Broken Bones | Broken Wrists Recovery | How long does it take to heal?
87Why did I remember to make such a page?
It all happened during a mountain bike trip to the French Alps in July 2007. I had a big fall from a second floor balcony... no, unfortunately it was not a bike crash! And no, I didn`t try to kill myself!
The main reason was the fact that after my incident I searched for help online and found very few people sharing their broken wrist`s recovering experiences.
I have broken both wrists, the scaphoid bone from my right hand and also broke some bones from my face.
Yes, it was a very big tumble! In fact I suppose I am lucky to be alive after all!
That said, I can tell you that I feel like a cat after loosing his first life. I just hoping to still have the other eight!
Hope this hub may help other people going through the same kind of injury... it helped me writing it down and sharing it with everybody out there :-)
What is a broken wrist?
When someone falls on their outstretched hand, and the wrist suffer a big impact against some hard surface, they sometimes get a "broken wrist."
The bone that is most commonly broken is called the radius. The end toward the wrist is called the distal end. The medical term for "broken bone" is fracture. Therefore, the medical term for the most common type of "broken wrist" is a distal radius fracture (in other words, the larger forearm bone is broken near the wrist).
Before my first surgery X-rays
 | Amazon Price: $0.01 List Price: $65.00 |
 | Amazon Price: Too low to display List Price: $9.99 |
The scaphoid bone:
The scaphoid bone (also called the navicular bone) is one of eight carpal (wrist) bones. These small bones are the ones responsible for all the complexity and delicate movements of our hands. The carpal bones are located between the forearm and hand bones.
The scaphoid sits below the thumb, and is shaped something like a kidney bean.
The most important thing about the scaphoid bone is that it has a retrograde blood supply. This means that the blood flow originates in small vessel that enters the most distant part of the bone and flows back through the bone to give nutrition to the bone cells.
The pattern of blood supply in the scaphoid presents a problem when one sustain a scaphoid fracture. Due to the tenuous blood supply, a scaphoid fracture can sever this blood flow and stop the delivery of necessary oxygen and nutrients to the bone cells.
When this occurs, healing can be slow, and the scaphoid fracture may not heal at all.
Symptoms of a scaphoid fracture:
The symptoms of this kind of fracture are pain on the thumb side of the wrist, swelling in that area, and difficulty gripping objects.
Many patients are diagnosed with a wrist sprain, when in actuality they have a broken scaphoid bone. The diagnosis is difficult because x-rays taken right after the injury may show no abnormality.
It was not a problem in my case due to the severity of the injuries. Even today after more than six months I still have pains in my right thumb whenever I grab something.
After the fall...
I had to get up all by myself and go upstairs to the second floor from where I had fallen. I still do not know where I found the strength to search for my friends` help... I guess it was my love for life!
When I finally reached my friends they called for the paramedics and I was taken to the hospital right away. Well, right away is not correct... we had to stop twice to draw some money from an ATM machine. The ambulance would only take me to the hospital after I`d payed the service.
Due to the severity of the bones fractures and misalignment I had to be operated right after arriving to the hospital.
During this first surgery, doctors fixed both my wrists with titanium plates, screws and in the right wrist they also put an external fixation. This external equipment was applied to both the radio and forefinger bones by four screws, two in each bone.
Animated wrist fracture repair surgery
X-rays after the first surgery
As planned...
And back in Portugal, the external fixation was removed 2 months after the operation. They took it without any anesthesia which made it a unforgettable moment for me.
At this point I started daily physiotherapy sessions and immediately began to see good results.
A broken wrist is among the most common broken bones. In fact, wrist fractures are the most commonly broken bone in patients under 65 years of age.
It is also true that this kind of fractures sometimes can save lives, as it was in my case! If I had landed in any other way I would probably have broken my neck. My wrists were my parachute and softened that big fall.
Right wrist X-rays after removing the external fixation
It only lasted about a week before I went to hospital again. This time to have the little spike removed because it was starting to push through my skin.
Both at this time and when they remove the external fixation I had no anesthetic agent to relief the pain. At this time I was starting to learn how to enjoy the pain sensation LOL!
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger."
Friedrich Nietzsche
After removing the spike
 | Two concentric circle BIOflex magnets are incorporated into a 1/8" nylon backed neoprene wrist support with a 2" hook and loop closure. Amazon Price: $9.50 |
 | Bioflex Magnetic Thumb and Wrist Support protect and support your thumb injuries. The Magnetic Thumb and Wrist Support is more comfortable and breathable alternative to standard neoprene. Amazon Price: $15.99 List Price: $25.95 |
 | Bioflex Magnetic Wrist Splint is lined with CoolMax. It contains 2 Bioflex concentric circle magnetsand a molded plastic spoon to support the wrist. Bioflex Magnetic Wrist Splint is ideal for typists or anyone with hand or wrist pain. Amazon Price: $25.00 |
What Can I Expect After my Bone Has Healed?
Everyone wants to know, "Can I return to all my former activities, and when?" This is a great question which also seems rather simple and straightforward, but the answer is complex.
Most patients do return to all of their former activities, but what will happen in your case depends on the nature of your injury, the kind of treatment you and your surgeon decide upon, and how your body responds to the treatment.
You will need to discuss your case with your doctor for the specifics of your case, but some generalizations can be made:
- Most patients have their cast taken off at about six weeks.
- Most patients will start physiotherapy, if their doctor feels it is needed, within a few days or weeks after surgery, or right after the last cast is taken off.
- Most patients will be able to resume light activities such as swimming or workout the lower body in the gym within a month or two after the cast is taken off, or after surgery.
- Most patients can resume vigorous physical activities, such as skiing or football, between three and six months after the injury.
- Almost all patients will have some stiffness in the wrist, which will generally diminish in the month or two after the cast is taken off or after surgery, and will continue to improve for at least two years.
- One should expect your recovery to take at least a year. One will still feel some pain with vigorous activities for about that long. Some residual stiffness or aches are to be expected for two years or possibly permanently, especially for high impact injuries (such as motorcycle crashes, etc.), in patients over 50, or in patients who have some osteoarthritis. However, the good news is that the stiffness is usually minor and may not affect the overall function of the arm.
Remember, these are general guidelines and may not apply to you and your fracture. Ask your doctor for specifics in your case. Your doctor knows that returning to activities is very important for you.
|
Ultra Deluxe Wrist Brace Support for Carpal Tunnel and Wrist Pain
Current Bid: $10.99
|
|
Bell-Horn Stabilizing Wrist/Carpal Tunnel Elastic Brace --Right L
Current Bid: $6.00
|
Both wrist`s surgery number two
In my case and almost 7 months after the accident which occurred in the end of July 2007, I had to be operated on again to remove the titanium plates from both wrists and to get my right one fixated with a new thin titanium plate to impede any movement.
In order to allow the right hand to rotate they also cut the distal end from my right cubitus bone.
X-ray from right wrist after the last surgery
To be continued...
Even though I am much better now I will still need at least one more operation to have my left wrist arranged into its correct position. But that can only take place when I get the chance to interrupt my work.
Yes, that is right - my next vacations will be spent in hospital.
Lets call it my last surgery (I hope)
After taking care of my right wrist (which suffered the most severe injury) it was now time to finally put the left one into his proper position or at least try. In October 2009 I went through what I hope to be my last surgery and my surgeon believed that my left wrist could still regain its mobility after setting its position straight.
This time I only had local anesthesia which allowed a much faster recovery from the operation (I started moving my fingers in the end of the day) and it also allowed me to follow the entire process without any pains. The problem was it took more than two hours... that´s right, I almost fell asleep during the surgery...
The operation team decided to add some more titanium to my body, two plates were fixed this time and my wrist was no longer out of place. This, by it self, made a big difference as it was already possible for me to firmly grab my bicycle`s handlebar grip.
The bad news though was the fact that it did not improve my wrist mobility, but frankly I was already expecting this... in the last appointment before the surgery I even suggested my doctor that he could do the same as he did to the right wrist (complete fixation) but he told me there were some chances of improvement.
Unfortunately I still don´t have good quality digitalizations of the X-rays because they never gave me the original ones. The pictures below were digitalized from a paper copy, I´m sorry for the poor quality.
Determination...
Right now, almost four years after the incident, I am already able to work, hand write, ride my bicycles and to do all the everyday tasks.
Ok, let me be completely honest with you... I´m now able to do almost everything... but on the other hand everything I´m able to do now I do it better than before!
"One only value things after lose them."
If you ask me, I feel like I have born again with everything to learn! Thankfully it is much easier when it is the second time you have to learn all those things.
---------------------------------------------
Dr. Nelson's Broken Wrist Page
---------------------------------------------
Matthias Wandel's broken wrist experiences
- Broken wrist
The story of my broken wrist On March 5, 2011, I broke my right wrist. This unfortunately rendered me unable to do stuff in my workshop for a while. I spent a lot of time reading about other people's similar experiences to get a better sense of what
vote upvote downsharePrintflag
- Useful (48)
- Funny (5)
- Awesome (13)
- Beautiful (2)
- Interesting (1)
CommentsLoading...
