Fluid in a Joint after a Fracture

Just saying Hi as one cat to another.
I'd think a doctor or orthopaedic surgeon is the only reliable source (or maybe Wiki)
I'd guess Very light exercise and pressure bandage my help..or elevation?..but on no account take my advice...after all I just a Cat.
Have you tried licking it and repeated rest?
Del

(I know joint problems take ages to settle down, muscles aseveral weeks, joints several months...)

Ha Ha Ha, very cute. I was just curious if anyone knew what happens to the body after an injury like this. I am seeing the DR this morning.

How did you come up with Del the cat?

Click on my user name and read my profile...or if you can't be bothered...
I used to play in goal (football/soccer) and could leap about like a cat.
I really am a cat.

I think the fluid is natures response which serves to imobilise and support the joint...sometimes natures response isn't actually the best one...
Del

I haven't filled in my user profile but I used to jump horses over huge fences, not too many pictures of the big fences, but it sure was a rush. The competition was way too intense for me.

Sports really are fun and the only place where you really can be the best at the end of the day.

And how come you are Luther the cat???
(BTW 'Del' is a Cockney short form of Derek)
Del

Why am I luther the cat? I needed to create something I could remember and I am like my cat, always on the prowl for something to sink my teeth into. Always hunting for more information and I am quite clever, but not as clever as my cool black cat.

Sorry about your injury...although "catting around" at times, the Cat gave you good advise to check with your doctor who has the appropriate diagnostic tools and experience. Here are a few comments strictly from a anatomical and physiological prospective. I am not a medical doctor, but I have had a similar injury.

A. Swelling in the foot can be due to numerous conditions such as edema and inflammation. After an injury to the proximal portion of the leg, fluid including blood (if it is blood, the foot may look bruised) often drains (interfacially ~ between tissues) to the foot due to gravity.

B. The knee joint has a joint cavity (A large "bubble" of synovial fluid within a synovial membrane), and this provides a cushion between the joint. If the membrane is ruptured, the fluid will drain out. Pressure may also increased within the joint cavity due to injury and inflammation increasing the amount of fluid.

Great information. So if the membrane is ruptured, how long and how does it heal? Is there a time frame as this is tissue..... would an MRI show what is going on? Doctor said three more weeks of staying in bed. He said it would take three or four months to heal totally. After this next three weeks I think I understand that I can put some weight on it. Exercise is good for the leg, which I am out and about two to four hours in the twenty four hour period.

All comments are welcomed strictly for educational purposes as the doctor knows best. Thanks again.

Usually, the synovial membrane heals fairly quickly (weeks), but cartilage (articulation and meniscus) has a poor blood supply and heals very slowly (months). Flex (wiggle) your toes periodically to help maintain blood flow. Very painful injury! Sorry

I love your picture. Thanks, it takes my mind of what goes on during the day.

You are all a really great bunch of guys.

Wishing all of you a really Great 2010

Not happy times you are having, I feeeeel the pain. Had too many of those in my time and both ankles. One was bad as in lets just cut it off stuff, but I thankfully refused. Cost me my business though, it happens with eight months in bed. But most gratefully today I walk on my own two feet.

What has helped me a lot, and yes if I don't use it, I wake up in the morning and toss a coin as to whether I crawl to the loo or .......

Two things: 1/ big doses of Omega 3 oils and 2/ a teaspoon of ground cinnamon every morning with my breakfast.

The Omega helps with circulation, so that's easy to explain, and it is well documented to be a great help for high cholesterol. I go with 2000mg/day with injury and when running on all cylinders 1000mg/day.

The Cinnamon, I really don't know why it works so well, but again there is plenty to read up on the net about it with claims for aid from arthritus to diabetes, circulation to constipation.....pick a number.

I just know that I have damaged just about every joint in my body with a rather rough lifestyle (happens in the bush) and I will eat weeds and worms in the bush to survive, but I'll make sure I have Cinnamon and Omega 3 in my pack. Read up and try it, just don't forget the doctors orders either. Mess with a leg and you can loose it!

Take it easy and get well soon!

The fluid stays in place until it is picked up by the Lymphatic system, and recycled through the blood stream into the rest of the body. The swelling root is caused by blood proteins that have a polar electrical charge that is opposite of all the other fluids in your body. During injury those proteins cluster and draw the other fluid around them due to the chemicals released by the cells when they get damaged. The clustered proteins are broken up for dissipation by balancing the electrical flow. Which is done my proper mineral balance, physical touch(static electricity) (hence our natural reaction to rub an injury), then the lymphatic system can draw the excess fluid out once dissipated. That is accelerated by deep breathing, and of all things bouncing. A high quality mini-trampoline is recommended for a light bounce that can force the fluid through what are similar to check valves in the lymph system. It is a slow moving vacuum that dumps back into the blood stream just above the heart.

look up zero disease for research and references.

Dear Friend, sorry for your injury, although I am not a Dr. but I am friend of Ortho Surgeon and oftenly I sit with him during OPD. I hv seen in such cases with consultation with my friend, he never suggest any patient to drain the fluid from the joint bcz once you will drain it, more chances of infections and frequently the fluid comes again. So he always suggest to take medicines and rest with plaster for 3to 4 weeks. After that you will hv to go for physiotheraphy for some time and slowly u will be well soon. I hv seen good results. So don't be more panic and consult yr ortho surgeon. But I only suggest not to drain the fluid if you can avoid. I am an engineer but friend of a DR. Fluid will be dry by some medicines soon.You will hv to take bed rest only.

Thank you Guest, that is exactly the type of information I was interested in. It is very hard knowing you cannot walk normally. Three more weeks with crutches. My arm pits are killing me. Funny how I feel okay until I get up. I mastered the medication dosage.

The leg sure is scrawny compared to the other one. It's a good thing I have excellant balance.

Thank you everyone for your comments and good will. What an excellant bunch of people here.

If your armpits are killing you, maybe you are not using your crutches correctly?
You shouldn't take the weight on your armpit, that's just to stabilse the crutch...the forearm should take the weight.
Sorry if you know this already.
Del

Maybe I have them set too high, the first time I put them on in the morning, ouch. I must be leaning on them too much rather than having my forarm/hands taking the weight.

Thanks

Some swelling is to be expected, but if it seems too excessive call (make some measurements and record data periodically) your doctor. Remember, that inflammation/infection (along with other factors) can cause swelling.

Thank you. This answer has the clarity and concision which I come to CR4 to find! Excellent answer, and a GA from me.