Wrist fracture

Hi, I'm so pleased to have found this thread and have yet to read all the postings from start to finish. Jan, I hope you're wrist has recovered since first Sharing your experiences and you've been able to resume your normal activities these days.

As for me, on 24th August I tripped up on a paving slab while rushing to catch a train and fell heavily on my left arm leaving me with a nasty distal radius and styloid ulna fracture. I spent the night in hospital and the following day I underwent open reduction surgery to pin and plate the broken pieces (4 I think) together. I was given a nerve block as well as general anaesthetic which was a godsend as it meant I didn't feel anything for nearly 24 hours. I left hospital with my wrist in a thick crepe bandage, a wrist brace and a sling. The hospital didn't give me any guidance on what I should or shouldn't do once discharged so I just kept it in the sling and slept with it on a pillow at night.

When sensation returned the next day I was surprised that I wasn't in terrible pain and managed to get by on a couple of 500mg paracetamol and one Tramadol just on the first night. My fingers were swollen and red for a few days but I was able to move them. My GP signed me off work for a week but after taking 3 days off I felt I should make an effort and go in, although I couldn't do my normal range of tasks. I work in a very small privately owned jewellers shop and one person down makes a big impact. I have had to find coping strategies to try to do everyday things - using teeth, knees etc to hold things instead of left hand (thankfully I'm right handed). 

Yesterday I went back to the hospital to have my stitches removed. I was dreading how my arm/wrist would look, but it wasn't bad at all - no bruising and not particularly swollen. However I do have some loss of sensation around the inside base of my thumb which is probably due to nerve damage from surgery.  I was very surprised that after removing the thick bandage and taking out the stitches, I was put back in a tubular bandage and wrist support only. I had expected to have a short arm cast for another few weeks at least. The doctor who saw me said that the metalwork was doing the job of a cast so it wasn't necessary to have one. I was given a sheet of exercises to start on and told that at the end of 4 weeks I should no longer be wearing the brace. I asked the Dr about recovery time and whether I would get back full use of my wrist.  The depressing answer was that it won't ever be the same again as before the fracture, and I'm looking at a year for recovery.  I'm also a candidate for a DXA scan at 57 having previously fractured my ankle and a big toe!

For the rest of the day my wrist wasn't too uncomfortable although I wasn't attempting to do anything with it.  However today it was a different story and it has been excruciatingly painful if I lust changed position of my arm, let alone trying to start exercising it. I know I have to do it but I'm dreading it all the same.  i don't know whether the NHS will provide any physio appointments for me but I would like to have professional help to rehabilitate my wrist so may have to find and pay for private physio sessions. 

I managed to gain full use of my broken ankle over time, but the wrist is going to be much more of a challenge I think. 

Good of luck to anyone who has gone through a similar experience - I hope I read some positive outcomes here to make me feel a little less less despondent. 

Hi everyone! Like you guys, I fell in my computer room on my way to bed the night of June 28th....broke my right wrist on both sides....the pinky side was a "clean" break, but the thumb side was a doozy! ER in the middle of the night....called in an orthopedic surgeon who decided not to operate and just set the break. Cast for two months.....fingers so stiff and swollen....out of cast after 8 weeks and into a splint, which I took off to exercise, bathe, etc.....bottom line, here I am in October, and my fingers on my right hand are STILL stiff and swollen...I can type, crochet, (although I had to learn a new way to hold the hook) have to hold my fork differently when I eat.....but I am starting to think my fingers will never be normal again. Forget wearing any rings.....I guess it could be a lot worse. I am going to be 60 next birthday, so maybe this IS normal.....

Jan....I did try to move my fingers from the beginning, and was able to bend them as far as the cast allowed....I can move fingers, but the swelling and stiffness just won't seem to go away.....

Sorry to hear this Jan..share your pain..think we must have fallen at the the same time & got the same injury & have had the ame experience since! Although it was the Radial bone that broke near to my thumb it's been the top of my hand & little finger area that's been the most painful  recently..physio lady showed me a model of a hand & it explains it well as so many small bones, ligaments, nerves & muscles..she told me it's not the bone causing the pain necessarily but all the other things & soft tissue so it's just a waiting game for everything to settle down.If it's hurting I'd have a day off exercise & put something cold on it..Hope you're feeling better soon  chick..it's so annoying but we'll get there!x

I know this is an old post and there have been many replies but thought I'd share my experience..

I've broke my left wrist 3 times in the same place when I was 7 and when I was 11. (I'm only 16 now so have no idea exactly the place in the wrist or anything)! I also seemed to end up going back and forth to doctors hen I was younger due to pain.

Fast forward to now when in 16, I'm still having issues. Doctors as useless, best they can do is take an x-Ray to inform me that it isn't broken which I am aware of but nothing more. I've had physiotherapy, tried all home remedies, tried to strengthen it with rock climbing and at home exercises and even been to a chiropractor to get my back done in hope that the connection nerves may be able to get some help.

However nothing! The pain varies and I usually get it when it's cold however even in hot weather I would be putting some mascara on and it would be excruciating to even do that?

Currently I'm in the cycle where it isn't able to do anything for a few days, then it's ok for me to use it for a few weeks and then back to pain again.

Painkillers that I get over the counter doesn't work and my 3 different doctors ive spoken to are no help.

Baring in mind I'm only 16, what are my options??

Thanks!

Don't know where you live, but if you are near a large city you might consult a pain specialist.  I know one in my town because he had worked for the orthopedic clinic I use.  You would need to be careful not to go to a clinic that mostly prescribes "Pain medicine" to addicts, because we have those, too. An orthopedic clinic might be able to make a recommendation.  I feel for you because I am still having problems after breaking two bones in my wrist  late in June.  I sprained the wrist again a week ago and have taken at least five steps backwards.  However, I am 67.  You are so young you need to get help so you will not have to suffer for years, and there should be some ways to help one so young.  I will be thinking about you.

I hope others also have suggestions.

Welcome to the Colles fracture boat. I broke both arms Oct 5 and the right one has the Colles. I have little pain but what seems to me to be significant numbness. The entire palm is numb! I ask my docs when I'm concerned (like now) and do it in such a way that you can document the way that you requested information including the date and time. Don't take a chance on letting your message slip through the cracks -- if something is wrong the first thing they'll say is why didn't you call us?! Best of luck to You! 

I broke my raduis bone on my right hand operation k wires which now removed . It's now 6 mths on and I still cannot bend fingers make a fist or turn my palm facing up . Still swelling in Palm and fingers .. Attending OT and physio. I,ve also no taste or smell they say due to medication.  Getting me very down any tips to help .