Alternative Pain Relief for a Fractured Neck of the Femur

Alternative measures for pain relief are all the same, regardless of the part of the body involved. It is a good idea to have the following items on hand ahead of time: ice and self-sealing baggies of various sizes, a heating pad or thermal packs, organic castor oil, a back brace, a cotton diaper, piece of flannel, or terry towel, some plastic wrap, an herbal nerve sedative and white willow bark tincture.

Ice and Heat

• The cheapest and easiest way to reduce pain in a bone fracture, such as the femur, is to alternate ice packs with a heating pad or thermal packs. Thermal packs are found in most drug stores.

  Fill a self-sealing baggie with enough ice to make a layer or two of ice cubes, but allow flexibility. You want to be able to lay the bag of ice gently on your leg without the ice pushing into your wounded area. Sit or lie down quietly with the ice on your leg for 10 minutes.

  After ten minutes, replace the bag of ice with a heating pad or a thermal pack. Keep the heating pad on for 10 minutes.

  Keep alternating ice packs and heating pads every 10 minutes throughout the entire day.

  This treatment increases circulation, bringing oxygen and fresh blood to the area. The ice pack draws the blood down into the deep tissues of the thigh, while the heating pad brings the blood to the surface near the skin.

  The same idea can be performed with hot and cold water during a shower, if one is possible. With a shower wand, gently stream the hottest water you can stand on the area of the fracture for one minute. Then turn the hot water all the way off, and stream cold water on your leg for one minute. Alternate hot and cold water approximately seven times each, or as long as you can stand it. Do this two or three times a day.

Castor Oil Pack

• If you are not in a cast, have someone get a bottle of organic castor oil from your local health food store, and a Velcro-style back brace from your local drug store. Pour enough castor oil onto a clean--preferably white--piece of flannel, a cotton diaper, or a terry washcloth or hand towel to soak it. Gently lay the castor oil-soaked cloth on your damaged leg and wrap plastic wrap around your leg to keep the castor oil from getting on your sheets, clothing or furniture. Hold the cloth in place with the back brace. Lay a heating pad or hot water bottle on top of the painful area of your leg. Wear this castor oil pack all night long.

Herbal Nerve Sedative

• Take an herbal nerve sedative for pain relief and to relax you after your accident. The herbs in a traditional nerve formula are valerian root, lobelia, passionflower, hops, black cohosh root, blue cohosh root, skullcap and wild yam. Take two to four droppers of the herbal tincture at least three times a day, and more often if necessary.

White Willow Bark Tincture

• White willow bark is the plant form of aspirin. It takes longer for white willow to work than aspirin does, but the pain relief lasts longer than with aspirin, and there are no side effects at all.

  This is something you can make ahead at home to have on hand for the future. Order organic white willow bark powder from a reputable herb company, such as Mountain Rose Herbs or Pacific Botanicals. Fill a clean jar with a tight-fitting seal, such as a Ball or Kerr canning jar halfway with dried white willow bark powder. Fill the jar with enough 100 proof vodka to soak the herbs, leaving a two inch vodka "float" above the wet herbs. As the herbs expand in the jar, continue to add small amounts of vodka to keep the liquid level two inches above the herbs. Shake vigorously, and allow to stand for three days. Shake the jar several times a day.

  In three days, run the herbal mixture through a blender to macerate the wet herbs thoroughly. Use a spatula to get the herbs out of the blender and back into the jar. Add more vodka if necessary, to maintain a two inch "float." Continue to let the jar stand for two weeks. Again, shake the jar several times a day.

  In two weeks, your tincture is ready to harvest. You can use a tea towel or nut bag to press your tincture through a funnel into an amber glass bottle with an eye dropper. Label the bottle White Willow Bark Tincture.

  Once harvested, you may take two to four droppers of tincture three or more times per day for pain relief.

Disclaimer

• This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. It is intended for education purposes only, and in no way is intended to treat, cure, heal or substitute for the advice of a qualified health provider. Please seek the advice of a trusted health care professional before attempting any form of self- health care.