Article: Keeping your arm as still as possible can help the healing process. Whether you are wearing a cast or simply a sling, try to avoid excessive movement or hitting your arm on objects. This is especially critical if you have a break and your doctor is waiting to put a cast on once the swelling has subsided. You may want to wait a few weeks to return to your usual activities or until your doctor gives you approval. You may have someor a lotof pain with your break. Taking medication to relieve it may help you relax and could also help you keep from moving it too much. You can take either over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, or acetaminophen. Ibuprofen and naproxen sodium may also help to reduce swelling. Children and teenagers under 18 should not take aspirin unless approved by a doctor. You should also avoid aspirin and other medications that can thin your blood if the bone broke the skin or there is associated bleeding. If your pain is severe enough, your doctor may prescribe a pain reliever with a narcotic for a few days. In many cases, rehabilitation therapy may begin relatively soon after your initial treatment. You may start with simple motions to minimize stiffness and gradually work up to physical therapy once your cast, brace, or sling is removed. Only undertake rehabilitation with the permission and under the direction of your doctor. Early rehabilitation may include simple movements to promote blood flow and stave off stiffness. Physical therapy can help restore muscle strength, joint motion, and flexibility once any casting or bracing is removed or if you have healed from your surgery. If you have a compound fracture or a fracture that breaks the bone, you may require surgery. This can help ensure that your arm heals properly and minimize your risk for subsequent breaks. During surgery, an orthopedic surgeon may insert fixation devices that stabilize your bones. Screws, nails, plates, and wires are all types of fixation devices. These help maintain the position of your bones during the healing process. During this procedure, you'll go under local anesthesia while your doctor inserts and applies the fixation. Recovery is often dependent on the severity of the break and how well you take care of it. After surgery, you may require physical therapy to restore muscle strength, flexibility, and joint movement. Eating a healthy diet that includes foods high in calcium and vitamin D can help strengthen your bones. This may also provide your body with the necessary nutrients to rebuild your arm bones and prevent future breaks. Calcium and Vitamin D can work together to help your bones get stronger. Good sources of calcium include milk, spinach, soybeans, kale, cheese, and yogurt. You can take calcium supplements if diet alone cannot provide for your calcium needs, though you should aim to get as much as you can from whole foods. Good sources of vitamin D include salmon, tuna, beef liver, and egg yolks. As with calcium, you can take Vitamin D supplements to help augment your food choices. Consider eating foods fortified with calcium or Vitamin D. Many fruit juices, such as grape or orange, may contain calcium or Vitamin D. Some milk products are fortified with Vitamin D. Though most people think about their muscles when they work out, your bones actually respond to exercise, too. People who exercise achieve higher bone-density than those who do not, and exercise also helps with balance and coordination, which can help prevent falls and accidents. Try weight training, walking, hiking, jogging, climbing stairs, tennis, and dancing to strengthen and maintain your bones. Make sure you check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program, especially if you have osteoporosis.

What is a summary?
Refrain from excessive movement. Manage pain and discomfort with medication. Visit rehabilitation or physical therapy. Undergo surgery for a severely broken arm. Eat foods that strengthen your bones. Do weight-bearing exercises to strengthen your bones.