Wrist fracture

What advice have you been given about resuming normal activities now that you don't have plaster on? My situation is different but I would still be interested to know, I still have another 3.5 weeks with the plaster on. hope things get better for you.

Continue to wiggle fingers as much as possible, but keep on brace except when I am washing my arm and do not pick up more than 2 pounds.  Next week I will start therapy  once a week for four weeks and will get new instructions. Since my thumb is no longer in the rigid cast, I can start wiggling it too.  It is still swollen, but much less than it was when the cast came off three days ago. Being able to touch my fingers to my thumbs makes a tremendous difference in what things I can now do with the injured hand. I can fasten some clothing more easily, but still have trouble with buttons on pants. I have changed the sheets on my bed and I can now cut most foods with a knife and fork. (While in the cast, I learned that you can ask a waiter to have someone in the kitchen cut up your meat before your plate is served.)  I can also pick up a light-weight glass.  Strangey, driving hurts more with the brace than it did with the cast.  However, I am mentally feeling better after accomplishing just a few new things.  

Another good thing I have noticed--people of all races, ages, and sex have noticed my cast or my brace and have been very helpful opening and holding doors for me.  I have really appreciated this.

I am so pleased to have found this forum.  i broke my wrist playing tennis in October.  I can't believe how painful it is.  for two weeks i was in a splint cast going over my elbow, i thought i would be relieved to get the normal cast so i could at least bend my elbow, but it was short lived.  I couldn't wait to get the cast back on as now it feels like security.  I won't go in to all the details as you all have pretty much covered everything from pain and pain meds to exercises.  I will say though that i am 2 days away from getting my cast off and the pain is still ever present, like burning and somebody jabbing my wrist with a knife, mostly on the thumb side.  i was wondering if they could have missed a scaphoid break or if i am even ready to have the darn thing off.  i am going to ask Dr why they didn't do a CAT scan.  I don't know what a DEXA scan is, but i am 63 years old and besides the fact i know i won't get my wrist back for awhile i am afraid it will have messed my head up to ever be able to play tennis like i used to.  I hope my days of being the fastest lady on the tennis court aren't going to be just a memory from now on as even 7 weeks after the fall i still won't let my arm dangle and always protect it.  I hold it like a baby thinking if i do the pain won't be so bad.  I had to "man up" and cut down are RX meds, which i was cutting in 1/2 all the time anyway but they were making me crazy and depressed so i only take them at night so i can sleep.  i am tired of this whole thing and now its Christmas and i have no desire, will or ability to do all the things i love to do for the holidays.  It's good to know everybody else seems to be feeling the same frustrations that i do though.

A DEXA scan is a bone density scan to check whether you show signs of osteoporosis which is common for post menopausal patients. I didn't need one as I had had a routine check several months before my accident.

Oh, guess at my age i should know that.. haha.  Yes, i had one a year or so ago.  No problems. I am very active along with tennis i work out with weights and get a lot of cardo. I hope my life now isn't catagorized by before broken wrist and after broken wrist.  I can't even think as clearly as i used to.  It's so exhausting just going to the bathroom and doing minimal normal things.   

You poor thing. No one tells you how painful it will be so these forums are very reasurrung (and have no spell check!), to know that what we are experiencing is normal. I was so looking forward to having the cast off, and when I did the pain continued, so beware! Lovely to have the lump of plaster off, and much easier to sleep of course, but the pain at night went on and on. I felt I'd turned a corner about 2 weeks ago (it's almost 11 weeks since my break now) when the pain turned more into a tingling with the occasional shooting pain. I still have tingling in my finger tips, and sometimes pain at night but much less. Today I was 'discharged' and told to persevere with exercises and that it'll be a year before it feels normal again. I am 66. I still can't turn the key in the door or peel potatoes or unsrew a jar. we must be patient and know that it will all come back. I am knitting every day and each day it gets less painful. I take homoeopathic remedies, have weekly cranial osteopathy (which works wonders) and do a daily set of execises I found on the internet. I also have acupuncture which helps the pain in my hand caused by the tightened ligaments round the wrist. It's not the bone that takes the time to heal it's the ligaments, tendons and muscles. I am going to refuse the dexa scan because I am sure I do not have osteoporosis, and would not want to take the long-term medication if I did. we have choices here, which is easy to forget. The NHS is brilliant especially for these acute emergency traumas. but I think all this automatic screening they do on perfectly healthy individuals uses up too much resources, even though I appreciate it can be preventative. I won't go on...! good luck, you will recover and you will be the fastest lady on the tennis court again x

