Wrist very stiff 3months after surgery

I know this post is old.  I've had the same fracture and procedure done. According to my Dr, it's going to take at least a year, to be somewhat normal again. My PT, disagrees. I might not have full range of motion ever again. It's all in the therapy and stretching. You have to work the whole area that is stiff and sore. 

Well, I am now 6 months post-open and am able to make a fist although I still have to help it along sometimes. Still have mild wrist discomfort, more like a wrist headache vs real pain. Extension is about 40 degrees...don't expect much more than that. Pronation and supination are great now. Also developed frozen shoulder which resulted in a 50% rotator cuff tear. To make things even more interesting 😨, tripped over an extension cord and while trying to protect my wrist, I jammed my shoulder. Doc thinks it is now a complete tear. Scheduled for MRI and anticipating surgery. Still attending therapy 3x/week. Who would have Thought! 🤔

There is indeed hope, it has gotten better for me and mine was a comminuted facture (pieces) but I'll tell you I'd rather it didn't happen and I'm sick to death hearing how lucky I was, like living is so freaking great!  Take heart you will improve!  I'm 5 months in and still stiff, sore, lack of motion but improving.  Best wishes...George

Hi there guys,I found this thread and hope that everyone has improved  since their last post.

I broke my wrist (Distal radius comminuted intra-articular) late September in a motorcycle accident, and after a couple of weeks had to have it plated. I've been out of the cast now for two weeks and had my first physiotherapy appointment a few days ago. I know it's early days and it could take months as many of you have found out  but I was quite concerned about how stiff my wrist felt (very little range of motion) and how tight and painful it was - like having really tight rubber band around it.  My physiotherapist was unable to get  much more movement passively than I was able to show actively and I had symptoms of nerve damage  as well as some swelling in my wrist, hand and fingers. In addition to continuing the exercises I had been doing  since I was in a cast (The big six) he has suggested heat and massage, and a few exercises to concentrate on wrist mobility. I massage the whole forearm but concentrate on  the fatty pad at the bottom of my thumb,  my wrist (to ease the carpal tunnel), along my scar and the plate, and along all the sensitive areas where I get nerve pain.  It has been just  three days  but what a difference! There isn't a huge  change in the mobility of the wrist  but the wrist tightness has decreased markedly (now discomfort rather than pain)  as has the swelling. I also find it a bit easier to do the hand exercises and hope that in a few more days  I will begin to see differences in the wrist mobility.

As for the shoulder pain and lack of mobility, he gave me some simple exercises to do with a yellow exercise band.  I had actually found these on the Internet and was doing them without any resistance which helped. I do them now with the slight resistance of the yellow band and can move my arm  ever slightly more freely. The two more effective ones are done holding the arm bent at a right angle at the elbow and snugly against  the rib cage. Move the forearm from its starting position in front of you outwards as far as is comfortable and hold for a few seconds before returning to the starting position.  In the other exercise over the forearm across the body.

I hope that  the exercises/massage therapy that I outlined in this post might help others as much as they have helped me in the last few days. I was feeling quite desperate before... what a difference  good physiotherapy advice can make    

Hi

Well it is almost 3months since my accident and surgery with plate and pins, making progress however I have very little strength in my hand and still can't make a full fist. I'm getting anxious again about this and I'm trying to use my arm/hand,though can't hold a folk or knife properly still. If anyone can offer advice or reassurance that this will improve. Thank you -feeling terribly anxious x

Hi everyone 

Found this post while searching for some guidance and help with regards to my fractured wrist. Accident on 22:10.17 op on 3/11/17 plate and 3 screws  now on my 11 week post op and although there is some improvement , although slight I'm still unable to flex my wrist or turn hand over completely. I have a lump at base of my thumb which is very painful. My fingers are still very tight and feel like I just want someone to break them and reset them ! Is this normal? I'm at my wits end and very low as all dr says is it's time thing and due to the nature of my break is to be expected!  Due to being unable to work I'm trying to survive off ssp which is impossible, does anyone know of other benifits that may be available? 

I'm applying heat on my wrist and doing all exercises and massage my hand daily but if anyone has any more help or advice I would be so grateful. Beginning to despair now 😞