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shellie66357
shellie66357

Hi everyone, I am so grateful to find this thread.  I am 7 weeks post-Colle's fracture and out of the cast for a week with no follow-up. My wrist was fractured after a fling from a horse at the end of April and like all of you, I thought-yep, a few weeks in the cast; a little finger movement now and then; move my arm to keep it limber everyday-- this won't be so bad!  Hey, it's just a fracture.  It will heal.

Wrong! Reality check here! 

I was manipulated by closed reduction two weeks later with no anesthetic.  I was rushed out the door with two sentences from the surgeon- I didn't need surgery and this guy will put you in a cast, and no chance to ask questions or get information of what to expect afterwards from anyone and no physical therapy mentioned. 

My cast was cut off at home with a pair of tin snips because it was too tight and my fingers were losing sensation and very swollen.  I would have gone to the local er but I wasn't thinking too clearly.  Claustrophobia and pain got the best of me.  The cast up to that point was mildly tolerable with me counting down the days until it came off.  But for a few days prior to removal, swelling and numbness showed up, especially where the thumb was immobilized.  I was between insurance at this point, so a trip to the ER was only if life-threatening. 

I wasn't prepared for the paralyzed club my left arm emerged from that cast as.  My wrist was totally frozen resembling a fat toad for a hand with chubby sticks for fingers.  My thumb did not resemble anything.  I began scouring the internet looking for some measure of advice and support with not much luck. 

Have you noticed that the orthopedic websites are cheery, smiling with healthy people, scary stuff that does not resemble real-life as I know it at this time with a fat hand woodenly-attached to a skinny stick that sort looks like an arm and fingers that look like swollen claws that don't quite touch and scaly skin that belongs more on a reptile. 

No, I wasn't warned this would happen and that my hand will not move without going through the fire of pain and charlie horses for the next several months.  All of your stories here on this thread have given me hope that it will get better and the pain fighting to re-hab my hand and arm will give me back some mobility.  That it will get better.  Thank you. Hope isn't something I've had since the accident.  

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • bronwyn97278
    bronwyn97278 shellie66357

    Posted

    Hi Shellie;  your story Amazes me.   Unless treatment has changed Dramatically over the past 10 years....I feel that you have been very badly treated.....Colles fractures were always manipulated under some sort of "light" anaesthetic....as both bones in the wrist have been broken, both need to be re-aligned Perfectly....yes then a cast, and should have been reviewed 24 hours later, and if swelling cutting the circulation, then they would cut One side of cast, and strap up cast with an Adhesive Bandage..but then left for 6 weeks, with a re-check after 2 weeks....as for the deformities that you are describing now, and if you still have your cover....I feel that you Really do need to see another Orthopaedic Specialiast (one who specializes in wrists)....I think it is correct in assuming that you will need to have your wrist rebroken (under a General Anaesthetic)....and start from scratch....you will probably always have problems with your wrist, now...but have it checked by a Real Orthopod ASAP  (hell I think I'd make a move against the original doctor)..this is your wrist, and it sounds as if to me...you were just another patient????  Was this treated in an ED, or by a private doctor, originally???     Sorry to give you this reply, and hoping I havn't made things worse????   Very sensitive situation, but I certainly wouldn't be accepting the situation without Much More treatment.....take the original x-rays with you (or even ?a referral letter that would have been sent to your GP)....and research the Net for a Specialist in this field.....Bron
    • shellie66357
      shellie66357 bronwyn97278

      Posted

      Hi bronwyn97278, you are right.  I going to the ER tomorrow asap.  I stand a better chance of getting the care this wrist needs because it is still numb, swelling, and I cant bend it backwards or sideways.  I intend it to be seen by someone who won't blow me off.  I've seen too much of that since it was broken.  I was seen by a Doc in the Box originally and the insurance I had at the time both passed me off to the the jerk who was on call the night of the accident.  When they put the cast on, they were more worried I was there for drugs as if I broke my wrist on purpose to get drugs.  Sheesh, I don't take anything more than ibuprofen and very little of that since it robs bones and ligaments taken long-term. I can't afford for my wrist to be out of commission like this.  Typing aand data entry are what my employment is all about. I intend to make sure I get better treatment from the hospital.  This may be what people on Obamacare are in for.  I will keep updates here as this progresses. 
    • bronwyn97278
      bronwyn97278 shellie66357

      Posted

      Please do, as it really makes me furious that "any so-called doctor"  could be so callous.......if he 'was on call'  probably just needed to move onto next "case"  for the money....????    Bron
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