You´re right! We always have to look at the god things instead of only think on the bad ones.
I´m glad to be here reading and writing hubs with so many interesting people!
Yes, and you have made your injury the basis for this hub, to help people with info! Great going, Funride!
Well done Hub! Knock on wood, I've never broken anything except a couple of ribs from a fall off a ladder while removing leaves from a gutter. Good luck with your next operation and a speedy recovery.
Ooh, I have the same plate in my wrist after falling off my mountain bike -_-* At least I can see which bones I broke :P
Havent broken anything so far, but the clock is now ticking! (after reading the thread)
Great read and article! thumbs up
Thoog.
Great articles , I had double fracture on my ankle and the main bone , tibula , when I was smaller dont evan want to remember walking in crouches and not to forget the cast , hopefully i was ok after six long months , now I have no problems ! Great stuff on this hub ! I must give you my x-rays to post them :))) Good luck !
Excellent hub. Pity about the voiceover on the simulated repair video. (for me, it breaks up - does that happen for everyone?).
I cracked a femur in a car crash many years ago. They inserted a titanium tube known as a G-K Nail, hammering it in from the hip end and driving in a couple of screws at the knee end to hold the bone segments together. Went through airport security, and nothing would stop the 'beep'. In the end they decided it must be the eyelets on my boots. It was six months before I remembered that I had a chunk of metal in my upper leg, and that was what was causing the beep. (:=>
Thank you all for the kind comments.
You´re right chabrenas the video it´s not perfect (voiceover and have some breaks) but it was the only one I found, sorry.
I´ll be operated again next month and after it I will update this hub.
Broken wrist's eh! Surgery is the key. along with physiotherapy. I have broken my toes loads. the only thing I hate is the pain.
Sorry to hear about this, you give a lot of good information here on a break. Thank you for sharing and hope that your recovery speeds up.
Cleanclover - Thanks for your comment, you´re right about surgery! I´m still waiting for mine.
Jewel - Thank you I´m glad you find it informative.
wow I never realized how many bones we really have in our wrists and hands. I can't even begin to imagine how that must have been and still is. I broke my shoulder in 3 places from tripping over a throw rug tho...and they do nothing for it...just a small brace and theraphy...It took a year to get almost better..still can't hook my bra in the back..so had to go to front hooked..ha ha ha sure you wanted to know that heh? A very good hub and best of everything coming up my dear G-Ma :O) hugs
Thank you dearest G-Ma. My shoulders were also injured but thankfully not broken and after this 6 months of theraphy they are much better (still can´t hook it in my back either ;) but that´s no problem for me eheheh). My advise for you is to keep on exercising your arms and shoulders so you can hook it in the back soon ;)
Oh, that's terrible! I hope to never break a bone. I don't want to go through what you did.
Hi dear Trisha, thank you for your comment. It wasn´t all that bad - it could be worst! A couple weeks after the accident I realise that I could have die with that tumble :/
I really hope that nothing bad happens to you ever! Take care.
Very well researched and well written hub. But really...OUCH! I broke my elbow once. Both bones dislocated, and I had to have surgery and pins hold it together now. I'll have to have the pins removed soon, because one has worked its way loose and is scraping a tendon. More fun in the surgical arena.
The moral of this story is, don't mess around on a second floor balcony unless you're the Bionic Man.
You´re right dafla. Some times we only see the danger when he collide with us, thankfully I don´t remember anything about the fall. BTW I´m going to have some more surgical "fun" next monday :/
I wish everything goes well with your elbow ;)
Great info about broken wrists, funride. I like your attitude a lot - being able to see the bright side of things. That takes a lot of courage and a GOOD MINDSET LOL (That's 125% in MR.M Puzzle game). Anyhow, just curious, how open are you to receiving distant healing? I'm having this urge to do that for you. Surgeries help I'm certain. What I will do is help accelerate your healing. :-) Well, if ever you would like that, just tell me. If not, I respect that as well.
You take care.
Thank you for your kind comment ripplemaker. This is the first time I come to HP after the surgery and I already can type with my left hand again :) I realise now that your distant healing is already helping my recovery, thank you so much for that!
I missed this one.It reminds me of the accident that one of my cousins had recently.He broke his forearm, had to undergo surgery and went thru a lot of pain.I do hope you have recovered completely.Great info on the topic.
Thanks for your kind comment Abhinaya. Unfortunately I´m still not recovered completely but I already see the light in the end of the tunnel ;)
You seem to be a man full of courage and determination.My prayers are sure to put you back on feet again.God bless.
I am so glad that I found this hub. I recently broke my wrist, now I have the plate and screws, but I also have one in my ankle from a slip and fall...both incidents from slipping on ice. Needless to say, I am walking in the street to avoid the sidewalk...I feel like Sally Fields in the movie where she had the many personalities...I probably look like her when I'm trying to tell my self "WALK"
Hi brokeinthealley, I´m glad you like it. I already had my plates removed but my right wrist recieved a new one to fixate the joint and this one is for ever :(
Wish you fast and complete recovery ;)
HI funride..good to know you could type with your left hand. Okay, I will continue to do distant healing for your complete recovery. God bless. :-)
Ouch! I have had my share of crashes and falls and I think your wrist is worse then when I broke my back!!!
Thank you so much ripplemaker. Even though being a little sceptical I have to admit you´re really helping me, my true friend ;)
flyingphreak - thanks for your comment. How is your back right now? I hope you are totally recover from that.
LOL thanks for your honesty. It's okay to be skeptical. :-) I guess I have to write a hub about healing. Maybe one of these days.
Hey Funride, thanks for the Hub, I enjoyed it, but am sorry you fell and were injured.
When I was 15 years old (long time ago), a friend and I were playing tennis at the school. A couple of the balls went over the fence which was 12 feet tall with three rows of barbed wire at the top for a total of 15 feet. I climbed over and retrieved the balls and on my way back over, my shoe laces got caught in the barbed wire and I fell..... head first.... onto a concrete tennis court.
My head hit the ground first but I somehow managed to break a bone in my hand. I didn't even have a headache. My ex-wife says I am the most hard headed SOB she ever met, and I can't argue with her, lol.
To this day, that's the only broken bone I have endured, officially anyway. I am almost certain I have had my nose broken, as well as a rib or two, but never went to the doctor. Guess I am making the ex-wifes case of me being a hard headed SOB all over again, lol.
Thanks again for sharing, take care.
Hi Frank, thanks for your comment! At 15 years old we are all hard headed SOB. LOL
After 8 months since that day I´m still recovering and going to physio every day :( the good news is that I´m much better now and soon I will be able to have a normal live again :)
After going over your hub post and the photos I guess my "broken" wrist was not as bad as yours. I fell face down while dribbling the ball and my full body weight was on my left hand, palm flat on the concrete ground, forcing it to over-extend on my forearm.
Hi rbnstr08, I´m glad that your injury was not a very bad one. It´s the difference between falling when you are on the ground or falling from a second floor balcony :/
I hope your wrist has recover totally and you be able to play again soon.
You know, Ricardo, I'm not sure I feel comfortable having you as mayor in our hubpages town with your "deformity" and all.
http://hubpages.myminicity.com/
hahaha I'm kidding! But seriously I wish you well with your physio every day. Hope you can have a full recovery in the end!
LOL You probably right, being mayor has been the very single thing I´m able to do right now :D
Thank you for your kind words Pete. Right now I just want to regain my right hand functionality in order to start working again.
Oh you've been not working this whole time? Whatever will we do without you on hubpages all the time???
Love your new photo... :o) my mom broke her wrist on Easter Sunday..She is 88, but did not shatter or move out of place....Still hurt though..So I came back here to re-read your story God Bless....G-Ma :o) hugs X 3
Oh G-Ma, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom injury, I really hope she gets fine soon enough. Thanks for your kindness, I was thinking about changing my hubface and I found this photo which was taken by me in 2004. Your hugs feels like real, thank you :0)
My sweetie You are more then welcome..and Thanks for your concern..I think about you often and hope you feel it...G-Ma :o) hugs X 3
Huummm! :rolleyes: Now I understand why I'm getting well so quickly since I post this hub! G-Ma Johnson and Michelle (Ripplemaker) are both doing great distant healing for for my fast recover. Thank you both so much! :0) HUGS X Millions!!!
I'm happy that you enjoyed my hubs.
Wow - broken wrists look painful and must be very inconvenient too! You have a great attitud about the whole experience, so I'm sure you'll heal quickly. Sending healing thoughts.
Thank you Pat! You are most kind and I really appreciate your words very much ;)
Sounds like you need a keeper....lol....that sux....stay away feom balconies......thay are not your friend!
