Broken wrist, how long does the pain last after removal of the cast?
Posted , 35 users are following.
I had a bad colles radius fracture 7 weeks ago requring a 'bier block' manoevre (agony) and have been out of plaster now for 9 days. I am doing excercises which I have found on the internet as there is a 5 week wait for physiotherapy. My main worry is the pain. Can anyone tell me how long I can expect the pain to go on? It feels relentless especially at night when I wake up wiith it burning terribly in my wrist. During the day it is there but not so bad, especially if I am walking. The other worry is that although I feel I am getting more movement with the excersises I am a long way from being able to form a fist. When I attempt a fist my fingers feel tight and sore. My hand is weak and I am unable to cut food yet as it is too painful. I don't find pain killers help much, and they make me feel groggy so I only take them at night and as soon as they wear off I'm awake with agonising pain. I also have bad aching in the end of my thumb. I'd be interested to hear exeperiences of anyone who has come out of this, if you can remember how long it was before the pain and discomfort went and normal life can be resumed! I am a 66 year old woman. It's very frustrating to still not be able to do normal tasks like opening a jar or do some gardening..
3 likes, 202 replies
Humpty_Dumpty chloe02837
Posted
Now 9 weeks since fracture....4 weeks since pins out and cast off. So have I made any progress? Well, I have to say yes. I'm probably about 40-50% back to normal. I'm surprised I still have some swelling, not so you'd notice but comparing both hands, the left is bigger than the right. Making a fist is possible but only after some encouragement from my right hand and exercise. But the length of time it takes to get it to a fist is diminishing by the week. I can touch three fingers with my thumb but the little finger is still playing hard to catch. Wrist movement has improved a lot, even side to side. Twisting my wrist is about 60% back to normal. I can't rest my thumb next to my hand or make a tight fist with my thumb inside. I can hold a mug of tea but not by the handle, my thumb just won't have it yet. I'm doing more with it but anything that involves gripping with my thumb is out of bounds. It's still very fragile...no sudden movements or knocks...it really smarts. And because I'm using it more, it has started to ache more at night when moving my arm. I can almost put my own seatbelt on in the car and changing all gears is now a lot easier. Generally, I feel a whole lot better but I have a friend who's wife is 80 and is still suffering 5 months after breaking her wrist....so who knows....I'll update again in two weeks.....
ali12827 Humpty_Dumpty
Posted
It's great to hear your updates, and hear how far and fast you're improving.
At 7.5 weeks past my accident, 5 weeks past my op and just over 3 weeks past cast removal, this is where I am: my thumb can touch my first 2 fingers - the 3rd if I help it along. I'm very far from being able to make a fist. I can't flex my hand upwards at all, I can about 30% downwards.
Im still in a lot of discomfort. But that has improved a lot, and I have had a few hours and even most of yesterday afternoon without any. It's getting stronger as well. I managed to open the car door yesterday. I even sat behind the wheel, and tried to hold the steering wheel - not quite possible. I changed 1 gear, but my hand wasn't strong enough for the second. I think it won't be possible for a couple more weeks, but it feels like it will be possible now. I've managed to pull zips etc with it. So the progress is slow, but definitely peogress. What is surprising me is how swollen it still is. I can't bend my thumb or ring finger. I still have bruising come out - by the radius fracture. The skin is very sensitive round my scar and the bruising which I'm guessing might be nerve damage. I also find it 'hurts' when I triply to do some of the exercises by which I mean it feels something sharp is digging into me. This can be on either the radius side or the ulna side. But not always. I have arnica gel and tablets, Voltaire, hand cream and lots of ice! As slow and annoying as this is, I have got time, and it's not going to beat me!
Humpty_Dumpty ali12827
Posted
Sounds good Ali...you're about a week and a half behind me...when I change gear, I can't grip the gear stick with my thumb but I can pull it down from first to second and third to fourth. I push it up from third to fourth with my palm and getting it into first the same way but I have to ease it over to the left otherwise it goes into third...this is a lot easier now, as is getting it into fifth....reverse not possible because of weak thumb. You're about where I was with the thumb touching the fingers but behind with the fist....this needs encouragement from the good hand but will slowly come. I too am surprised at the swelling but it is going...I guess it's the bodies way of cushioning the damage until all is fixed. At least we're getting there and light can be seen at the end of the tunnel.....
ooops64 Humpty_Dumpty
Posted
Humpty_Dumpty ooops64
Posted
I only just had my cast and pins off/out at 5 weeks so you are doing really well. I can turn my palm up towards the ceiling but it's not flat, still a way to go yet. I can now hold a shampoo bottle but not squeeze it. Raising my whole arm up in front and to the side still gives my shoulder some discomfort. Another thing I've not mentioned yet is the hypersensitivity in my touch sensation. It's weird but I can feel things more, like the skin of my right arm feels like the craters on the moon, using my injured hand, yet my left is smooth with my good hand. I can feel every strand of hair on my head with the bad hand compared to normal sensation with the good hand. Onwards and upwards....good to see we're all getting better!
elaine93514 ali12827
Posted
Hi Ali,
How are you getting on?
