A common broken arm at office or urgent care facility in U.S. includes
| |
Units |
Avg Cash price |
Provider |
Doctor visit provider fee
First time visit
Standard
|
1 |
$179 |
Provider fee to repair broken forearm bone
Simple
Standard
|
1 |
$374 |
Imaging |
Radiology fee for wrist x-ray
3+ views
Standard
|
2 |
$110 |
Total average cash price |
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The first sign of a broken arm is any kind of snapping sound you hear during a fall or other hard impact, followed by intense pain and swelling. Other symptoms of a broken arm include:
- Severe pain, especially when moving your arm
- Bruising
- Swelling
- A physical abnormality of the arm or wrist
- You are unable to rotate your wrist
If you suspect you may have broken your arm, head to an urgent care center or emergency room for immediate care. The doctor will do a gentle physical examination of your arm, and will likely order x-rays to confirm a fracture or break in your bone. Then the medical staff will put your arm in a splint until you can be seen by an orthopedic doctor to have further treatment of n your arm.
In most instances, your doctor will immobilize your arm using a splint, fiberglass or plaster cast to prevent movement. Immobilizing your arm enables your bone to heal in the proper position. You will likely also need to use a sling to keep pressure off of your shoulder and help keep your arm from swinging around. If your arm was extremely swollen, doctors may remove the initial cast and reapply a new one after the swelling has gone down to ensure the cast fits correctly.
Severe breaks may require surgery to reset the broken bone back into place and have longer recovery times.
A minor injury where your bone isn't out of place may heal without a cast, but there is a chance you may hurt your arm further without one. Your doctor will determine if your injury can heal with just a splint or other removable medical device, or if you do need to have a cast put on.
The amount of time it takes for a broken arm to heal varies, depending on the severity of the break. Minor breaks can heal in as little as one month, while more serious injuries can take six months or more to heal completely. The average amount of healing time is about six to eight weeks. Children also tend to heal faster than adults.
You will be wearing the cast for most of your treatment; that is the only way to make sure the bone doesn’t move while healing. Casts can be uncomfortable; they may make your skin feel warm or itchy. You also need to make sure your cast does not get wet. But wearing the cast will help ensure your broken bone heals properly.
A sling is a removable support that holds your arm during healing, and can be used along with a cast to keep your arm and shoulder steady. It will also support the weight of your arm if you have a break in the upper half of your arm.
If your doctor has prescribed a sling, then you should wear it. They allow your bone to heal correctly. They will also reduce any unnecessary movement that may cause additional pain.
The most common pain medication you will be given when you are healing a broken arm is a non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen. But it is up to your doctor to determine if ibuprofen is right or safe for your specific situation. If you have extreme pain, your doctor will likely prescribe a stronger prescription medicationfor your pain.
When sleeping with a broken arm, make sure your arm is elevated and above your heart. This prevents blood from rushing to your arm and causing additional swelling. You can lay on your back and put a pillow on your chest where you can place your arm. Or you can prop your arm up by your side with your fingers facing up.
Showers are not recommended when you have a cast on your arm because you must not get the cast wet. There are products that help protect your cast while in the shower, like this waterproof cast cover, but most doctors recommend taking a bath instead to avoid getting water in your cast. If you do get your cast wet, you will need to have it removed and have a new cast put on.
There are no studies that show drinking milk can heal a broken arm faster. But milk is rich in calcium and vitamin D and will help you build strong bones, which can help prevent severe bone injuries. Adults should be taking in between 1000 and 1200 milligrams of calcium every day. Other food sources rich in calcium and Vitamin D include soy milk, tuna, sardines, eggs, and salmon.
About the broken arm Average Cash Prices
This procedure is most commonly performed at urgent care.
Urgent Care/Office
Seeking medical care at a doctor's office or an urgent care facility is almost always more affordable
than going to a hospital for treatment, but you may not be able to receive the full-range of care and
support services available at a hospital, such as advanced imaging services and more extensive surgical
procedures. Procedures may not be performed at your doctor's office or at urgent care, so you need to
call the office first to confirm treatment options and cost.