LOL, now I´m already able to do almost everything by myself but until a couple of months ago I had my "angel" Claudia who took care of me while I was unable to do things. Lacy, I can assure you I´m not mad with balconies I just avoid then :D
Ouch! I broke my big toe at Karate and that hurt like crazy so you have my sympathy. How you got back up those stairs is impossible to imagine. Good luck with the healing (how do you manage to type?!)
Thank you for your kind comment Tj! Fortunately I´m able to type with my left hand. As I use to say: we have to adapt our selfs to our condition. After all this time I already learn (again lol) how to write, how to drive (thanks to my new automatic Honda Hybrid) and how to do almost everything. I guess what I have missed the most was to hold my daughter in my arms but now I´m starting to be able to do so and she´s loving it as much as I´m!
Funride, I still miss the cause of this famous fall from the second floor in France?
Also, what was the cost of all medical assistance, for 'your wallet', until now?
Ohhh, that story would give another hub :D but in a few words I can say that I had gone to a disco that night and drank a few beers, later I went home and went to sleep over the bed (I was still wearing my sneakers). My nephew stay in the balcony to rest his head and later I must have waken and sought for him. But I didn´t saw him sleeping in the living room (I was not wearing my glasses) and went to the balcony which had a little step. Well you can figure what happened next :/
I was very somnolence because I still don´t remember nothing but wake on the ground after the fall. At first I wasn´t even aware of what had happened to me.
Regarding costs, fortunately my car travel insurance paid all the expenses made in France including the hospitalization and surgery, plus the flight home. Here in Portugal I have been treated under our public health care system. That means I only paid moderated taxes and the medicinal drugs. My greatest problem has been the incapability for working until a couple weeks ago.
I broke my wrist when I was a kid, but nothing like your injury. I'm glad you got through it. Imagine Hubpages without funride- much less fun. Without sounding too preachy, all I can say is you must have some purpose left to fulfill on this earth.
Hi Angela, thanks for commenting ;)
LOL, I´m glad you enjoy my presence here and you are right, I still have the greatest role to fulfill: my daughter´s education! I guess that was one of the first things I thought after the accident and it has been helping me to get well.
This is really an amazing hub. And you are the second person I've encountered who has broken both wrists at once. I hope you are feeling much better and thank you for sharing this. It is rather fascinating and yet horrible too.
Thanks for your kind comment, getitdone ;).
I am now going on 3 months of healing from the same type of broken wrist and surgery...the pain is taking a toll on me. I thank you for sharing your insight, I thought I was all alone with such a surgery and the after affects and the healing process. My sister also broke her wrist she had a compound fracture...I emailed her your story...will check back to read about your progress and what I have to look forward to...Francine
Hi Francine, I´m sorry to hear about you and your sister´s injuries. How did it happened to both of you? The first couple of months after surgery are the most painful. Right now I only feel pain during physical therapy and it´s a "good" pain because it means I´m getting better :)
I hope you and your sister recover completely and without needing anymore surgery. I still have at least one more to go :(. My left wrist is still very rigid and it will need surgical operation to be put in proper position.
Thank you for responding to my comment. My sister broke her left wrist 9 months ago, she just put in new hardwood floors and had bootie socks on and she fell. I had my injury happen in Rota, Spain on 01/30/08. I caught the tip of my toe on a speed bump after I got out of our car, right in front of our apartment. I also hit my face, my lips, two front teeth, jaw and knee as well as my right wrist fracture. Being in a country where I do not speak any Spanish and with the first two people who came to my aid (my husband was across the street, and did not see my fall) were trying to speak to me but could not communicate with them, I am doing much better with my spanish after my fall...hee hee hee. My husband after hearing me scream out for him then took me on Base to the ER and I had to wait a week before my surgery as my hand was to swollen...Here in Rota, Spain the make a drink called Tinto's, and I did not have anything that day to drink. I am very afraid now when I do go out and walk the streets, I am working on over coming that phobia I have now. I have only had 1 Physical Therapy Session and I go next week for my 2nd Session and yes it hurts doing the Threapy, I will have to look at it the way you do, good pain as it means its getting better. I am very thankful that God was looking out for me as it could have been worst...I hit my face very hard and could have suffered brian damage, so I was blessed. My sister had to have cadaver bone placed in her wrist...I have all the same hardware as you do...have a good day!
Oh my goodness! That was a long fall, but at least subconsciously you put your hands out to stop yourself. You are lucky to be here really. Necks break, pretty hard to heal. It must be hard to write, but I guess its good physio.... good luck , speedy recovery angels sent your way.
Your right Jenn, I had my private angels with me that night. I hit the ground almost horizontally I guess if I had fallen differently I wouldn´t be here today for sure. Thank you so much for the "speedy recovery angels", they arrived well and are already working :D
I broke my left wrist by falling on dance floor a few years ago. Two years ago I was mopping the kitchen floor barefooted. This was my right wrist. The wrists look deformed and is there a way to position them right? Sometimes the wrists pains. What DR should I go to to see about this? I love to bowl and have not gone to try it out. Does anyone have a suggestion
Hi Vonnie, thanks for passing by. When you fell on your kitchen did you get your wrist immobilized? For how long? I still have that same problem with my left one, it´s very stiff and looking deformed. I´m not sure about your case but I´ll have to go on another surgery to put the bones in proper position. Any orthopedist specialized on hands injuries will be able to help you. I hope you´ll find the right DR and get well from your right wrist.
I am so happy that you are able to hold your little girl...I am looking forward to returning home to the US the end of May and holding my Grand Babies very carefully. How long does this stifness last, I wake up in the AM's and it takes me a long time to be able to bend my fingers and make a fist, and I am very sensitive to the hardware, if a pc. of cloth touches it, it sends chills down my back and aches...I am praying for you that you heal very fast...and let me know about your upcoming surgery...God Bless You...Francine
Hi Francine, thanks for returning. The stifness only gets better with physio but the sensitiveness tends to disappear in a few months, our brain gets used to it I suppose LOL. The stifness it´s mainly due to long immobilization period and it will diminish with continuous exercises. It´s really great to be able to do all those things we love once again ;) . You´re really a kind person, thank you... Ricardo
Hi Ricardo...
I was informed that I might need another surgery now to remove the plate, screws and pins...due to the pain I am in 24/7 small % of people sometimes suffer pain after the bones have healed and our very sensitive to the plate, screws and pins. I only have 38% use of right hand going tomorrow for more extensive therapy. I continue to pray for your recovery and your family...Francine
Hi Francine, I have not told you that earlier because I was not sure about it but I think it´s usual to have those plates removed after several months. In my case because of the severity of the right wrist´s fracture they have putted a definitive plaque in order to fixate it and impede any upward or downward movements. You´ll see that in time and with help from therapy you´ll recover all hand mobility ;) . I find myself doing new things everyday :).
I hope my thoughts also help you and your sister recoveries ;)
I broke both my wrigts on April 1. I had surgery and plates were put in both wrists. You learn to appreciate the little thiings you can no longer do. After 1 month i am able to do some of those things. Each task accomplished is a milestone. This article was informative for me. Now I know I'll be okay in the future. Thanks!
Hi Constance, I´m glad this hub helped you but I´m really sorry to hear about your wrist injuries. How did it happened to you? It´s true, we tend to value things only when we loose them but you´ll see that altho it´ll not be easy, in future and after lots of physical therapy you´ll be able to do (almost) everything you did before ;) . For me the worst thing during the first months was the fact that I created great expectations about fast recovery but know after 10 months I realize that it takes time and hard work to achieve it. I truly hope that you´ll recover well and fast. You´ll have my thoughts along the way :) .
I just found your page. I injured my wrists in 1995 and ended up needing surgery starting in 2001. I have since had 9 surgeries...fully fusing both wrists and removing a chunk of my ulna on the left. The latest of my surgeries was last year. It ended up being dequervain's (silly tendons!) that was causing the continued pain, which was frustrating after dealing with the injury and arthritis...but now things are SO much better. My bike (a recumbent) is at the shop getting the controls all put on the right side...my friends are doing everything they can to get me outside and active, and I am finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
I am amazed at how many other folks are out there with double wrist fusions and feel for all of you. Other people who know how frustrating it is to try and reach something under a car seat. Fix wires behing a TV. Scratch an itch on your back. Hold someone's hand comfortably. But it does get better. Pain goes away. And life is wonderful:) (though...at times I just about screamed at people to just cut off my hands and give me some hooks!)
--Jarod
Hi Jarod, thank you so much for your words. It´s great to have your experiences here and to know that you are much better now :) . I strugle every day with those same things you told but I´m learning and adapting myself to this condition and I believe I´ll be doing (almost) everything as before. It´s always nice feeling reinforce by knowing that others also deal with the same difficulties as we. It´s great to have good friends, isn´t it? Fortunately I also have some good ones who help me almost every day. I wish you all the best and hope you´ll have great rides with your recumbent. Who knows, maybe some day we will ride together :)
Hi funride: Wow! Did you ever contemplate writing a medical book? Or maybe one on Orthopedics? What a bonebreaker you are, kiddo! Ouch, in all my healthcare experience, I never was faced with a patient who had so much trauma all at once. OUCH, THAT HURT! Hope you're healing by now and your wrists can let you type at your computer keyboard.
