Treating Dislocated Elbow – With Its Causes & Symptoms

The Anatomy Of Elbow:

The elbow is a synovial joint that holds the bottom of the humerus bone and the head of the radius and ulna bones in two types of structures, i.e., a ball-socket junction and a hinged junction. Each of these bones has a distinct shape and forms a couple joint with the other two bones.

The ball-socket junction allows the elbow to rotate along the humerus bone axis with the palm faced up and down, known as supination and pronation, while the hinge junction enables the arm to bend and extend at the elbow allowing flexion and extension movements.

Various types of ligaments and tendons surround the elbow joint to hold the bones in place and contract or relax according to the pressure exerted on the joint.

What Is A Dislocated Elbow?

Since the bones are only held together by ligaments and aren’t hooked or fixed to each other, there are chances of them moving out of their joint position under extreme force. And when any of the three bones move out of their joint, the elbow is considered dislocated. This dislocation can be partial, where a bone is still in contact with the joint but is slightly out of position, while the bones and surrounding soft tissues remain unharmed. Such partial dislocations are also termed as subluxations.

However, if a bone has entirely moved out of its original position, it is a complete dislocation that requires immediate medical assistance. And since there are various muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and ligaments holding the joint, such dislocation can injure these soft tissues along with the elbow bones.

If not treated promptly and comprehensively, elbow dislocations can become a recurring condition.

What Causes Elbow Dislocations?

Elbow dislocation injuries are more common in athletes involved in throwing, lifting, and sprinting sports as they are more prone to traumatic falls and elbow overextensions. It typically occurs when a person falls on an outstretched hand as the impact force is exerted on the elbow joints. This scenario can also happen in a car accident.

In athletes who frequently perform heavy lifting or pulling movements, the ligaments are at risk of overextended and loosening the bone joints. Any improper rotation or impact at this stage can easily cause the elbow bones to dislocate repeatedly.

Other than trauma, people born with lax or weak ligaments are also at higher risk of having recurring elbow dislocations even with moderate impact.

What Are The Common Symptoms Of Elbow Dislocation?

A dislocated elbow can show very obvious and distinct signs such as:

Apparent disorientation and bruising around the elbow
Mild to severe persistent pain
Numbness and pain over the arm
Inability to move the arm
How Are Elbow Dislocations Diagnosed And Treated?

Elbow dislocations are typically diagnosed via physical examinations and imaging techniques such as X-rays. Their aim is to test the extent of dislocation and if any surrounding soft tissues have been damaged.

In mild and simple dislocations where there is no tissue damage, the bones can be manually repositioned into the joint under anesthesia. This procedure is called a reduction maneuver. Else, your joint will be immobilized in a splint for up to 3 weeks, and you’ll be prescribed therapeutic exercises for improving the elbow’s range of motion.

If the dislocation is complex with soft tissue damage, a surgical relocation of the elbow joint is the best option.

Dr. Pranjal Kodkani, being a sports injury specialist, confirms that elbow dislocations are fairly common and can be effectively treated with a preventive approach. If you ever suffer from dislocation and need prompt elbow treatment in Mumbai, Dr. Kodkani is the best orthopedist for treating your condition. With his modern-day surgical and non-surgical methodologies, he is widely regarded for his elbow dislocation treatment in Mumbai and around the city. You can directly consult him by visiting Dr. Kodkani’s website and booking your online consultation.

Student Car Loans: Essential Tips to Buy Your First Car Easily

A car is no longer a luxury. We have said this many times. However, buying a car seems like a privilege, especially when you do not have a credit score or a full-time job that pays well. Traditional lenders may reject your loan application for lack of financial stability. Bringing home those new set of wheels can become a daunting task if you are a college student or even a recent graduate trying to build your career.

If you want to make the car buying experience a pleasurable one, seeking the right advice and solutions will definitely help. But first things first: Buy a car only when you need it. You do not want to carry the burden of a car loan along with the pressures of college life. Opt for a vehicle if it allows for easy commute and easy access to job opportunities.

Buying a Car: What Problems do First-Time Buyers and Students Face?

1. Lack of Experience

As a student, you may have never purchased a car or any other asset on your own. It can make the entire buying process and financial procedure intimidating. Lack of experience means you can get stuck with a lemon or end up paying more for a car than its worth. In order to avoid getting ripped off by dealers and lenders, it is essential to conduct thorough research online and seek multiple options before signing on the dotted line. You can even ask your parents to assist you in making the purchase.

2. The Issue of No Credit History

Another crucial issue that young buyers face while buying their first car is the absence of an established credit history. If you do not have a credit score, lenders won’t be able to ascertain your credit worthiness. The majority of them will reject you or offer you high interest rates and lower LTV. To avoid an expensive student car loan, you need to apply with several lenders who are open to working with credit-challenged car buyers. Remember lenders believe that it is better to have a no credit score instead of a bad one.

