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Wrist fracture

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jan00794
jan00794

I fell and broke my wrist seven weeks ago. It was a collies fracture but with two breaks. It was put

Into plaster for five weeks. I am now two weeks out of the plaster and I can't believe how horridly

painful it is! I am doing the exercises religiously and am trying not to overuse it. The worst pain

comes from the little finger side and not near the thumb. Where the fractures were is uncomfortable but the other side of my hand is worse. That side was black and blue when the plaster came off and pretty badly swollen. Some, but not all of the swelling has receded.

Anyone else had this experience? Not sure if I should return to the surgeon or, if it's pretty normal,

stop whining!!

7 likes, 302 replies

302 Replies

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  • trish31761
    trish31761 jan00794

    Posted

    hi.. i had a smiths comminuted fracture (shattered distal) right wrist and open surgery...plate and screws fitted 4 wks ago. im still in lots of pain, cant bend fingers or move thumb. think my nerves damaged as got numbness/pins needles. had a cast taken off after 9 days and a splint put on to see if the cast was causing the numbness but no change! im worried its not healing without a cast on as its not supported right. getting depressed with it now as am stuck in alone (hubby works away) and i cant drive now. i need a glimmer of hope please :-(
    • trish31761
      trish31761 wendy26886

      Posted

      Hi Wendy...thanks for your comment.  It is horrendous isnt it! Im the same..this is the longest ive not driven for and its getting me down. I was hoping to be able to drive after 6 wks but this is not like a normal break and takes a lot longer to recover from apparently. Im struggling to do my make-up or my hair etc etc and everythings a challenge. Im trying to stay positive but losing my independence has hit me hard. Are you driving again now Wendy?? 

      its good to hear things are improving for you.

      best wishes Trish 

    • wendy26886
      wendy26886 trish31761

      Posted

      Yes I started driving 1 week ago and it was really hard but getting better every day and I felt it did do my hand good. Just stick on in there it is hard and yes doing all the things you said are s b.....y annoying but great when you can hold a hairdryrer again. Mine is no where near right yet and I know it will take time but at least I feel as though I have turned a corner and you will Trish believe me. Xx
    • Sally4Edgar
      Sally4Edgar trish31761

      Posted

      Hi Trish,  I was in a similar place to you 11 months ago with a comminuted and badly displaced fracture of the distal radius and ulnar styloid.  I had surgery to fix it with a metal plate and nine screws.  Unlike you I didn't have a cast straight after the operation but was put in a splint with heavy bandaging beneath it.  Initially I wasn't suffering too much pain until my stitches were taken out and the bandaging removed. After that it was a different story and the pain was frequently excruciating.  I was concerned with numbness in my palm and all round the base of my thumb and wrist and wondered if normal sensation would ever come back.  Probably one of the worst aspects was an area on the bony outer part of my wrist where the skin broke down and I had an open sore for weeks that was very painful. The exercises that were given to me by the hospital were impossible for me to do and I was so worried that I found a specialist hand physio to help me rehabilitate my wrist and saw her weekly.  It was nearly Christmas before I attempted to drive as it was my left wrist so that was a problem for gear changing and pulling on the handbrake.

      It was probably a good 12 weeks before I could start to use my wrist gingerly at first. I would carry my arm like it was still in an invisible sling and felt anxious to let it hang normally for weeks. I never thought I would be able to look at my palm again! Thankfully when the swelling improved full sensation returned - I was worried about this but it's mainly caused by the swelling pressing on nerves and should resolve itself. 

      Eleven months later I can use my wrist pretty much normally. I have restriction on flexion which is now about 80% but the other movements are almost back to normal. It still aches on certain movements on the ulnar side but I think that the reason for it is probably because the radius was set in a slightly downward tilting position which has meant my healing process has been slower than normal as tendons and ligaments have had to adapt to a slightly altered structure.  I could have an osteotomy (break/reset) to correct it but I don't know whether I can face going through the pain and rehabilitation all over again ?? so will probably just live with this reduced movement and a degree of discomfort and hope that over the course of time things will continue to improve. The other annoying thing is the hard lumps that have developed in my palm have been diagnosed as post-traumatic Dupuytrens! 

      It's a slow road to recovery with a wrist fracture but day by day things will gradually keep improving for you. Without a cast you will heal faster because the more you can manage to exercise and use your wrist the quicker it will rehabilitate. Have faith ??

    • katejo11
      katejo11 Sally4Edgar

      Posted

      I am glad that your wrist has improved Sally. I remember reading your accounts and progress last summer.
    • trish31761
      trish31761 jmarti41

      Posted

      hi...thanks for your comments and reassurrance it means a lot and gives me hope and a light at the end of this terrible tunnel. still no better yet 5 wks and 3 days post op but i suppose its early days.... i will persevere x

       

    • trish31761
      trish31761 Sally4Edgar

      Posted

      hi and thanks for your reply. everything you say is so familiar! i will struggle on with the reassurance youve given me. thank you. its good to hear other stories and learn of timescales for recovery. x
    • trish31761
      trish31761 wendy26886

      Posted

      thats good to hear wendy..thanks.  been so depressed its awful.  hopefully ill see some improvement soon. xx
    • Sally4Edgar
      Sally4Edgar katejo11

      Posted

      Thank you - I hope your wrist is 100% now. It will soon be the one year anniversary of my fracture and now I know the doctor was right when he told me it would take 12 months to heal as best it can 😕 
    • katejo11
      katejo11 Sally4Edgar

      Posted

      Yes mine is fine but I came off very lightly from square 1. My pain was minimal compared to other experiences which I read here. Once the plaster was off, I was pretty well back to normal. I did avoid carrying bags for about 6 weeks after that as a precaution.  All i have now is a minor twinge in the ligaments on the little finger side.
    • wendy26886
      wendy26886 cindy92145

      Posted

      Hi Cindy

      My physio has been .mentioning that I might have this but they say it is hard to diagnose.  I am not in lots of pain now but my fingers are really stuck and I cannot make a fist Is this what is happening to you.? I just wwant to get back to normal.

      Please reply I would love to know what you know.

      Wendy x

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