By the way, are you a medical doctor? M.D.? That's what it looks like to me, the way you professionally put together your "Fractured Bones" discussion could come right out (or is it "write out"?) of a medical journal. Well, bon sante' and keep writing. ciao for niao, Helen (a.k.a. Creativita) of http://hubpages.com/hub/DEADLY-HEALTHCARE and http://hubpages.com/hub/PSYCH-NEW-YORK and http://hubpages.com/hub/freelance-ad-writing
Hi Helen, thank you so much for your kind words. In fact I´m a Nutritionist so maybe my way of writing about my problem seems somehow "professional" ;). But everything I know about Orthopedics was learn after the accident so I´m not an specialist. Thankfully things are getting better and hopefully I´ll have my last surgery next September, braking was very quick but the recovery has been a long way.
Have fun!
Ugh...one of the things that has been extrememly difficult to deal with is the recurrence of issues. After getting scoped, then the Proximal Row Carpectomy (removal of the lowest row of wrist bones) I thought everything was fixed...until a month later when the pain came back like a freight train. So...fusion time (which has been awesome for the right wrist!) Then the left wrist needed attention...one thing after another gets very tiring.
A question for you Funride: Do you still have pain? How do you manage it? I am usually fine but severe storms and flying can be excruciating. I end up using Vicodin during the rough times.
Hi Jarod, thank you for passing by. How did you broke them? After almost 11 months since my accident I still have at least another surgery to go and I can understand/feel what you are saying. I guess we have similar broken wrists history. To be honest the worst pains I had were just a couple weeks after the first operation when they stop giving me morphine. Now I can´t say it doesn´t hurt but I suppose I´m getting used to it :rolleyes:. Still the daily physical therapy sessions feel like torture to me and everytime the weather is rainy I choose to take Algimate (which doesn´t take all the pain but helps a little).
Last time I talked with my surgeon I told him that I was starting to feel frustrated with all the time that has passed and he told me that he was expecting to hear that from me several months ago. There´s no easy solutions for severe wrist fractures, we have to be calm and determined to adapt ourself to our new condition.
I wish you fast and complete recovery. Keep in touch ;)
I guess that sooner or later we bike riders will take spills. However, bike riding is worth it because riding is invigorating and stimulating.
Last year at 81 years of age, I took my worse spill ever resulting in two ribs broken and a punctured lung. However, still riding today and enjoying every minute. Riding is too integrated in my life to stop now as I've been using bikes for fun and transportation since I was 5 years old.
Thank you for passing by Budwood. As I say in the beginning of this hub: "... unfortunately it was not a bike crash!" but nevertheless I also had several bike crashes but never injured myself like this time :(
I already started to ride (very carefully) my bicycles but I´m still not able to ride safely so you can understand how I fill after almost one year without riding bikes. I also have been using them since I was 5 but I´m only 34 now, so who knows, maybe I´ll be riding until 81 years old ;)
Have fun!
Hey Funride,
I injured my wrists in a fall out of a helicopter while I was in the Army. It was only from about 10 feet up, but I landed very wrong. The wrists did not heal correctly, so my wrists got osteo-arthritic after a few years.
Keep on pushing forward with your recovery!
On a side-note: I picked up a Wii Fit yesterday and found I am able to do most of the exercises...there are a couple of push-up events that don't work too well...but it is a blast! Something to keep me occupied during all the lightning and thunder we have been having for the last month.
Take care,
--Jarod
Hi Jarod, my fall was from higher but at least I don´t remember anything from that event. I guess you still "see" your accident happening which can be somehow traumatic. It´s great to know that you have been doing some exercise, for me it´s the best mental therapy. I go for a walk almost everyday after physical therapy and sometimes I do some bike spinning or go to swimming pool (my favorite) ;)
Thanks for your motivational words. I want you to know that my thoughts are also with you and never forget that after the "storm" it can only become "good weather". Better days are coming ;)
Hi funride, sorry to hear about your injury and hope you recover quickly. I broke my left wrist on the 29/2/08 (and what a bad day it was) playing ice hockey. The docter then said that i would need 8 weeks to recover from such a break, In the end the cast came of in 5 but i am still not able to play ice hockey as it is still to weak and i was starting to worry that it would not get strong enough, so basically thankyou for reassuring me with your hub and it has reminded me to be patient and not rush back before im ready :)
Hi Charlie, I´m glad my hub help you during this rough times. When you less expect you´ll be playing ice hockey again ;)
Very informative hub! Im emailing the link to my dad. (Why? You'll see, read on)
While reading this hub, the one person i was thinking about all the time was my dad! For 3 consecutive January's he's been fracturing his right hand! First it was his right shoulder, then 2 fingers of the same hand the next year and the 3rd year, his elbow. We had started signing "Happy anniversary" on his plasters. So then this January he spared his right hand (Instead got his spleen injured badly in December 2007). And no, he’s not some stunt man, just a regular accident prone 54 year old guy!! Good to know you are riding bikes again. Good Luck to you.
Hi Rookie Expert, thanks. I hope your dad´s injuries odyssey had come to an end and that he is OK since the last one. You´re right, one must not be a acrobatic stunt in order to get injured but your dad had some bad luck this last years perhaps if he was a stunt man he would be safer ;)
Hi Funride, I also broke my wrist and after 12 days in 1/2 a slab, they decided to operate and inserted a metal plate. I play guitar and type and four weeks after the op and attempting both feats. It still has "some" pain but hopefully and from info gleaned from this site, I seem to be on track. I just wondered about having the plate removed...don't really like the idea of it in there. Ha been good reading contributions to your initial question....good luck with it all.
Hi Jeanie, thanks. I´m sorry to hear about your injury but happy to know it´s on the right track ;) . My first plates were removed after 7 months from the moment they were inserted but I guess this time could differ in your case. It´s great to know you´re already trying to do the things you like. I hope you recover completely and fast :)
i ve broke both wrist at the time damn hard to much
Hi D, sorry to hear about that :/
Be patient and you´ll recover fast, at least I hope so. But as you probably have found out it is a difficult process and the only thing others can do right now is try to cheer you up ;)
wow man, that´s a bad fall, hope you recovering fine!
it´s good to see how you take it with optimism
always look at the bright side of life ;)
have a nice weekend
Thanks Joe, that´s the best way (the only one, IMO) to live. Have fun this weekend ;)
Fun, how's your work treating you these days with those wrists and all? You finally feel like you're back in the full swing of things?
I´m better now and able to do almost everything but I still have at least one more surgery to go (probably in September). It´s difficult though having all mornings occupied with physio...
Thank you for passing by ;)
Ewww... this hub is gruesome! It remember when I broke my arm in fifth grade.... it wasn't quite my wrist but it was really close to my wrist and it popped my bone out of place so I had to have surgery and wear a long cast all the way up my arm. I hated it. Because I couldn't play kick ball or ride my bike or any sort of sport. I was such a tom boy.
haha. Good hub but very gruesome. :) I hate looking at broken bones but I can't help myself. :)
Hi Tayler, it´s better to brake bones when we are young because they heal faster and completely. I had never broke any bone until last year and now I see how difficult it is to recover from this kind of injuries. Thanks for commenting ;)
Incredible hub! I know exactly how you feel. I recently sprained my ankle and it has put me out for three weeks. When I was younger I would have recovered in a few days. I'm not look forward to old age but I guess that's life. Good luck with the wrists!
I have a metal plate in my left wrist. Been in about 2 years. Bothers me a little. Should I have it removed?
Thanks Epictruth, hope your ankle it´s fine by now ;)
Hi Bodav, thank you for passing by. It depends on the kind of plate, I for instant had temporary plates to allow the bone to heal in proper place which were removed after 6 or 7 months but I also have this permanent plate to fixate my right wrist which will be here forever. You should ask your doctor or the one who operated you to know for sure ;-)
Hi. I was attacked by neighbor's pit bull .. in my yard .. ugh! Luckily, a broken wrist is all I suffered. I broke the bone directly under my thumb; I think the correct term is the ulna. I, too had the surgery with the plate and 7 screws. I am 50 years old, which doesn't help either! My question is, "Is it normal not to be able to turn your arm so that the palm of your hand is on top? In other words,'Rotate your arm'?" My arm won't turn which is really frightening. Today, finally after 15 days, is the first day my arm hasn't throbbed. HOW LONG is the average time for a wrist to be at least 75% after the cast is taken off? I am a hairdresser, I play the piano, I sew,I do calligraphy, etc. I am being optimistic .. just realistic. You might know it would be my right arm, and I'm very right handed. thanx
Hi Madashell (LOL nice name BTW), I´m sorry to hear about your injury. It´s normal you can´t rotate your arm right now because the ulna is the bone which makes it possible. I think that after a couple of months when they take the plate you´ll be able to rotate your arm again. As you can see in my rx they had to remove the top part of my right ulna to allow the rotation (and now they´re talking about doing the same thing to my left one). I believe your injury it´s not as severe as mine so I think you´ll not have to wait so long until you be able to do all those things but remember that the first months won´t be easy. I learned that we have the ability to adapt and learn to do things differently after a while. As to the throb it´s mainly an effect of the surgery and it will be gone in no time. If you ask me the real pains come with physical therapy but you still have some time before that ;)
I wish you get well fast and completely :)
I broke my wrist 18 months ago, had surgical repair with plate and screws as well as carpal tunnel release. Still have not complete function plus increasing discomfort; most recent doctor has stated that the plate and screws may be causing the problem and should be removed. What were the symptoms that led to your hardware removal? has anyone else had this problem?
thanks! hope you are feeling better.
