Hey Everyone,

I fractured my Hamate bone (small carpal on the ulnar side) in my right hand this weekend. I am receiving appropriate medical attention, and of course all training will be halted for quite awhile.

I am looking for suggestions on how to augment my diet to help speed/improve bone repair. I have been loosely following a lean-gain diet (ok a fat-gain diet ), am 24 years old, about 14% bf, 195lbs.

So, any ideas? I take super pak daily, and I started drinking milk again just to up my calcium intake a bit.

Fitdoc - if you read this i'd really appreciate your opinion.

Thanks!

-Matt

This message has been edited. Last edited by: <LargeMammal>,

LM,

The use of vitamin C will help promote healing in general. The high protein diet will contain many of the proteins, aminos that will promote the rebuilding. I would suggest you lower the intake of carbs unless you're still doing a full workout. If you're limited, then reduce the calories by lowering the carbs.

The Superpak will contain a lot of the trace minerals you should have in your diet.

All in all, Vitamin C is going to be the major change that's needed. If there was any joint damage, the V-C is going be a major factor.

Frank

quote:

Originally posted by LargeMammal:
I have been loosely following a lean-gain diet (ok a fat-gain diet

-Matt

The first thing to do is significantly tighten up your nutrition. If you have a lean-gain diet already outlined, start following it closely. You need to keep your protein intake high and maintain positive nitrogen balance.

Secondly, Frank was correct in noting that particular vitamins may help bone fractures heal, however, it's not vitamin C. Ascorbic acid (vit c) is utilized in connective tissue and skin repair, but not bone healing. Two fat-soluble vitamins are important in bone fracture repair, vitamins D and K. If you are taking a super pak per day, you're getting a healthy dose of those nutrients. Make sure you also get exposure to sunshine on a daily basis. The ultraviolet rays from sunshine help the body produce vitamin D.

Lastly, calcium is also important for bone healing. You're on the right path by increasing your calcium intake.

Thanks Frank and Fitdoc. I'll be following all of your advice.

After seeing the orthopedist, he says this is an "avulsion" fracture which (correct me if I misunderstood) actually involves more ligament damage than bone damage. This makes me think that this will be as much muscle repair as it is bone repair - so high-protein lean gain should be the way to go.

Thanks again.

-Matt

An avulsion fracture is when the a muscle pulls off a piece of its bony insertion. It's kind of like tying a rope to a tree branch and pulling...either the rope is going to break (muscle/tendon tear), or the branch is going to break off (avulsion fracture). So, there definately is a chance of soft tissue damage as well, but if it is truly an avulsion fracture, your bone is in fact damaged.

I second the advice Frank and Fitdoc gave. Best of luck.

Also, if you're going to take vitamin C, I think it should be taken alone and not with the other vitamins/minerals.

Frank