Hopefully all is going to plan for you..
I see my surgeon next Monday & will be asking him lots of questions, especially if I have your particular diagnosis.
They cannot possibly leave me in this state!
I just dnt know where to turn to if they do not offer me any further treatment...does not bear thinking about.
I will keep you updated...hopeto hear from you soon...good luck.
elaine93514 chloe02837
Posted
Hi, I am having my plate & screws removed by local anaesthetic tomorrow...I feel so nervous. May I ask how much movement you had with your wrist/hand prior to having yours removed? After 10 months since my wrist break which I had a plate & screws fixed in the back of my wrist I still cannot bend backwards or forwards...I am praying I will get this movement back soon.
?Were you told that your wrist would be weaker with the plate removed? When did you start any physio? Did you have local or general anaesthetic?
?Any help or advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in anticipation.
Humpty_Dumpty elaine93514
Posted
Hi Elaine....sorry for late reply but didn't get notified of your message...better to reply to me and not Chloe I guess...I didn't have plate and screws, Maureen did, that's Oooops64. I had 3 pins put in to hold the bone together while it healed. After 10 months I would have thought all should be normal and can only think it is the plate preventing the movement. What did the doc say, you've had the plate out now, did you ask him? Regarding movement prior to plate removal...you're the longest standing history of a fracture currently messaging here so no one can answer that but I think Maureen would be keen to hear how you progressed. You should have started physio shortly after have the op....if you haven't done any physio for 10 months, that could be the reason you have little wrist movement...let us know how you're doing now the plate is out and what the doc said re recovery....
ooops64 Humpty_Dumpty
Posted
I had my first physio yesterday, just over four weeks since the operation when I had plate and crews, and two weeks and bit sincast removed. Helpful, my thumb still bit swollen and when trying to bend it catches up my arm as if the tendon is on full stretch and holding it back. I asked if there ould be a bone in thumb cracked during accident, he manipulated it, said "the cast probably to tight around your thumb". Well that cast really dug in, I but rolled up cardboard from toothpast carton under area to soften it. Well the physio new his stuff, gave me a real workout, I do not enjoy pain, but need to get back to my knitting. Have to do tbese god awful hand excersises, and leave my velcro support of during the day 😩 Only wear at night and when out. Told me I had a clammy hand nice. My stitches most have melted away, but two tiny bits still there, so seeing nurse in couple of days. Do not want an infection, stitches still in place so wound could get infected, so physio agreed that I put tiny plaster over those ladt remaining stitches. Told me not to go swimming till perfectly healed. Cannot quite make a full fist, except ittle finger and ring finger, has managed it. I was told by surgeon the plate and screws would stay put, unless they caused a problem, my husband still has his, from his wrist break over 25 years ago, he says in really cold weather it feels the cold more than other hand.
Maureen
ooops64
Posted
elaine93514 ooops64
Posted
Hi, update on plate & screw removal after breaking wrist last Nov.
Had op tues 19th Sept using local anaesthetic, nerve block & tornique.
Surgeon was brill, talked to me explaining what he was doing, showed me the removed plate. Did MUA on wrist, fingers & thumb. Seems the tendons were held down by all the scarring etc.
Arm is bandaged & I had to keep it elevated for 48hrs to prevent swelling.
Arm was numb until early hrs of wed but when it did wear off the pain kicked it, so I started my painkillers immediately.
I am keeping my digits moving the best I can whilst its bandaged & see my surgeon next Wed to check wound. Hopefully it will have healed enough to remove stitches so I can start intense physio.
I do feel more hopeful than I have in such a while.
Hopefully this is the new start of my recovery so I can be pain free with full or near full movement.
Humpty_Dumpty elaine93514
Posted
10 months is a ridiculous amount of time to wait for a fractured wrist to heal...what country are you in Elaine...didn't the surgeon make any comment as to why you have such restricted movement....after 10 months! I'm sorry but you should be close to full recovery by now. I've read some real horror stories on here and think myself very lucky to be making the progress I am. If you haven't read the whole discussion, I would give it a go, quite enlightening. I hope you don't have swelling but just keeping your arm elevated to prevent it. It would seem you have turned a corner and starting a new chapter of recovery and I wish you well with that and all now progresses as it should....you've endured a long problematic recovery...and could do with some real positive results....