Hi Gloria -- Hope you're doing better! I'm having a tough time with this, also. Mine was a Colles fracture of the distal and an ulna that now doesn't 'fit' my arm anymore. I avoided surgical intervention and went with a cold reduction so don't have the issues with scars, plates or pins -- but the side of my wrist that wasn't broken hurts more than the broken side! I'm a writer and photographer and it hurts to hold my camera in my right hand (full sized Nikons are big and heavy) but I have full use of my fingers and the wrist is homely but works. They told me it is 5% tipped -- something the surgeon seemed to have missed. I went to two other docs while the break was still fresh and they advised that all was fine. Now I discover that to repair these two issues would require re-breaking it and having pins and a plate after all. Ops course, surgery has its risks and No surgeon gives guarantees. One other note: I fly small planes and don't want to keep being put to sleep. I think it (sometimes) damages cognitive function. 

Hi, your wrist issues sound similar to mine! I broke my distal radius and ulna styloid badly four months ago and it was fixed with a plate and 9 screws. It's a lot better than it was and I'm still having physio but the position of my hand relative to my wrist isn't quite right and it looks visibly too far forward! The surgeon who fixed it and the hand specialist at the hospital both say it's okay and I need to wait for it to settle, but my hand therapist who works for a completely independent consultant says it's definitely not quite right. I'm getting regular pain on the ulnar side of my hand like you when I use it which I think is because the position isn't where it should be, but as you rightly say - it's either live with it and hope the body adapts over time, or go for another surgical intervention and hope for an improvement without any guarantees plus all the healing and rehabilitation that has to be dealt with. It's a tricky one. I might get a second opinion from the independent consultant and if he advises just to live with it rather than risk more surgery that will be my answer. Good luck with your wrist - how long ago did you break it? 

Hi Prairiewind

Really sorry to hear about your accident. How did you do it? How much pain have you go now (you mention using ice through the cast)? I can't help much with the driving question because I don't drive but I am sure that I wouldn't be able to drive now. Not due to pain but the plaster wouldn't allow me to control the wheel of the car properly. Have you go to go back for more x rays after 1 week? I returned after 1 week and got the full plaster (fibreglass not plaster of paris). I then went back after 2 weeks for more x rays. Then i was told that it was healing well and that I would definitely have the plaster off in another 4 weeks. That day will be Sept 4th. I will give an update just after that. Mine is only a simple radius fracture with minimal displacement. I have had very little swelling/pain really, less than I expected. I hope that this is helpful.

Hi Carolewags   

What were you told about the wrist fracture (eg. number of breaks/displacement of bone)?  I suspect that you won't have the plaster off but could of course be wrong. I am surprised that you didn't have further x rays after 1 or 2 weeks. I have also had limited pain in the plaster, Just twinges and an occasional ache. I haven't had much trouble with swelling. I am expecting discomfort after removal of the plaster but have been doing finger & thumb stretching exercises to keep the wrist moving a bit. They don't really cause any pain. Let me know what happens on wednesday. 

Way hay!! Cast is gone, replaced by a very fetching black nylon and Velcro splint. Break has apparently healed well and requires only minimal support when I feel the need. I must admit it did feel weak when the cast was removed and a bit painful when it moved to places it's not been to for four weeks. However, I was complimented on the movement of my fingers, so my advice is keep moving those fingers!! Fractured finger still in splint for another 2 weeks and referred for physio, but that was displaced fracture.

