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After a femur fracture, why is the severe pain making you unable to move? Reveal the physiological phenomenon behind it!
Femur fractures, commonly known as thigh bone fractures, have a profound impact on the lives of the injured. This type of fracture usually occurs when a high-energy external impact, such as a car accident or a serious fall, causes the bones at the base of the thigh to bear too much force and break. Although the symptoms of a fracture are often obvious, a key factor that is often overlooked is how intense pain affects a patient's ability to move.
Symptoms of a femur fracture include swelling, deformation, and shortening of the leg, especially severe pain that can make the patient unable to move freely.
Physiological mechanism of pain
Pain, as a physiological phenomenon, is the body's alarm for injury. When a bone breaks, surrounding nerves, muscles and connective tissue are damaged, which triggers a range of pain sensations, divided into two stages: acute pain and chronic pain. Acute pain is primarily an immediate reaction related to injury, reminding the body to stay alert and avoid further damage.
At the same time, this pain stimulates the central nervous system, triggering a defense mechanism that causes muscles to contract involuntarily, preventing the affected part from moving. This makes patients naturally choose to stay still when facing a femur fracture, because any movement will be accompanied by severe pain.
The meaning of pain
Most people would wonder, is this pain purely a physiological response? Actually, it's more than that. Pain also has psychological effects, which can lead to feelings of anxiety or fear. As these emotions spread, patients are more likely to experience hypersensitivity, further exacerbating the perception of tension and pain. This is a mind-body interaction that makes the emotional and physiological interactions extremely significant when patients face a femur fracture.
Importance of clinical assessment
When faced with a patient with a femur fracture, medical staff typically evaluate the injury through a physical examination. Because low-energy fractures are more common in older women due to osteoporosis, while high-energy accidents are more common in younger men, clinical assessment can provide critical knowledge to determine the next treatment plan.
Doctors need to use X-ray images to confirm the specific location of the fracture and rule out whether it is accompanied by other potential injuries. This is an important part of diagnosis.
Treatment and Rehabilitation
Treatment of femur fractures often requires decisions based on the type and location of the fracture. Generally speaking, open fractures require emergency surgery for debridement and repair, while closed fractures require observation of the patient's status first. Current treatment methods include traction, external fixation, medial nail fixation, etc. These methods are designed to reduce the compression of blood vessels and nerves to reduce pain and discomfort.
After surgery, patients need physical therapy to regain the ability to walk as soon as possible to promote recovery.
Long-term effects
The healing process of a femur fracture generally takes 4 to 6 months, during which patients may face a variety of complications, including fat embolism, acute dyspnea syndrome, etc. During this time, the patient's mental state may also be affected and may show emotional reactions of anxiety or depression.
With the increase in the elderly population in society, the risk of femoral fractures and the demand for treatment are increasing day by day. This problem deserves the attention and solution of the medical community. In the face of such medical challenges, can we find more effective treatment options to alleviate patients' suffering?