Hi Nicki, thanks for passing by. I don´t think there were any symptoms to justify the removal of both plates. Most of the times the plates should be removed as soon as the fracture has healed which was the reason why they took my plates after 7 months. After 18 months it was to expect that they had taken your hardware already but every injury it´s unique and which healing process it´s different from any other.
I hope that your next surgery will be a total success and you will regain complete function of your wrist very soon. All the best!
I am so sorry for what happened to you and I'm glad you are getting better. My husband also fell (and also lucky to be alive) while working and he hit his head, neck and back and broke the right thumb tendon and his wrist in many pieces, he had surgery on both and they put a metal in his wrist but almost 4 months have passed by and he still the same, he can hardly close his hand, even though he has been receiving physical therapy and now he is also getting stellate ganglion block injections but they only work for a couple of days and then gets back to where he was before the injection. He is really desperate but I guess all he needs to do is wait (even though he is not happy about the wait).
Thank you Mary. I´m sorry to hear about your husband. 4 months after my accident I was also very unsatisfied with the results so far. By that time I had my jaw fixed and I wasn´t able to do much with both hands. Even now, after more than a year, I still can´t close my right hand completely but they told me that it was normal and that I would be better after the removal of the last plate they put to immobilize my right wrist. I never thought it was so difficult to heal a wrist fracture but now that I know I can only say that patience is one of the most important factors to get better and to be able to appreciate every little thing we start doing again. If you ask me, I believe you´re his best "therapy". At least in my case I saw my better half as someone who helped me the most and every time I was down it was her who pulled me up again ;)
I wish your husband a fast and complete recovery and hope he can return to his normal live as soon as possible.
mid july accepted house offer. Then found out breast cancer returned. Marathon road-tripped 1000 miles to find a house to buy. On 7/31 in a wine funk, fell down basement steps, broke ulna and femur 45 degrees off wrist. 8/5=left arm permanent titanium plate, 8/6=left modified radical mastectomy, released 8/7, 08/08/08 my not-so-lucky birthday. Closed 8/20 house sale, same day followed mover semi, road-tripped to new neighborhood 1000 miles away. 8/22 house buy, now after maxing out insurance, i'm hurting, 60k+ in med bills, jobless.. but wait, it's OK. it took all that to make me learn (cause i dont listen to good advice).. to REFUSE to EVER touch alcohol or cigarettes. NOW...Med Bills: every time a bill comes, i call in $5.00 payment. Job: it will happen, I keep looking. YES, I AM most often depressed. Pain: no insurance left so.. Doing my own hand strengthening + stretching.. (HINT: it helps to pull the relaxed finger just a tiny bit with the other hand while stretching it.) My life will find its balance in time, why? cause it just will, that's the way it is. Thanks for letting me air for the 1st time.... All who have been in this HUB, We all will do OK.. just accept things the way they are today, knowing things will be different tomorrow + each day after tomorrow.
Hi Jill, thank you for choosing my hub to let it all out. I´m sorry to hear about your luck but after reading your words I know for sure that you´ll be ok in no time. Every time you feel depressed just come here and read your words and remember that WE will keep you in our thoughts (at least I will). Be strong - I´ll be sending good vibes in your direction ;-)
I dislocated my wrist late July of last year playing soccer. I fell, there was sharp pain and then nothing, no pain no discomfort, just numbness ... so I did what I thought was the most sensible next step, I got up and kept playing (I also knew any injury would have to heal on its own because i had no insurance and didn't want to get slapped with a huge hospital bill for a tylenol prescription).
fast-forward 4-6 months, my right hand, especially the wrist seems to be disintegrating, but by now I know whats wrong, my college doc gave me an x-ray and it showed i had a lunate dislocation (very severe).
It took 3 months to finally get insurance (wrist got worse). By then my only option was a proximal row carpectomy (PRC), I had my surgery done in June and haven't played soccer since then. My wrist won't be the same, but it feels good (THE HUGE SCAR REMINDS ME TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL NO MATTER WHAT!!!).
FUNRIDE, just want to say I admire you and I hope you have a speedy recovery, perhaps soon I can get back to immitating C. Ronaldo. I was feeling down until I read JILL's comments, and yes somehow WE WILL FIND BALANCE. I dont know who she is but she's a better person than me, I was about to give up and my mishaps don't even come nearly close to hers ... her comments give me HOPE.
Zaq, I already see you playing soccer again and I bet you´ll be able to play as good as Ronaldo. It´s nice to know you already got your surgery and that it went fine. You´ll also have a speedy recovery, I can feel it ;)
I have learned a lot since my accident but one of the most important was to know how much it means to have friends and people who cares about us during the rough moments. I´ve met several here, thank you all!
Wow, you've been through so much. Thanks for sharing.
You really do discover your true friends when you are sick or injured.
Thanks for your comment but mostly for your friendship ;)
I trust that you are now on the mend, and doing some of the things that you love; once again.
I tend to brake toe(s). LOL I am always amazed, that how braking even very small bones, such as a silly "toe" - will cause not only severe pain, but also inhibit normal function. When even one small part of our body's are injured - the entire mind and body then suffer.
Such a bummer:-(
Write On!
As a fellow cyclist I sympathize - that was an extremely painful and troublesome tumble funride. At least your recovery must be assisted by your general fitness and well being. I hope you make a full recovery - and this was a most detailed and informative piece.
funride,
Braking one wrist would have been horrible, but both, that is unthinkable. I am glad you have made it through most of the ordeal. What a great Hub explaining the process that you went through, by the comments I can see others have been able to relate very well. Myself, I am whispering this so that Karma cannot hear, but I have never broken anything but my little toe. I hope my luck holds out!
Write On - You´re right, I´m already able to do most of the things but I still have some more operation waiting.
pjdscott - Thanks for your comment, I believe you can understand my happiness now that I´m able to make my first rides since the accident. Tomorrow I´m planning on riding 90km with some friends.
In The Doghouse - Braking both wrists was horrible but it was not "enough" so I also "decided" to brake my jaw and other bones on my face :(
Now that is really frightful ;)
Funride - that's great news and I certainly appreciate your relief (and frustration up to this point)! Have a great cycle and enjoy the bike once again!
hi hon glad your gettin good now i broke my wrist 2 months ago am back at work now but still not right isnt it weird, i always wanted to break my arm wen i was a kid ha ha. not any more take care and good luck xxx
Hi Lynn, those are very good news. I had to wait more than a year to get back to work full time. What can I say, after 15 months I still feel weird about my hands and wrists :/
If you ask me I rather brake my arm than any articulation because the last are really difficult to heal properly. The best choice it´s not to brake any bone ;D
All the best!
totally agree funride must admit though did enjoy being off work ha! i broke left wrist playing football with my nephew he thort it was funny until he saw the shape of it, another best choice is dont play football or as you guys call soccer x best wishes
oops soccer?
LOL I call it "futebol" (soccer in Portuguese) :D
I've never broken any bones, but boy! does that look painful! Hope everything is back to normal for you soon. 15 months is a long time!
Thanks Shirley, your comments are much appreciated. You know, now that the worst has passed by and looking back I could say that the last 15 months were pretty fast. The difficult task was living through them trying to figured out when I would be able to do all the things I did before. All that waiting has finaly come to an end, at least if I think about work and all the main things I must do to support my family ;)
You will become just as new as before in another 15 months Ricardo :)
Thanks Misha, I risk to say I will become even better than before LOL. One can (and should) learn a lot during such difficult times, so I believe that even though my wrists will never be the same I will be a better person after going thru all this.
Oh Funride,
I finally found your hub as you call it and the other post were uninformative. While cycling to work on a beautiful friday morn, and wanting to avoid crushing into a car that had to break abruptly, I ended on the ground. A good samaritan helped me get up, remove the seat, park the byke and drove me to the hospital. Adrenaline is most welcomed at those unfortunate times! This was Aug. 15h, the operation on the 20th. By Oct. 9th, I still could do nothing more than write and type. No strenght. Now I know I'll be okay. Luckily I have no pain except as you mentionned, during excercise or simply trying to improve my skills at doing all that I used to do. Being the energetic and busy type of person, it's a great relief. I start work on Jan 15th.
