Broken wrist help
Posted , 4 users are following.
On Wednesday I was in a car crash no fault of my own and sadly broken my wrist I went hospital they sedated me and pushed it back in place with a plain plaster cast on. Now it's been numb and so painful like throbbing and pins & needles I've been taking cocodamol n still in severe pain I can't do my daily duties. The day after the trauma nurse rang to say I'd be needing an operation n should be happening over the weekend but clearly didn't n they aren't sure now when it'll be I can't look after my daughter and do my daily things is there any way to speed up this operation. Is it normal to still have pain like really bad? Has anyone experienced this how was your recovery after surgery (metal pins & plates) like how long to recover and did you have a cast on afterwards. It's really making me depressed I've had enough of it 
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jean11098 demichie1998
Posted
I am so sorry about your accident. And hate to tell you but you are in for some recovery time. I hope you can get help with your daughter. The quicker they surgery the better so I would be pushing hard on this. Some say the pain isn't too bad, but I think it depends on the break. Mine was excruciating until I had the surgery and very painful for 4 days afterward. It actually got worse but that pain was caused by swelling in the cast and the cast was way too tight. They finally believed me when all my fingers went numb. Once that was removed it was instant relief. Still painful but manageable with just Tylenol. Maybe that's part of your pain. I had tingling for at least 10 weeks and that gradually went away.
I was lucky enough to have the surgery then next day and started therapy four days later. The sooner the better. My accident was January 24 and still not completely recovered, there are many things I can still not do. I am on a weight limit for lifting and can still not pick up my 8 month old grandson. The bone is not healing as well as we hoped but I am older and with osteoporosis so luckily that shouldn't come into play for you. Plan on a month of very limited activities, I think it was that long before I could put a hair tie in. I needed help in the shower in keeping the incision dry and washing my hair. I came very close to just shaving it all off. Seriously.
Two things absolutely took me by surprise. One was the trauma caused me uncontrolled sweating that started a few days or so after. Really bad. Like a faucet dripping under my arm pits. I had to get the prescription strength deodorant and it helped, but still so wet. Add insult to injury the cap on it was virtually impossible to get off which made me sweat even more. The second thing I am dealing with now and that is shoulder pain and limitations. Favoring the arm for so long has caused this. The shoulder now is more painful than the wrist (which really only hurts if I twist it wrong or lift too much). When you do your exercises (and do them exactly as directed, don't overdue them or you will cause more problems) ass some shoulder rolls and reach your arm in every direction - like putting things on a tall shelf, or fastener a bra clasp or reaching behind you to put on a seat belt. Even if you can't use the hand, go through the motion with your arm.
Things will gradually get better and the pain will start to abate. I promise. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
But you will need help. Especially if you have a young child to care for. Good luck. Please post updates as you go through this journey that no one ever plans for.
demichie1998 jean11098
Posted
Thank you for your reply jean. I am on cocodamol and it is not reliving the pain what so ever I have an appointment for the fracture clinic on the 15th but that's just to see how it's getting on I was told Thursday the day after the crash I would need plates & pins putting in to help it fix so I'm not sure how I can push for the operation maybe just ringing up ? It's all really affected me I can still smell the smell of the crash and can't sleep can't eat waking up with nightmares I'm also sweating too waking up from an hour sleep dripping wet n this was never a before thing. I'm so fed up we have a holiday coming up on the 4th June for my birthday n daughters birthday but don't know what the appropriate action to take would be honestly was looking forward to getting away!!
jean11098 demichie1998
Posted
Oh geez. I would call the doctor and describe what's going on. I had to call 3 times to complain about my swelling before they believed me and then it was only after my fingers went numb. I am not familiar with your drug, I was on some type of opiod but it really didn't seem to help so I stopped taking it out of fear of addiction and the Tylenol seemed to be just as effected. If they were able to align the bones properly you may not need the surgery, but I would think then that the alignment would be healing and pain would be reducing. I feel for you - I was supposed to host a baby shower at my house 2 days after the surgery. Fortunately the house was nearly all set to go and I had daughters who stepped in to take over, and I became as one daughter said "a very large centerpiece" as I was supposed to stay flat with arm elevated the whole time. But I was still in so much pain.
You are also dealing with the mental trauma of the crash which may be hindering recovery. I would certainly mention this to your doctor. Reliving a violent event is something that can take some time to ease. I was hit by a car 45 years ago, fortunately no major injuries, but I will still sometimes relive it and it's scary. I still can't walk on the left hand side of a street. I should have gotten psychological help for it but at the time that was unheard of.
I wish you all the best of luck, but get on the phone and start calling.
Good luck, I will be thinking of you and sending you good wishes.