Confused by so many different wrist specialists saying different things.
Posted , 2 users are following.
In June 2018 I slipped on loose sand in a builders yard. They immediately took responsibility for it and so it became a legal case straight away. There were various injuries from head to toe, but the right wrist took the brunt of it. Both the radius and ulna were broken. The radius needing manipulation to pull it straight and the ulna had a crack that was left to heal. The normal plaster was put on and I was told by the first consultant to look at it when the plaster came off that the join on the radius was pretty good. But they said it hadn't healed totally so a brace was given to wear for another few weeks. Pain was bad and 16 months later there is good movement BUT a lot of pain along the ulna side of the lower arm, starting a couple of inches from the wrist, going towards the elbow. First consultant said the wrist should be fused. But on finding out he wasn't a wrist specialist, we found another consultant who was. He said the ulna was longer than the radius because the radius was malunited, so what would improve it hugely was to shave the head off the ulna to get them both the same length and told me to contact him if I'd like it done. Then had to see another specialist for legal reasons who said the previous two were totally wrong and an operation to reduce the length of the ulna would do nothing at all. BUT he had no idea why there was still pain along that bone. It's restrictive - can't knit, sew, type, chop food, lift anything heavy etc. without irritating this area for up to a day or so after the activity. Has anyone had any experience of anything like this and found the solution please?
0 likes, 3 replies
devsmom chris00938
Posted
Good grief, it sounds like you are in a pickle. We depend on our medical professionals to give us information to be able to make good decisions. You have a bunch of decisions to pick from without you having medical knowledge. What are you going to do? Roll the dice to pick the "professional" that's right?? This is just SAD. No one should be in pain. I guess if it was me I would pick the least invasive option first to see if that helps. I wonder, if the radius is malunited would that cause the pain? If it's malunited did the doctor do a good job or not, then just say well that's the way "you" healed. Should that malunion be fixed? This kind of makes one want to get a 4th opinion (unless it's different from all the others). I guess that's kind of what you're doing posting here. I understand that if you have a medical college in the area sometimes they will use your problem as training for the students. GOOD LUCK. You have my sympathy. Let us know what you decide and if it helps.
chris00938 devsmom
Posted
Thank you for your reply Devsomom. It was suggested by a physio that I request a referral to the Derby hospital where they specialise in hands and wrists. I was going to do this straight away but then decided to put it off for a bit, because someone did say it could continue to improve for up to two years from the accident and I didn't want to rush into an op unnecessarily. So for the moment I'm hanging in there, waiting to see what happens over the next few months, to see if I can avoid surgery. The thought of extra arthritis from surgery and immobility, causing more stiffness etc. is enough to make me avoid it if I can.
I'm sorry I've only just seen your reply, hence the late post to you.
devsmom chris00938
Posted
Thanks for the update. I agree that avoiding surgery and waiting to see what happens over time is a good idea. I avoided surgery with waiting and working hard at physical therapy. Good luck with what ever you decide.