Glad to hear the news if a bit surprised. My fracture was only a minimal displacement (looks to me like a hairline crack on the xray) but was still told 6 weeks (but with no splint after that). I haven't had any problem with moving my fingers right from the beginning. Slight discomfort in the bruised thumb to start with but no probs now. Perhaps different hospitals do it different ways. Not sure if they will X ray mine again when I go back at the 6 week point. Due to have plaster off in just over a week (Fri 4th). What guidance were you given about using the wrist now? (reintroducing lifting for example). I'd be interested to hear how you find using the wrist over the next few days (in comparison to how it felt in the plaster). I am trying to guess how mine might be. I am moving it as much as I can at the moment and only get twinges.

I wasn't given any specific exercises, but there are plenty on other hospital's web site if you google. I was told no golf for another 4 weeks, similarly weight bearing (I do Pilates with some exercises done on hand(s) and knees or feet eg plank; I also am a Volunteer First Responder for Yorkshire Ambulance and I wouldn't be able to do CPR yet). I think for most things its a case of strengthening or lengthening muscles and tendons. This will only come from use, so I think discomfort is to be expected. On Thursday I took the splint off whilst walking round the golf course (with my friends who were playing!) and gently moved my hand/wrist about. I also removed it at home when sitting watching TV. I even drove for the first time, wearing splint, and it was fine, apart from turning right/left when it twinged. Yesterday I didn't wear it at all - general jobs around the house, washing, ironing, preparing food etc, and only really noticed it when I used it without thinking to weight bear e.g. getting out of the chair put my hand on the chair arm. This morning. however, it ached quite a lot when I woke up, so perhaps overdid it yesterday (or slept on it!) so today wearing if for half the time eg driving to shops and shopping - I need to find a balance that will allow wrist to recover and gradually build strength. I think the advantage of the 4 weeks in cast plus splint for 2 weeks (have been told should not need it for more than 2 weeks) is that movement is reintroduced earlier, so in theory my muscles will be stronger by week 6. My consultant (specialising in hands) appears to be very young (but then I'm 64!!) so perhaps this is the modern way of doing things. Other people I talked to in the waiting room at her clinic were also given splints after 4 weeks. Will try to remember to give you another update after a week. In the emantime, good luck for next Friday 

Yes I have already found exercises from other hospitals and I am  doing them. I started right at the beginning with touching fingers with my thumb and clenching my hand. I regularly extend all fingers as far as I can and then relax them again. I know more to do when the plaster is off.  I was just wondering whether they give guidelines as to which pain/discomfort is ok pain due to required exercises/activities to strengthen wrist and which is a warning that you shouldn't be doing something. Did you do small jobs around the house like ironing, preparing food etc when you had the plaster on? I found a way to iron without lifting the iron much.  I have been doing most things already apart from lifting large items/carrying/weightbearing. I can carry a tray with both hands or a plate/mug.  I don't drive so that isn't an issue with me. Is your insurance happy with you driving?

CPR hadn't occurred to me. I am also qualified in it but have never yet had to do it for real! I used to be a SJA member and am now a first aider at work.

I have seen 2 different doctors at the hospital. The younger is probably in his 30's and the older much  closer to my age. They told me that I won't have a splint once the plaster is off. Maybe they will say more on Friday. If I get a chance, I might just ask about the policy of cast v splint after 4 weeks. I'm not complaining but am just curious about it.

To answer your questions: yes, I did do most jobs around the house with plaster on, ironing, carrying (not too heavy things) with both hands, even managed a full mug in left hand (affected wrist) towards the end. The hospital didn't give any guidance re level of pain, but I think I've worked out for myself (helped by reading posts on this forum). Once I realised that my wrist was not going to break, basically I tried things, and if it hurt a lot, stopped. I have been exercising like mad, and have found that my wrist moves further without hurting each day - so you do need to exercise to the point of pain, then a little further, to stretch/strengthen. Insurance company was fine with me driving, and yesterday I even drove without the splint (couldn't find it!) and I was fine. Originally I'd had sharp twinges when turning at a junction, but yesterday fine - so obvioulsy muscles/tendons getting back to normal. This morning I even lifted the kettle with left hand without thinking, and it was fine. I think an acceptable level of pain is difficult for the hospital to describe, given everyone's differing pain threshold. My theory is that as long as every day it's improving then what I am doing is right (for me). Hope all goes well for you on Friday and have a great holiday!

