Advice for treating bad injuries/broken bones in India?

BlackEyedAngel · May 17th, 2008, 16:06

In Rishikesh yesterday, while halfway through a 40K water rafting trip down the Ganga River, a huge storm broke out and while we rowed over to the side of the mountain, a very large rock fell on my hand, fracturing my left pinkie finger pretty badly. Took a couple of hours to finally get to a private hospital where they x-rayed and saw the fracture. It's in the lower half of my pinkie, and it could have been a lot worse of an injury so I am thankful it isn't. The doctor strethed my finger a bit andf then they wrapped up my hand in a cast. They gave me a few meds- one anti-inflammatory, one antibiotic and somethong like a probiotic i think, something to replace the acids? I've been looking each of the drugs up online and they make me nervous but synthetic drugs always do I guess.

Does anyone have general advice advice? Advice regarding broken bones, caring for them etc, or about Indian hospitals- that was far scarier than the actual injury was.

capt_mahajan · May 17th, 2008, 16:13

disclaimer: This is not medical advice, and I am not a doctor

As fractures go, a pinkie would be low down on the pain/discomfort list, but not perhaps to you.

Looks like it was a simple fracture, no bones poking out of fingers and all.

They have already immobilised the finger. There is nothing else to do at this stage except keep it immobilised.

One danger is if it is a break which will set warped and deform your finger. The only way to get around this one is to take the xray plates and show them to a good doctor (since that hospital
was 'scary') in Delhi or somewhere else.

puchoo · May 17th, 2008, 16:16

Cap'n has given sound advice. Get another doc to take a look at it. One thing i avoid is taking too many painkillers even if they have been prescribed with a 'take whenever'....no reason , just dont like them that much..but that's me..

You realize the value of a pinki in a situation like this

, and you might find that you want to use it...dont...!

capt_mahajan · May 17th, 2008, 16:21

Quote:

they wrapped up my hand in a cast

Err, clarifying:

A cast, to me, is the white rigid thing which sets.
A crepe bandage is 'wrapped up' around your hand. Usually for sprains and such.

if a cast is on, no problem.

If a crepe bandage is on, you really need to ensure that your pinkie is immobile, ie you can't move it at all. One way to do this yourself and easily is to tie it with any bandage- or even a string in one or two places- to the next finger. Not too tight, but tight enough. The pinkie should not be able to move or specially fold at the joints at all.

Just in case it is a crepe bandage, ie.

dhans · May 17th, 2008, 16:21

Contact this outfit: http://www.eastwestrescue.com/
They have a good name and can direct you to a good docotr / medical installation near to where you are.

Get well soon!

Hans

capt_mahajan · May 17th, 2008, 16:27

Again, not a doctor, but I would take the anti inflammatory and pain killers (as reqd) at least. And if I were not reaching a good doctor in a couple of days, I would start antibiotics, too, specially if there was a decent sized wound there.

puchoo · May 17th, 2008, 16:29

When my pinkie broke they tied it to my next finger like Cap's said...slightly irritating because that restricts movement on 2..and yes the crepe is not good enough..

Nick-H · May 17th, 2008, 16:31

If you have gone to a reputable private hospital, then there should be no reason for concern. You've done what you would at home. Would you have posted the same question if you were treated for the same injury in USA?

If you have do have reason to suspect that your treatment may not have been adequate or competent (which can happen anywhere in the world), then go to another hospital, or to a private bone specialist (one of those words I can never remember, despite having consulted one) clinic. If this requires shifting yourself to a major city, then best done sooner rather than later. Much better to get bones set right first time.

But... Ouch! It probably hurts much worse than the time I shut the tip of a finger in a car door (then went sailing for the weekend), and that is something I will never forget, even though nothing broke. At least there doesn't seem to be any problem with getting suitably strong painkillers prescribed in India.

