Posted , 13 users are following.
It's about 14 weeks since I fractured my shoulder. When this happened my arm and hand became very swollen . The arm has gradually improved but my hand and particularly my fingers are still swollen and painful. My wedding ring only fits to the first joint! It is difficult to bend the fingers and use the hand. Has anyone any tips to help reduce this swelling please?
1 like, 38 replies
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heather72469 christine64637
Posted
christine64637 heather72469
Posted
My physiotherapist has taken me from not being to move my arm at all, great pain, swollen arm and hand to being able to do everything except reach up high and behind my back. She is still working on the last two. She has listened to all my moans and groans , giving me a sympathetic ear through the worst "illness" of my life . I would recommend her and Physiotherapy to anyone if their illness is due to skeletal / muscular issues. Of course medication is the answer to some problems.
heather72469 christine64637
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christine64637 heather72469
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Yes,I'm in UK. Good luck with your search.
julia45924 christine64637
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Hi I fractured my shoulder 3rd march 17. Also fractured knee and foot.at the same time .
my hand is the same as u have discribed . I'm due to have plaster off on leg next week ,and I'm worried if my strength doesn't improve not sure if I will get out of wheel chair unfortunately for me it's all on the right side of my body.the worse finger r index and middle including thumb. If my leg is weak was hoping to use crutches but if hand still weak ? I was wondering do u think I could of injured my radius when I fell ?
christine64637 julia45924
Posted
I am sorry to hear of your injuries. Is someone going to X-ray your shoulder to see if it's healed? All my swelling was the result of the fractured humerus so you may not have further fractures. I assume when they take off your leg fracture, they'll check your mobility. Wishing you a speedy recovery .
janice49363 christine64637
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julia45924 janice49363
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Hand getting better still not perfect can't hold a fist yet , still slight tingle in thumb and first finger and a lot better my shoulder not perfect but getting there, letting nature do its bit , but slow improvements with all other injuries foot still gets sore from time to time ,and knee not able to straighten yet , a little limp, but again improvements are still coming waiting to do some hydrobath physio, that may be my final push. But since march gone from wheelchair bound,to plaster,to brace,to hobble ,to limp,to limp almost gone, today I even felt happy which I noticed, and realised I hadn't taken a pain killer all day. So I end my day full of the beans , ps can't sleep lol , having a cuppa and peace of toast .
janice49363 christine64637
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julia45924 christine64637
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sorry to hear about your hand mine hasn't completely gone , can't hold a tight fist yet and thumb and finger slight tingle still, but I can drive my automatic car thank the lord., but has been like this since march, doctors haven't made anything of it so I'm being patient and doing all the things I can do , my arm and hand let me know when I've reached my limit, with pain. So fingers crossed , don't seem to be a fast fix just ,relax ,I'm sure with time it will improve for u to,
card christine64637
Posted
Hi Christine,
I just joined after reading what happened to you. I hope so long after your issue you are 100% now. Tell me how your hands are now.
My accident occurred on June 4, 2017, 2 1/2 months ago. I fell off of the back of a moving van. I wasn't paying attention.
At the time, I went to the ER but they only x-rayed my wrist. It was broken. I had surgery with pins and wires put in since my wrist was separated 3cm. The cast is off and my wrist has healed BUT my fingers are stiff and frozen and in order to go to Therapy I have to take pain pills. When I wake up my fingers are frozen with no grip even though i go to therapy 3x weekly and do 4 pages of exercises daily including hot and cold water buckets 3 times a day. Then 3 days ago i had another xray of my shoulder and its separated from my fall 2 1/2 mo. ago.The surgeon *- My left hand and fingers sort of hang. I was almost a fitness instructor at the time I had this stupid fall. My knuckles are swollen as well as the top of my hand almost to my wrist.
I am very sad and cry alot.
tara05294 card
Posted
Hi Christine,
I am so moved to hear about your fall and injuries. Please get more opinions about your condition and what can be done. How is your shoulder healing?
I fell about the same time as you, June 15th and broke my shoulder. I didn't need surgery but the fall was serious ans the injury severe. I just found out today that the humerus bone has healed. For me it took 3 months. I als have the problem of swollen fingers that won't close it a fist and very little strength.
I massage them with warm sesame oil ans this helps but then the problem returns. Listening to all above with the same problem, I think I have to continue for quite a while. My doctor said it would go away as I use my hand more but I find that when I use it, it swells more. I am going to ask a chiropractor about it also and I will do more massage myself.
Don't give up hope that you can regain your heath and fitness. It may take patience and time and more alternative modalities to try.
Good luck. My heart goes out to you and all of us who have broken our shoulders. I am amazed at how severe this injury is. Get as much rest as you can and as much help from others as you can so you can rest. Eat chocolate. I found that helped sometimes and lots of fruit and veggies.
Try to let go of as much as you can and take care of yourself and your shoulder and hand and massage with sesame oil. Sesam oil has been know to heal nerves.
x
Tara
karen41031 tara05294
Posted
I appreciate your answer. I live in Ft. Lauderdale,Florida and just got my power back on after this hurricane. My life is stopped with my fall and injury. I have 20% of a grip with my left hand. My shoulder separation is the reason my whole arm has not felt normal since my cast came off I believe. All of my muscles have atrophied on both my arms and the skin hangs. I spent my whole life working out and it all is gone. The Drs here dont treat the whole arm. A hand surgeon operated on my broken wrist and a separate shoulder dr only looked at my shoulder. I am very sad and have mostly given up to feel and be normal. My whole life I have taken care of everyone else in my family and now I get hurt and I have no help.
cathy82931 tara05294
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Hi Tara,
I broke my humerus bone on July 2nd. I am still in the compression brace & will be for at least 4 more weeks. The x-ray shows that the bone callus is growing.
I ice my arm by the break & put a microwaved heat pack on my hand & wrist for pain ~ I did not know about the sesame oil, I will have to give that a try. I do finger exercises, which 5 weeks ago were very painful, but it is getting better each day, I think the warm packs helped with that.
If my hand is swollen I keep it elevated with a pillow & use an ice pack, & drink more water.
Good Luck with your healing,
Cathy
karen41031 christine64637
Posted
I live in Ft. Lauderdale,Florida and just got my power back on after this hurricane.
I posted this to another member and also posted here.
My life is stopped with my fall and injury after helping someone move and falling off the back of a moving truck. I fell straight down and my legs gave out and I landed on my left side. At the ER, they only x-rayed my wrist which was broken. I had surgery in June and my wrist is healed. However my whole arm hasn't worked normally. I have 20% of a grip with my left hand. My shoulder separation is the reason my whole arm has not felt normal since my cast came off I believe. All of my muscles have atrophied on both my arms and the skin hangs. I spent my whole life working out and it all is gone. The Drs here don't treat the whole arm. A hand surgeon operated on my broken wrist and a separate shoulder Dr only looked at my shoulder and said its separated. I am very sad and have mostly given up to be normal. My whole life I have taken care of everyone else in my family and now I get hurt.