Humerus fractures are painful injuries that can sideline you for weeks, if not months. While most patients require surgery to treat a humeral fracture, if the break is not severe or displaced, you could be treated nonsurgically. Regardless of the treatment, you will need to undergo physical therapy to regain strength and range of motion in your arm.
Humerus Fracture
Your humerus is a relatively thick bone that runs from your shoulder down to your elbow. Most humerus fractures are caused by trauma such as falls or collisions, or from a direct blow to your arm. Symptoms can include severe pain, swelling, loss of motion in your arm, and possibly deformity. There are two types of humerus fractures, classified by the location of the break. A break closer to your elbow is called a distal fracture, and a break closer to your shoulder is a proximal fracture. If you believe you have broken your femur, seek medical attention immediately and a physician can diagnose your injury.
Nonsurgical Treatment
The type of treatment you receive depends on several factors including the type of break, the amount of displacement, and your skeletal maturity. If the bone has not shifted, you can most likely be treated without surgery. Your doctor will put your arm in a sling to keep it immobilized. Depending on the location of the fracture, you may also need a splint. Immobilization keeps your humerus bone in place, allowing it time to heal properly. You should also apply ice to your arm to help reduce swelling. You can take over-the-counter pain medication to ease any discomfort.
Physical Therapy
Once your bone has had some time to heal, you can begin your physical therapy. Your therapy may focus more on either the shoulder or the elbow depending on where the fracture is located. However, the progression of exercises will be the same. You will begin with stretching exercises to help restore range of motion. In addition, these will help promote circulation and prevent stiffness, which is a concern while your arm is in a sling. Eventually you can move onto strength-building exercises that can help regain the strength in your arm muscles. These can be done using light weights or resistance bands.
Prognosis
Eventually you should be able to regain your previous level of strength and mobility in your arm. Everyone heals at a different rate, so recovery time will vary. Bone healing usually takes six to 12 weeks. However, regaining full strength in your arm may take up to a year.