Wishing you a speedy recovery

BlackEyedAngel · May 17th, 2008, 16:55

Thank you all for your replies

yes it is a plaster cast.
The doc told me to start doing exercises by trying to make a fist with my hand in the cast the next day after the injury occured (today), which seemed perhaps too soon, but Ive been trying anyway. Should I just not move it for a couple more days or follow the doctors orders?

I'm doing ok, trying to remain positive and all and I am a believer that everything happens for a reason, but it's just funny that the first broken bone I ever receive comes when I am traveling alone on the other side of the planet.

They also told me to go to an Orthopaedic doc (bone specialist) so I got on the ball and looked up a listing of all docs in the area. I'm going to go asap and am going to make a bunch of calls. I don't know what a naturopath could do for me but I think it would comfort me to see one so I'm gonna try that as well.

Traveling here has been wonderful so far, a dream come true, and my body has been good to me thus far with only a couple of days where I had fever and digestion problems (so grateful for this and I thank my body frequently) but this was my first Indian hospital experience, and from all the hype and warnings, I'm just super skeptical (which I think you need to be in this case). I do wonder if I am too untrustworthy though.

But I'll be alright. A pinkie is no big deal right

~

puchoo · May 17th, 2008, 16:57

Unless you play the guitar....!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackEyedAngel

But I'll be alright. A pinkie is no big deal right

~

BlackEyedAngel · May 17th, 2008, 17:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by puchoo

Unless you play the guitar....!!

actually, I do

.
but I could always learn to play left handed if it comes to that...

puchoo · May 17th, 2008, 17:07

So do i...!!

Thats why i said what i did about the pinky and realizing its value..!!

Maybe if i break my pinkie over the next few days we could jam!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackEyedAngel

actually, I do

.
but I could always learn to play left handed if it comes to that...

Nick-H · May 17th, 2008, 17:43

Quote:

I don't know what a naturopath could do for me but I think it would comfort me to see one so I'm gonna try that as well.

Homoeopathy is popular in India, not to mention India's own native medical systems.

traveller.1 · May 17th, 2008, 18:48

I AM NOT A DOCTOR
just a traveller

The concern depends on what kind of a fracture it is. If the bone is in place, with a minor fracture (that is not off poition, snapped deviated etc) then immobilisation should be ok

The thing to do is to show the Xray to another Doc and get his/her opinion. Chances are that it would be a hairline fracture which will be fine with immobilisation.

listless_moments · May 17th, 2008, 18:51

hi i guess if you are coming to delhi you can try one hospital called orthonova and meet Dr. dey. this guy is excellent

May 17th, 2008, 16:06	#1
BlackEyedAngel Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 9	Advice for treating bad injuries/broken bones in India? In Rishikesh yesterday, while halfway through a 40K water rafting trip down the Ganga River, a huge storm broke out and while we rowed over to the side of the mountain, a very large rock fell on my hand, fracturing my left pinkie finger pretty badly. Took a couple of hours to finally get to a private hospital where they x-rayed and saw the fracture. It's in the lower half of my pinkie, and it could have been a lot worse of an injury so I am thankful it isn't. The doctor strethed my finger a bit andf then they wrapped up my hand in a cast. They gave me a few meds- one anti-inflammatory, one antibiotic and somethong like a probiotic i think, something to replace the acids? I've been looking each of the drugs up online and they make me nervous but synthetic drugs always do I guess. Does anyone have general advice advice? Advice regarding broken bones, caring for them etc, or about Indian hospitals- that was far scarier than the actual injury was.