Before the operation the surgeon said the plate could be removed it it disturbed me. On Oct. 9th, being the stiffes wrist on earth, he said that it was for life. He was overjoyed yesterday when he saw how much I improved and all that I had managed to do. I'm seeing him in 3 mos. I am 58, very petite and slim and am wondering this: as we age, bone density changes and as a women, I expect that the screws will slack qnd pain might follow. I would, although I'm scared of needles - imagine another operation - I think plate and screws should go (out). It was a really bad fall and my hand did look akward and distorted but now it looks fine (kind of). I'm looking forward as everyday now, I can do something new.
Jackie
Hi Jackie, thank you for your testimonial here in my hub. I´m happy to hear that you are getting better everyday and returning to your job very soon ;)
You´re right, being a woman and over 50 the danger of having bone "troubles" are bigger but on the other hand you seem to be very active and youthful so I am sure you´ll recovery completely and all this time will became just a memory. And don´t be ashamed of being afraid of surgeries, I still have to go through it again and I have no hurries LOL.
It was nice to get to know you Jackie and I hope someday we can meet and enjoy a nice and safe ride together ;)
All the best!
Ricardo
I was in a car accident five weeks ago. A car suddenly pulled out in front of me, and with barely a moment to react, I braced myself firmly on the steering wheel, and on impact absorbed all of the force in my right wrist. I fractured my distal radius, and the styloid of the ulna, and the x-rays look very similar to the ones you posted of your right wrist on this page. One week later I was getting the same surgery, and now I am waiting for that to heal, and adjusting to life with a titanium plate in the radius of my right arm.
I found this page a few days after my surgery, and found your account helpful and informative. There were a lot of things about this fracture and operation that the doctor didn't tell me.
I am an avid cyclist, and a casual racquetballer, and I don't know how long, if ever, it will be until I can do those things again.
Your account was much worse than mine, and I am sorry to hear that your right wrist is now permanently fixated. That must be tough. But it sounds like you are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, and riding your bike! That is encouraging. Best wishes.
Hi Matthew, thank you for commenting. I´m glad this page has helped you to better understand your injury. The first couple of months are always the worst, afterwards you´ll start to do more things and soon enough you´ll be able to do almost everything you did before. For me the most difficult was the fact that I was expecting to be able to do everything after a couple of months and that only happened a year after :/
As a fellow cyclist I suggest you to keep pedaling (I did it seated on a chair with my stationary bike in front of me) in order to be fitted to start riding as soon as your wrist allows it ;)
I´ll be thinking of you and sending good vibes in your way to help your complete and fast recovery. All the best!
Hello, this is a good website. I had an accident and broke my left wrist. I had surgery, I have a metal plate in the radius, it was terrible for me when doctor said I needed a surgery, I almost cry, I don't know why this happened to me, I felt really bad. After surgery, I just thought that now everything will be better, and sometimes I still think why this happened to me, but well, it was an accident and I must continue my life an accept what happened to me, I can't go back in time and change things. I started physiotherapytwo months ago and I can move my wrist, not as it was before of course, but I hope soon I can do the things I used to.
Take care and thanks for all the information in this site.
Adriana... Peru.
Well, tomorrow I will finally be taken care of by the hospital's physiotherapist(s)! Somehow I fell out of the system and had to find a physiotherapist (who would return my call and I suspect this is a very busy profession, your page is proof enough) on my own. I'm looking forward to this change and maybe straightening my fingers.
To all of you going through these trying time, I wish the best.
Jackie
Hi Adriana, thanks for your comment. I know that feeling but the true is we must adapt ourselves to reality and think positive. I wish you fast and complete recovery ;)
Jackie, thanks for commenting. I´m sure by now (after your first session) you already know that physiotherapy is the worst part of all the recovery process. But as you said getting your fingers and hand straight it´s something to look forward ;)
All the best!
Hi funride:
I broke both my wrists on 9/30/08 after falling 30 feet fom a ladder onto my deck. I also had a severe high ankle injury that I'm hoping will repair itself. I was so glad to come across your hub as I am getting impatient with the recovery process. I had 3 plates put in my left wrist and a long plate in the right. I had assumed that the plates would remain in my wrists for life but after reading your hub I will ask the doctor about their removal. Is their removal a painful ordeal and require a long recovery time?
Like you I consider myself very lucky. I am alive and able to walk albeit gingerly with the injured ankle. I also have a loving wife who has had to help me in doing things that I was unable to do without hands. I was expecting to get back to normal by now but it has only been 3 months and it sounds like another nine months before I can resume my usual activities. I'm 62 years old. I was playing racquetball for 35 years. Maybe I have to quit that sport. But I still would like to golf again.
I go to a hand therapist who is amazed at my progress. I am typing this with both hands and can exercize both wrist now. I am lifting the weight of a rolled up magazine four times a day now.
Thanks for the info on your blog. It is a help for me to hear about your success and I enjoy your attitude. We are both blessed.
I wrote you 3 months ago about the possibility of having the hardware (plate and nine screws) removed from my wrist - now it's a reality,scheduled for Dec 18-
just wondering if I should expect the recovery to be similar, easier or worse than the original surgery..
thanks for your advice and support, and to all for sharing their stories.
happy holidays and a great 2009!
Hi Puttnow, thank you for your words, I´m very glad this hub has been useful for you. As to the plates removal from my experience it´s not as difficult or painful as the time they were attached but it will require at least three or four days in the hospital after the surgery.
For me having the urge to restart doing all those things I did before (specially mountain biking) was one of the things that made me never lose confidence and keep fighting until being able to do those things again. Of course things are not exactly the same but we have the ability to adapt and the joy of doing the things we love it´s even greater than before ;)
Your attitude show us all that there are no limits to our capabilities and I´m sure you´ll be doing your "normal" life before you notice (at least it´s what I feel now that all this time has passed). It´s great to be alive, isn´t it? :-)
Hi Nicki, so nice to hear from you again. As I say in my last comment you should expect an easy recovery and less pain if compared with the first surgery (this doesn´t mean it won´t hurt!). The good thing about it is that it means that your bones have healed properly and are already able to stand by themselves without the plates. After my last surgery I felt a much greater evolution in my mobility and after just a few weeks I was already able to do many things I didn´t thought I was going to do so soon.
I´ll remember you on the 18th and my thoughts will hopefully help your fast and complete recovery from that surgery ;-)
I wish you a merry Christmas (already at your home) and a much better 2009 with everything you want :-)
well the hardware was removed on Thurs 12/18, and although there's some pain at the incision, everything else seems great. I'll get the cast off and stiches out on Fri 12/26 and I guess I'll know more then.
So be merry, everyone - and be careful on the slippery ice!
Thanks again for all your support.
Great news then :-)
I´m glad to hear there was not too much pain envolved and I´m sure that after they take your cast you´ll experience a fast improvement. You´ll see that soon enough all this will seem far away and you´ll be able to do your normal live once again.
Merry Christmas and a much better year during 2009!
fascinating hub!
I broke my wrist, but as I was only 14 at the time, it mended quickly with no problems.
Broken anything is never good!!!! Two weeks ago today - being the klutz that I am, fell in my Living Room - no less - and broke my arm!!! I made it over 30 years before I broke a bone!! My son is finding my inablility to open jars, bags, and the like quite fun!! I have about four more weeks of my cast!
As so many of my friends have told me - be more careful!!
Have a great Day!!
I´m sorry LondonGirl, I don´t know how but I missed your comment. I´m glad to know you wrist recovered completely ;)
Hi Luna, welcome to hubpages ;)
I also found Hubpages after my accident and it has helped me during the entire recovery.I´m sure it will help you too ;)
I wish you a complete and really fast recovery. Take care ;)
Hello, back to work on a progressive schedule. What surprises most is that, at the end of the day, I feel I am regressing since I am not required to do varied movements ... and the cold outside - agh. So I do excercises more frequently at work to help. I still have to ask the surgeon, mid-february, if I can have the plate and screws removed at one point ...
Keep us this good and positive web page.
Jackie
Hi Jackie, those are great news, thanks for sharing it with us. Back to work after just two months... the worst has passed my friend ;-)
Now doubt the daily exercises will help you to regain more flexibility. Hope everything goes well on that meeting with your surgeon ;-)
Take care... and keep me posted ;-)
Hi Funride sorry to read of your accident.I can sympathise as i have broken both my wrists and my mid arm ulna after falling from a ladder at work.
I had titanium screws and plates in both wrist and the ulna the only plus is that i did not have to have plaster just dressings fotr the post operative surgery.
My wrists and arms ache like hell though and sleep is difficult as it only happened on the 13th january it is early days but i do have use of my fingers to type although i do have nerve damage which leaves part of my hand and little finger with no sensation.
good luck with your continuing recovery it's nice to communicate with people with similar experiences. Thanks.
