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Broken wrist

Posted , 4 users are following.

stacey41361
stacey41361

I need some advise. I broke my wrist back in July 2017 had surgery on Aug 3thd 2017 and had  2 plates and screws put in to fix. I am on almost 14weeks after surgery and I am having some terrible pain putting pressure on my wrist lifting weight and turning my hand side to side up and down. I am released by surgeon to do all activities but it is so painful. I also told him that I am getting these terrible shocks on under my incision on wrist by my thumb I count to 10 and take a breath and it passes.  He told me a nerve runs on top of plate but its to early to remove hardware. My question is would it be a waste of a new hand doctors time to give me a second option. I just feel that it should not be given me so much pain daily. The surgeon told me I am early in healing process but I just having issues with it. He says I don't have to do therapy if I don't want to but movement going down in not great and moving wrist up is slight. Any advise will be so helpful.  

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Anonymous111
    Anonymous111 stacey41361

    Posted

    So when they put the plates in, what was the initial plan - were the plates going to stay in permanently or was the plan to remove them after the bones have healed?
    • stacey41361
      stacey41361 Anonymous111

      Posted

      The plates where put in to stabilize the wrist. It was  pretty broken up. He said he will watch my wrist to be sure that the tendons are not getting damaged but if it doesn't bother me they can stay in. If it keeps feeling like it does I will have these taken out as soon as they tell me its safe to do.  I am not sure what is bothering me the plates or someone is wrong. It is just is uncomfortable not to use it as much as I want to or when I try it hurts to much. I am going to get another option from a hand specialist just to see if everything is a ok and all of this is just par for the course. Then I have to learn to be patient which I am no. I like to ride my horse and ski bike and anything else outside.  

  • elaine93514
    elaine93514 stacey41361

    Posted

    Oh bless, I know, as do many on this forum what pain you are going through.

    I too had a plate & screws inserted after breaking my wrist....distal radius...

    It does take a long time with some ppl than it does with others unfortunately.

    Have you had any pain relief? I know how painful physio can be but it is really important to try & do some to try & get movement started.

    Your physio should have explained this to you tbh.

    I revently had my plate & screws removed so even though you are 14 wks post op, it really is too soon to remove I feel. But then I'm talking about my experience. I could not turn my wrist over for months & still cannot bend my wrist back or forward...Its a yr today since my break!! Im just unlucky....

    Certainly see your doc or surgeon again because pain can so get you down.

    My thumb & pinky finger gave me the worse pain but I now have arthritis in my joints.......I am 61 so it was expected I guess.

    Good luck but dnt put up with pain....

    • stacey41361
      stacey41361 elaine93514

      Posted

      Thank you. I will see what my second hand specialist has to say. Hope he says it is just what the other guys says and I have to find peace with it. 
  • CarolynCL
    CarolynCL stacey41361

    Posted

    Hi Stacey,

    I can't help you with your specific injury as the one I am dealing with is quite different (Weber A ankle fracture - stable/no surgery required), but I wanted to comment on the physio.

    You mentioned your surgeon "says I don't have to do therapy if I don't want to but movement going down in not great and moving wrist up is slight" and then you added in another post "I like to ride my horse and ski bike and anything else outside."

    I urge you to go for the physio. My ortho doc also told me "you don't need physio". What she meant was: "to get back to being able to live your daily life you don't need physio". To this I replied: "but I want to resume hiking, cycling, rock climbing, dance (tap & jazz) and other things like that". And then she said: "oh - you need sports specific physio therapy then.. that's different... I'll write you up a referral for that so you can work on proprioception and strength". And she did. And I'm doing intensive physio and it is amazing. My ortho doc was satisfied with my range of motion. My PT found issues with it and has done a talus release on me at each session plus other treatments that have now returned it to what she considers to be a proper full ROM state (it aches in some of the extension points but I can reach them all now, before I was at maybe 85%). She also has me on a highly personalized three times a day home exercise program. The difference is amazing, and I am progressing much faster than I would have been able to on my own. 

    It also can't hurt to get a second option, but I'm betting physio would help you more smile

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