May 17th, 2008, 16:16	#3
puchoo Forum Leader Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Delhi & Himachal Pradesh (Shimla) Posts: 3,783	Cap'n has given sound advice. Get another doc to take a look at it. One thing i avoid is taking too many painkillers even if they have been prescribed with a 'take whenever'....no reason , just dont like them that much..but that's me.. You realize the value of a pinki in a situation like this , and you might find that you want to use it...dont...! __________________ Cheers! Sidharth Indiamike Mod team............the new kid on the block! puchoo.wordpress.com

May 17th, 2008, 16:21	#5
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,541	Contact this outfit: http://www.eastwestrescue.com/ They have a good name and can direct you to a good docotr / medical installation near to where you are. Get well soon! Hans __________________ Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids Stories about our travels in India: Journal

May 17th, 2008, 16:31	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,960	If you have gone to a reputable private hospital, then there should be no reason for concern. You've done what you would at home. Would you have posted the same question if you were treated for the same injury in USA? If you have do have reason to suspect that your treatment may not have been adequate or competent (which can happen anywhere in the world), then go to another hospital, or to a private bone specialist (one of those words I can never remember, despite having consulted one) clinic. If this requires shifting yourself to a major city, then best done sooner rather than later. Much better to get bones set right first time. But... Ouch! It probably hurts much worse than the time I shut the tip of a finger in a car door (then went sailing for the weekend), and that is something I will never forget, even though nothing broke. At least there doesn't seem to be any problem with getting suitably strong painkillers prescribed in India. Wishing you a speedy recovery __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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May 17th, 2008, 16:13	#2
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,139	disclaimer: This is not medical advice, and I am not a doctor As fractures go, a pinkie would be low down on the pain/discomfort list, but not perhaps to you. Looks like it was a simple fracture, no bones poking out of fingers and all. They have already immobilised the finger. There is nothing else to do at this stage except keep it immobilised. One danger is if it is a break which will set warped and deform your finger. The only way to get around this one is to take the xray plates and show them to a good doctor (since that hospital was 'scary') in Delhi or somewhere else.

May 17th, 2008, 16:27	#6
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,139	Again, not a doctor, but I would take the anti inflammatory and pain killers (as reqd) at least. And if I were not reaching a good doctor in a couple of days, I would start antibiotics, too, specially if there was a decent sized wound there.

May 17th, 2008, 16:29	#7
puchoo Forum Leader Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New Delhi & Himachal Pradesh (Shimla) Posts: 3,783	When my pinkie broke they tied it to my next finger like Cap's said...slightly irritating because that restricts movement on 2..and yes the crepe is not good enough..

May 17th, 2008, 16:55	#9
BlackEyedAngel Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 9	Thank you all for your replies yes it is a plaster cast. The doc told me to start doing exercises by trying to make a fist with my hand in the cast the next day after the injury occured (today), which seemed perhaps too soon, but Ive been trying anyway. Should I just not move it for a couple more days or follow the doctors orders? I'm doing ok, trying to remain positive and all and I am a believer that everything happens for a reason, but it's just funny that the first broken bone I ever receive comes when I am traveling alone on the other side of the planet. They also told me to go to an Orthopaedic doc (bone specialist) so I got on the ball and looked up a listing of all docs in the area. I'm going to go asap and am going to make a bunch of calls. I don't know what a naturopath could do for me but I think it would comfort me to see one so I'm gonna try that as well. Traveling here has been wonderful so far, a dream come true, and my body has been good to me thus far with only a couple of days where I had fever and digestion problems (so grateful for this and I thank my body frequently) but this was my first Indian hospital experience, and from all the hype and warnings, I'm just super skeptical (which I think you need to be in this case). I do wonder if I am too untrustworthy though. But I'll be alright. A pinkie is no big deal right ~

May 17th, 2008, 18:48	#14
traveller.1 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 49	I AM NOT A DOCTOR just a traveller The concern depends on what kind of a fracture it is. If the bone is in place, with a minor fracture (that is not off poition, snapped deviated etc) then immobilisation should be ok The thing to do is to show the Xray to another Doc and get his/her opinion. Chances are that it would be a hairline fracture which will be fine with immobilisation.

May 17th, 2008, 18:51	#15
listless_moments Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: delhi Posts: 6	hi i guess if you are coming to delhi you can try one hospital called orthonova and meet Dr. dey. this guy is excellent

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