Humpty_Dumpty ooops64
Posted
No pain no gain, eh Maureen ?? I haven't had professional physio offered by my surgeon as he also suggested I could do it...it's now 10 weeks 3 days since fracture and 5 weeks 3 days since pins out...I now try to mimic my good hand when exercising....to see how the bads progressing. Wrist movement is almost the same, still can't touch thumb and little finger, or rest my thumb next to my hand. Rotation better but not 100%, I can get my palm to about 2 o'clock, not facing ceiling. The fist still needs encouragement but taking less effort and I'm a long way from just carelessly utilising my hand, I'm still very conscious of how I'm using it. But this is all normal....so just gotta keep going....
elaine93514 Humpty_Dumpty
Posted
I sure hope once I see my surgeon next Wed he will be happy with the healing of the wound. I will start physio following Monday, unlike when I 1st broke my wrist. Waited weeks before physio started then I was only seen by a student who gave me an exercise sheet to follow. It was impossible as I could not move anything so had to have my joints moved physically...after yet more weeks waiting.
I do see an improvement already in that my fingers bend more but still not to a fist. Once dressing is off Il know how good my MUA was. My record after op says...Tenolytis..def' improvement in finger flexion, hope that goes for my wrist also as that was as rigid as a board pre op.
I am thinking more positive now unlike before the op....things can only get better....Cnt they!!
Humpty_Dumpty chloe02837
Posted
Update...12 weeks since fractured wrist (radius) and 7 weeks since removal of 3 pins and the cast.
Swelling: still, unbelievably, some swelling exists...not so you could notice but my ring is too small to fit and on closer inspection my fingers are bigger but the back of the hand seems normal.
Movement:
Fingers...I can straighten my fingers, bend them back and move them freely to almost my palm. Can hold heavy objects for very short time and now able to pull jeans up and dry hair with towel by using fingers like a claw. Can just about put my seat belt on and grip wheel.
Thumb...I can touch my first 3 fingers but not my little finger without some physio first. The strength in the touch diminishes in each finger to the little finger. Unable to use it to grip and pull but can hold light objects. Still can't rest it against outstretched hand but much closer.
The fist...can almost touch the palm of my hand with all fingers but after some physio, can make a good fist although it takes more physio before I can make a clenched fist. And then it's not as strong as my good hand. Still can't get thumb inside completely but about half way.
Wrist...movement here is good, almost the same as my good hand. I can bend the hand up and down and to the left and right.
Rotation...not 100% yet but much better. About 80%.
Arm...less painful now when lifting my arm, to the side and in front. But still niggly.
Overall, i’m using my hand in almost everything I do now but my thumb is letting the side down...it's been the most problematic from the start and I think that's because it was stuck in a cast for 5 weeks and I couldn't move it. I was able to wiggle my fingers but the cast severely restricted any thumb movement. Elaine mentioned Frozen Shoulder, I looked this up and it's really a condition brought about by the lack of movement. If I'd known this sooner, I would have made more effort to move my arm. I'm lucky in a way that I never used a sling, my arm was always free so I did move it a little. I had a lot of discomfort in my left shoulder but fortunately it's got a lot better and should make a full recovery.
Progress has been slow but very noticeable week by week. If you can't see any progress you gotta seek advice. The longer it stays stagnant the worse it's going to get, as so many have testified on this site. The plate and screws route appears very different from having pins. My recovery has probably been textbook and I hope it continues to be so. Physio is an absolute must, keeping joints active where possible, even passively using the good hand to move the injured. Clear instructions should be given by the surgeon regarding this, whether you have plates or pins. I've never had a physiotherapist but done all physio myself. It's pretty obvious what needs to be done, just try to mimic the good hand, little by little each day. And there's plenty of info online from good health sites.
I shall continue to monitor this site and offer any help or support where I can but I'm going to leave the next update for 4 weeks. I think I'll have a much better idea of how long recovery will take and I should be doing a whole lot more without any pain or effort. Remember, stay positive and keep those limbs moving....Mike
ooops64 Humpty_Dumpty
Posted
Maureen
elaine93514 ooops64
Posted
Thats wonderful news for such a bad break. I guess Im one of the unlucky ones as 11 months later from having plate & screws inserted to having them all remived I still cannot make a full fist.
I cannot bend my wrist backwards or forwards & feel so disheartened after all the effort I have put in these past 11 months.
Do not know what the future holds but I sure hope there is help for me. I will try anything to get my life back to near normal.