鍼灸担当の山本浩士です。
今年に入り、久しぶりに「肘頭骨折」への施術依頼がきました。
２０２３年に書いたコラムを読まれたそうです。
なんと！
そんな前のコラムを読み、しかもご予約いただけるなんて感謝以外ありません！！
肘頭部の骨折なので、手術をしてプレートを入れたあとで来られます。
そうして、やはり肘の曲げ伸ばしが困難になります。
これは、避けられないことなんでしょうね。
それでも、動きの程度、硬直の程度、あらわれる随伴症状などには個人差があるので、その方の状態を随時確認をしながら施術を行います。
まだ骨も引っ付いていないようなので、まずは骨が早く引っ付くように処置を加えた上で、手首ー肘ー肩ー背中と動きを連結させるように施術を行なっていきます。
まずは、自分の両手で顔を洗い、食事をし、服のボタンが留められるようになること。ここを最速で目指します。
そんな久々の施術を終えた数日後、別の方からも肘頭骨折の施術依頼が舞い込んできました。これには驚きです。
前回も、一人の依頼があったと思ったら、立て続けに数名同じ怪我の相談がきました。
また今回も！！これもまた縁ですね。
気を引き締めて、1日でも早くADL(日常生活動作）を回復させ、QOL(生活の質）を高めるお手伝いをしていきます。
Treatment for "Olecranon fracture"
Earlier this year, I received a treatment request for an olecranon (elbow tip) fracture for the first time in a while.
The patient had read a column I wrote back in 2023.
To think that someone would read such an old article and then make an appointment—I’m nothing but grateful!
Because it was a fracture of the olecranon, the patient had undergone surgery and had a plate inserted before coming to see me.
As expected, bending and extending the elbow had become quite difficult—something that seems inevitable in such cases.
Still, since the degree of mobility limitation, stiffness, and accompanying symptoms vary from person to person, I tailor my treatment while constantly observing the patient’s condition.
As the bone had not yet fully healed, I began by promoting faster bone regeneration. At the same time, I focused on reconnecting and coordinating the movement between the wrist, elbow, shoulder, and back.
The first goal is for the patient to regain the ability to wash their face, eat, and button their clothes using both hands.
We aim to reach that milestone as quickly as possible.
A few days after completing that treatment, I was surprised to receive another request for olecranon fracture care from a different person.
It really surprised me.
Interestingly, this has happened before: once I receive one request for a specific condition, a series of similar cases often follow.
And now it’s happening again!
It must be fate.
With renewed focus, I will do my best to help patients regain their ADL (activities of daily living) and improve their QOL (quality of life) as quickly as possible.
At Kakikofu, we receive inquiries about various illnesses, injuries, and pain from both within Japan and abroad.
Foreign tourists, international students, and foreign residents in Japan all come to us for consultations.
In some cases, patients even contact us before arriving in Japan, asking for treatment to ensure they can enjoy their trip despite a recent fracture.
While our English may not be perfect, my wife and I do our best—with a little charm to make up for the rest 😌
We’ll continue doing all we can with Kampo medicine and acupuncture to support as many people as possible on their path to recovery.
Hiroshi