Hi Stuart, after reading your comment I remembered what I went through during the first weeks after the accident and even though I´m not totally recovered yet things are much brighter now. This doesn`t mean it was easy but the passed time surely seems quicker when looking behind.
I can only wish you a fast and complete recovery and advise you to keep the goals which will help you through this difficult times. Good luck and don`t forget to come here every time you need to talk and vent your thoughts ;)
Take care, Ricardo
Hi I've broken the ascophia bone in my wrist, the sad thing about it is im a semi professional football player (goalkeeper) & my team is now in many cup finals, due to be played in early April. Do anyone know what i can do to speed up the recovery so i can get to play in the finals? I am taking Magnesium,Calcium, Vitamin D & pure yoghurt, as i've been informed this will help, could someone confirm PLEASE!! do you think i will be able to play in goals within the next10 weeks?? i intend on playing when my cast is off, with the help of a wrist support.
What do you think (Honestly) am i being realistic??
I Ronny, sorry to hear about that. How did it happened and how long ago? Did you need a surgery? The supplements will help your recovery but the physiotherapy is going to have the most important role on your total recovery. The time needed for the wrist to become good enough to play can vary but there are several cases of people who were able to ride mountain biking after just a few months so...
If you really want my opinion, the most important is to believe and keep doing as much physiotherapy as possible. Only time will tell if it is possible in your case - it depends on several factors. I really hope you will get your scaphoid bone ready for those games and that you`ll come here after it and tell us how many goals you defended ;)
Take care
Thanks for such a prompt reply funride. I did it about 2 weeks ago. The most frustrating part about it was we had won the semi final and as I walked back to the changing rooms I simply fell and landed on the wrist. I have not had any surgery yet! as the doctors are confident of it healing on its own without the aid of it being screwed. I've been back to hospital today to have my ast changed as it was very loose and the plasterer informed me that he was astonished by how quick all the swelling had gone down. So that gave me a little hope, problem is that the final's are due to be played in the next 10 - 12 weeks! so what do you think my chances are of a full recovery and playing the games????
OK, those are good news! You have to remember it is still very recent and only the next weeks can tell if your wrist will heal fast enough or not. BTW, how old are you? I´m asking this because our bones heal faster when we are younger...
I believe it`s possible but you really have to keep in mind that sometimes full recovery only happen some months after the accident (it depends on how sever the injury was). Don`t give up, keep doing everything you can to help the healing process but remember that there are things more important than any game. It`s better to have your wrist fully recover than playing a single game and ruin the recovery process :-/
During the next 2 months your doctor will see how your wrist is healing and he will tell you in time if you may attend those games - I really hope you can! All the best ;-)
Wow that sounds (and looks) pretty painful! It's good that you are young and will heal well and completely. From now on remember,... that railing at the edge of the balcony is there for a reason...respect the railing.
Thanks for the comment and the heads-up. But from now on I will always stay at ground floor facilities lol
In October 2008 I fell off a ladder with a chainsaw while triming banches and broke my right wrist, right leg, left hip, right collarbone, 9 ribs, colapsed lung. Had to be lifeflighted to the hospital. They put a plate in the wrist and a rod down the femor to fix the hip. Every thing has healed well, with a lot of therapy. I'm back to playing basketball (not quite as well) and riding my bike. The wrist still hurts and has some limited movement, but good strength. The thing I wonedred about is that the skin around the wqrist still has a lack of heat/cold/touch sensation. Wondered if you felt that. One other thing. on March 5th, I was riding my bike on a bike trail. It was the second time I had ridden since the accident. I went past a parking lot that was near the trial and someone had left a dumpster lid on that hung over the trail. I didn't see it and it hit me under my right eye, breaking the orbital bone and severing the tear duct. After a four hour operation, they fixed the tear duct and put a plate on the orbital bone. But I was back riding in mid March, so everything worked out ok. It really is "what don't kill you makes you stronger". Thanks for the forum, Funride.
WOW PittsburghBoy, what a bad year you have been through. Those are too many injuries in less than a year. The good thing is you are probably still young and you´ve recovered very fast. I also felt that absence of sensitivity you talk about but it tends to disappear after a few months.
Now take care and try not to become stronger or you´ll likely become a superman :)
Well funride, age is just an attitude. I turned 54 in December. But I'll play basketball at lunch today and goout for a couple of cold ones after work. I did heal pretty quickly though. I hope your're right about the feeling coming back. Appreciate the blog. Thanks
Hehehehehe... you fooled me right. I really thought you were much younger but I see you have a great attitude and that is what really matter ;)
Thanks for coming back and I would love to hear from you again as soon as your sensitivity returns. Take care ;)
I was so happy to have found your story! 2 weeks ago I was running to my car after an errand. It had turned cold and I wanted to make time. I'm a healthy 35-yr old female but, unfortunately, happened to step on the pant leg of my yoga pants preventing my leg from leading out mid-stride. I fell hard onto my open rt palm. I have a distal radius fracture that required surgery (last Wednesday). There were a few different fracture sites.
I had my 1st post-surgery x-rays today. Lots of hardware! Looked much like your pics but no external fixation. But I have a pin sticking out in one location.
I've been searching and searching for stories from others who have gone through this. I'm surprised at how little is out there in terms of support. I have a 15 month old son who I am now unable to care for and a dissertation to finish writing in 2 weeks. I don't think I'll be able to finish on time. Although I'm getting better at one-handed typing it takes me a long time. It's so frustrating not to be able to even care for yourself much less my son.
Are you back to normal now? Any bad side effects? I start phys therapy in 2 weeks!
Thanks for your story!
KD
Hey KD, thanks for your kind comment. I am glad my story was useful for you and I hope it can help during your recovery period. You are right, the worst thing is not being able to take care of ourselves and/or our children... as to the typing issue I am sure you´ll get use to it, I have written almost all of my hubs with my left hand only ;)
Right now I am much better and able to do everything I did before even though I still need another surgery on my left wrist. I believe things will never be exactly the same for me but I´m grateful to be alive and able to work, take care of my daughter, mountain biking and most of all happy that my story can help others going through wrist injuries. Yesterday after a long mountain bike ride a good friend of mine asked me if I have pains afterwards... I wasn´t able to anwser... I´m really not sure if I have pains or not, I guess our brain gets used to pain and we stop feeling it LOL.
I wish you all the best and I´m sure your recovery will be fast... physio can be painful but it will help you much more than you can imagine right now ;)
I would love to hear from you again and get to know your experiences.
Take care,
Ricardo
Hi Ricardo,
Thanks for your note and kind words. My sister came to visit for 10 days to help w/ my son. This has been such a help to me. My husband had been doing everything. He is so good about everything but one person can only do so much.
I'm becoming more and more profficient with one-hand everyday. I stopped taking painkillers a few days ago (love them but too many side effects). So, I can totally understand the idea of getting used to the pain. It's hard to sleep but I take an ambien and some motrin and that helps. Still wake up a lot and fight for a reasonable position.
Do you think they will remove the pin on the outside w/ no numbing agent? I'm going to assume so. Not looking forward to the pain of physio but I want to regain as much normalcy as possible. I will definitely keep you updated on my experience. I wonder how long until I can pick up my son again? I presume we will never be able to lift a weight the same way.
Again, so encouraging to know your story.
Take care,
Kristina
I broke my distal radius 6 weeks ago and had plates and screws inserted 5 weeks ago. I still cannot bend my wrist back at all although I have some downward movement.It also gets very get achy in the evening and I have to resort reluctantly to the painkillers again. It is also still very swollen and looks significantly larger than my other wrist.I am getting very down thinking that I will never again be "normal". Am I expecting too much too soon?
Hi Kristina, that´s another thing we must learn: accepting other`s help. I´m sure you´ll be able to pick up your son again in no time. One thing I can assure you, it will be an unforgivable moment for you (I will never forget the face of my little daughter when I was able to pick her up again). Looking forward to hear about your recovery process, take care :)
Hi Alison, I remember thinking the same thing after a few weeks but recovering it´s always takes a little longer than we would like... during the first month or two it´s important to rest your wrist and allow it to heal. As to the normal mobility it will be something to work on during physio. You must think positive and do everything to achieve a total recovery (even though that´s not granted). Soon you´ll feel less pains and then you´ll gradually stop taking those pain killers ;)
Wish you a total recovery and as quick as possible ;)
Do not forget to keep us posted during your recovering. Take care.
Thanks for your positive thoughts Funride. Went to the physio yesterday and they are worried that I still cant bend the wrist back at all, so will be giving me some more intensive physio. (gulp!) I'm hoping that it will work, as I don't know what the alternative will be. I don't think I could face more surgery. I'm not normally such a moany person, but this has knocked me for six! I will have much more sympathy for people who break bones in the future! I can't believe I have caused so much damage to my wrist just by falling backwards on a dancefloor. (After only 2 glasses of wine!)
