strength back.
2. Take a Pill
Sternal fractures require pain management as part of the treatment of symptoms. Your doctor will probably recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs. These are over-the-counter medications used to lessen pain. They include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. All of these medications can cause stomach problems, so you should always take them with food. Although an easier drug to take, acetaminophen is not an NSAID and is rarely used for moderate to severe pain. For extremely severe pain, your doctor may prescribe narcotics. Only take these when necessary because they can be addictive. He may also order corticosteroids, which can help with inflammation and pain. Corticosteroids can only be taken for short periods of time.
3. Hold That Knife
In some rare cases, you may need surgery for a sternal fracture. If fragments in your sternum are severely displaced, surgery under general anaesthetic will be needed. Recovery time will vary among patients, but can take up to one year. Some doctors say surgery should be done in cases where previously they would have just treated the fracture with rest and pain medication. They say recovery will be quicker if surgery is done almost immediately after the injury.