Can a Student buy a Car?

When it comes to buying a car as a student, you have many options. Despite the obvious problems of lack of financial experience, you can still get a car.

1. Save for a Car

If you are not in a hurry to buy a car, you can save for a couple of months and then, buy it in cash. If you have the money, making a cash purchase is easy because you will not require any kind of loan approval. It won’t matter if your credit score is good, bad or non-existent. On the other hand, you will have to wait for your car and the cash purchase won’t help you build your credit score.

2. Ask your Parents to Buy You a Car

If your parents can afford to buy a car for you, you will be able to get behind the wheels quickly and without giving away a large chunk of your savings. The majority of parents offer to buy a used car for their college-going students to make them learn the responsibilities of owning a vehicle. If your parents are unable to buy you a car or you decide to buy it on your own, this option is not suitable for you.

3. Apply for First-Time Student Car Loans

Specially designed for first-time car buyers, these auto financing programs help you to buy a car with no credit history. Research to find online auto financing companies that help students secure car loans at the click of a mouse. By choosing a student car loan, you can buy a car and be on the right path of establishing your credit score. If you can convince any of your parents, family members, friends or employers to co-sign your loan agreement, you will be able to improve your approval chances phenomenally. It will also lead to lower interest rates.

How to get the Best Auto Loan Rates?

Just as you prepare for your exams, you must prepare for the car financing process. If you want to build a good credit score and ensure affordable monthly payments, follow the tips mentioned below:

1. Find a job that allows you to make car loan payments and assume other car-related expenses. Falling behind on payments can deteriorate your credit score and increase your chances of repossession.

2. Fix the down payment amount that you will pay to the dealer. It will reduce the loan amount and allow you to enjoy low monthly payments.

3. Learn your credit score. A no credit score situation means you will still have a credit score, albeit a lower number. It will never be zero as expected by most student car buyers.

4. Even if you have never applied for a loan, an old department card or a checking account may work in your favor and result in a decent financial history. So, keep a list of your financial documents (bank statements) ready.

If you are student who wants to buy his first car, you may face a few hurdles along the way. However, if you are prepared to solve them with tact and patience, you will be able to become a proud owner of a car.

How to Give Your Finances a Fall Cleaning

We all hear about the ritual of Spring Cleaning – but what about “Fall Cleaning?” For many, fall is a natural new beginning, signaling the start of the final quarter of the year, the descent into the holiday season, and a ramp-up to a fresh new start when January 1 rolls around. In many ways, there is no better time to conduct a thorough financial refresh, take stock of your debt relief goals, and to restructure your family budget to optimize your financial success.

If you’re looking to organize your finances this Fall, here is a simple checklist for you to consider.

Take Your Financial Pulse
Comb your important files, check all of your bank accounts, pull your credit reports, and revamp your family budget to make sure that you have a grasp on your income streams, debt balances, debt relief payment plan schedules, assets, and liabilities. Before plunging into a new year, it’s important to know where you stand, where your finances look healthy, and where you have room to improve.

Once you’ve taken your financial pulse, the critical next step is to commit to change. If you consistently overspend in a particular area, resolve to significantly cut back in the next three months. If your emergency fund is looking a bit thin, devote a larger portion of your monthly paycheck to funding it – even if it’s just a few extra dollars. Finally, if your budget needs a refresh based on your most current income and expenses, update it, and make sure everyone in your family or household is aware of the changes.

Contribute to Your Retirement Accounts
In the last quarter of the year, do your best to max out your retirement contributions. You may have to play around with your amounts each month, especially if you’re currently in a debt relief program or attempting to settle a debt. Also, the amount you contribute may depend on whether your employer matches your contributions. Consider meeting with a financial planner to ensure you’re sufficiently padding your accounts before the end of the year.

Check Your Insurance Options
Check your options for open enrollment in a solid health, life, and disability insurance plan. Spend some time analyzing your healthcare spending and see if enrolling in a new plan would help you save more. Also, you can consider opening a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account to contribute a set amount of healthcare funds before the start of the year.

Focus on Debt Relief
If you’re working through a debt relief plan, like credit card consolidation or debt settlement, consider using this final quarter to make substantial progress toward decreasing your balance. Rather than apportioning a substantial amount of your budget for holiday gifts, use that money instead to pay down your debt. Consider picking up a side job or extra shift or devote a larger percentage of your monthly income to debt relief, if possible.

Although it may seem early, by taking these simple steps now, you can slowly and intentionally work toward a financially healthy New Year.