Thanks very much for that. Very helpful. I have gradually done more with my wrist during the 6 weeks of having the plaster. I have no problem with carrying a full mug or plate at the moment. I have avoided bags but have occasionally picked up a small one by mistake (simply due to being right handed) but it didn't hurt much. I have also lifted the kettle once or twice (not full though). I was just slightly concerned as to whether you could 'take a step backwards' if you tried too much. I am cautiously optimistic about how it will be post plaster because I have really good movement of my hand (within plaster limits). I can flex my fingers and grip well and rotate the lower arm/hand  so the palm is almost facing upwards. I will add an update once I am rid of the plaster (counting the hours now ). I hope that yours continues to improve.

I would say we have had very similar experiences whilst in the cast - the bit that is tricky when plaster comes off is movement of the actual wrist (the bit that has been immobile!). Moving hand to point up or down (think of resting arm on chair arm, with hand hanging off the end - allow hand to drop as far as it wants, then  raise it as high as you can. Every day the amount you can move it increases. Similarly, rest all of arm (inc hand) on flat surface such as chair arm or table, then keeping arm still move hand left and right (like the Queen waving!!) - I found this movement the most uncomfortable, especially on little finger side. Initially you may find things you could do while in plaster become more difficult as the muscles that support your wrist are weaker then the cast! Work you have done on fingers/rest of arm can only help, and you have the chance to ask about possibility of going backwards on Friday x   

My plaster has worked a little loose so I can do one or two of these to a limited extent. Not sure how much chance I will get to ask on Friday. Suspect that my time with the doctor will be limited as it was last time. I will just have to wait and see! Glad I wasn't laid up with a leg in plaster!

 I have had the plaster removed today and am pleasantly surprised. It really isn't too bad. No visible bruising except for a tiny bit at the base of the thumb which is tender to touch. Little finger side is ok.  I can still lift small things and turn a key in the door. Slight swelling around the wrist but can do most exercises tried so far with only  discomfort/twinges rather than pain . Keyboarding hurts slightly more than with plaster on. However i will have a rest from that for the next week due to short break from work. i have just tried your Queen's wave exercise which is ok to do. It hurts more to hang the wrist over the side of the table  (or point upwards) but i will persevere with that.

I asked the doctor about the switch to a splint at 4-5 weeks and his reply was interesting. If my local hospital were involved with research into the benefits of the splint with supportive data, they would try it but it isn't unfortunately so they stick to plaster for 6 weeks. He had previously worked at a hospital in Leicester which did try the splint method. 

Hi Carolewags

Now that I have been plaster free for over a week, I thought I'd ask how you were getting on. Are the exercises getting easier for you? I am trying to do more of them now that I am back from my short holiday.

Hi - I'm doing fine - how about you? Still doing the exercises (perhaps not as often as I did at first!), definitely getting easier. Not worn the splint since last Tuesday, and most of the time forget I have anything wrong. It's only really if I use pressure (eg rolling pastry) or lift something a bit heavier that I notice it, or if I inadvertently twist it while I'm doing something. Good luck 

Hi!  Yes I am doing ok too. I haven't done much carrying but I did hold a lightweight bag part of the way home today without any problem. I am occasionally doing exercises.I have very little swelling. The wrist is just slightly fatter than the other one.  Slight tenderness on the little finger side and the back of the hand just beyond the wrist. I can move the wrist well with minimal discomfort. May try to lift lightly bigger things. Have already tried a full kettle without any problem.

What i do keep doing is watching my feet to avoid another fall! Good luck to you too.