Ricardo - that gives me a much needed smile! Can't wait to pick up my son again.
Alison - it sounds like our fractures are very similar. I get my cast off tomorrow and, hopefully, will have the external pin removed. I have my 1st physio appt immediately following. I still need at least 1-2 painkillers/day. I am 3 weeks post-surgery. I'm waiting to turn a corner in terms of pain. So frustrating! I can feel the pin and incision site under my cast and it feels like raw skin. horrible! I hope things start looking up for you soon!
My brother is having his wrist fused this morning by Ortho Carolina. Your information has helped me understand the process that he'll be going through these next months. Thank you.
@ Alison - It´s never easy to recover from a broken bone but I believe the wrists are one of the most difficult because we need our hands so much... I´m sure physio will help your recovery and your wrist will regain its mobility in no time ;)
@ Kdurante - I know it will be a great moment for you - I´ll never forget my daughter`s face when I got to hold her again (after all those months my daughter become very protective for me and she still tells me to be careful every time I go for a ride).
@ jflowe - I´m sorry to hear about your brother, how did he broke his wrist? I´m glad you found it helpful and I wish your brother a fast recovery. He (and you) must remember that we humans are very adaptive beings and losing some wrist movements is not the worst thing it can happen to us... if you ask me, I wish they had done the same to my left wrist also. Right now it`s my left wrist that it´s giving me more troubles :/
Take care :)
This story hits a little close to home, for me, as I broke both of my wrists as well; however, both wrists were broken at work and the scaphoid was fractured in both wrists.
This happened 3.2 years ago and, with 2 surgeries later, one wrist - which suffered non-union - has severe stiffness stile with chronic pain, while the other has extreme limitations to pre-accident strength.
I finally built the courage to try to take control of my physical life, as for the past three years I have been unable to do anything, and my biggest concern is riding a bike, let alone some of the other activities i use to do. I use to ride trails a lot with a trail bike. I sold my bike after I found out the injury would require surgery, hoping to not really lose value on something that had no use, if you know what i mean. Now comes the time when I'd like to buy a new bike, but... after just trolling the bike around in a few pro shops, a day after the fact has left my left wrist in severe pain.
...does this mean that I have pretty much lost my ability to ride?
Hi Charles, I´m sorry to hear about your 3 years recovery process. Being able to do things after the injuries is something we need to train and adapt ourself. At the beginning it´s very difficult and we feel lots of pains but after a while we start doing more things. At first when I start to ride I had lots of pains just after a few kilometers but after some time I was already capable of longer rides without so much pain (at least the good feelings where bigger and stronger than the pain). My left wrist still doesn´t allow me to properly grab the handlebar so I have to be careful every time I ride but I believe that after the surgery I´ll be able to ride even more and better, perhaps even to return to the French Alps and ride all those great trails...
In other words, if you really want to ride then you must insist and adapt.
Good luck, do not forget to keep me posted about your recovery and your bike rides ;)
I fractured both of my wrists 3 weeks ago. My right hand (I'm right handed) has a small fracture and my left has a hairline fracture. I am told that the casts must remain on for 6 weeks from time of accident. Since it has been 3 weeks since....i still have some discomfort and sometimes pain when trying to accomplish too much. My fingers are free! Do you have any suggestions for working out my arms so that I do not get atrophy? I also had declined the doctors recommendation to decline the fragmented bone back into place. Do you think that will have any consequences! thanks
Hi Cristine, sorry to hear about your injuries but it seems like they are not too bad and healing fast. I tried to workout my arms using sand bracelets weightliftings and also swimming. Most of the times going by what doctors suggests it´s the best choice but I´m not sure about your case... I guess it depends on the size of the fragments.
Wish you a complete and fast recovery ;)
I have a titanium plate on my right wrist after a fracture to the radius and ulna. What information do I need to reach a decision on removal?
I have a titanium plate still in my wrist after 18 months. I have 95% function of my wrist but still miss that 5%. Occasional twinges but no major pain. Should I have the plate removed. I don't trust the doctors in england as they operate on a cost basis and would not want to remove them. On the other hand I know that the wrist is a complicated joint and don't want to go under the knife for no reason.
Hello Rob, I´m glad to hear about your 95% wrist function (that´s a good result). I also still have the last titanium plate they put on my right wrist 16 months ago. There´s no problem keeping the plate as long as there are no complications but I also believe titanium plates like the one I have (I don´t know about your`s) should be removed. The first ones I had were taken after less than a year after, I guess it depends on the doctors opinion and the type of injury you have. If the plate is not compromising your wrist movements and your doctor think it´s not the right time to remove it, then I think you shouldn´t be worried about it ;)
Keep us updated. Take care ;)
Thanks for your advice. What worries me is that I have been completely discharged with the plate and screws still in place. This gives me no reassurance. As I said the National Health Service is cost not care driven. Do you expect your final plate to be removed at some stage? Can these plates cause any long term difficulties? I have rebooked with my hospital to talk to the doctor but I want to research this before the appointment. Any advice or links welcome and much appreciated.
My surgeon told me that the plate will be removed but that would be no worries about when.
"Most of the time, the plate stays in permanently and causes no problem." from http://www.davidlnelson.md/Wrist_Fracture.htm
Most of the times we tend to feel like doctors haven´t gave us enough attention but we must trust them though... when we don´t then we must look for second opinions which may give us more confidence and perhaps confirm what the first doctor told us ;)
In your case I would not be obsessed and I would try to calmly talk with the doctor because they usually don´t react well when we show some angry against them :)
Similar story as yours, involving plates/screws, although no balcony was involved. I was skateboarding and shattered my right wrist in so many pieces that surgery was the route. This happened in April of this year and I've been in therapy 3 times weekly for 2 weeks and have had good results. Much better finger movement and downward, side to side movement in the wrist is good, but the movement going back is poor. My concern at this point is what my ability will be to play golf again. I mtn bike and surf as well but I can see ways to get around the inability of cocking the wrist in those sports, but golf is another story. Should I be overly concerned that I seem to have decent mobility in every direction but backwards at this point?
My neighbor was on a ladder and it gave way over concrete. He fell and broke both wrists too. The pain & injury actually put him into shock and he walked to the hospital 1/2 a mile away. It was aweful. He could not work for a while as a result because he could not drive.
Thanks for the info. Your time and considered reply was most helpful. I have booked an appt with the hospital to seek some reassurance. I'll let you know the outcome.
@ fishman - 2 months and you are already able to move your wrist!? That´s good news ;) Only time will tell if you´ll regain full mobility of your wrist, but I believe it´s normal to experience some rigidity (in some cases, like mine, that rigidity it´s permanent). Good luck with your recovery ;)
@ Teddi - Thank you for stopping by, I hope your neighbor is ok and able to work again.
@ Rob - you´re welcome, I´m glad I could help. We´ll be looking forward to hear the news ;)
It was very interesting reading about your wrist injuries. I can hardley believe that is all that broke falling from that balcony! I too suffered a wrist fracture 3 months ago today. I shatterd the distal end of the radius on my right wrist. Recovery has been slow and painful and more than a little discouraging...especially since I was in the middle of Massage Therapy School when the injury took place. I am back in school now and I find myself telling the instructors that I feel fine...as I grin and bare it! Can't afford to miss anymore class...I am going to graduate 4 months after my classmates as is. I have been going to physical therapy 2 times a week now for about a month, and trying to fit in all of the exercises assigned to me at home. It takes about a half hour to do the exercises and the therapist wants me to do these 10 times per day! I have a hard time fitting that in to my schedule! I was surprised to hear that you had your titanium plate removed as my Doc has not mentioned that. Well I will end this now. Best wishes for you continued healing.
3 weeks ago I broke my left wrist during an attack by a pack of dogs while I was out walking. Even though I had multiple fractures of the bone, I really feel luck after reading about your injury and others who have responded. It is depressing to see how long it might take me for a recovery, I cannot begin to imagine what you must be going through. I to have a titanium plate now plus I am allergic to metals so time will tell if I have to have the plate removed or not. I do wish you the best of luck and look forward to read about your recovery as you go.
Hi MarshallW, sorry to hear about the attack... I hope those dogs had an owner and that he/she did pay for all the expenses. If you ask me the first couple of months are the worst ones, after that things start to get better. Right now, and still waiting to know when will I be operated again, I "see" myself doing things I thought I would never be able to do again during my life :)
Don´t forget to keep us all posted about your recovery too ;) take care.
My 14 year old daughter plays competitive soccer and broke her Radius last weekend. The doctor was able to get things back in place without surgery and she is now in a full arm cast. I'm wondering how long before we can let her safely play again. She loves soccer but her long term health is my first concern.
Hey Dino, sorry to hear about your daughter injury. Glad that she didn´t need surgery though. I would listen to what the surgeon says about her return to the game. I would also suggest that she continues to exercise regularly in order to keep her physical condition. I expect her next game will be soon ;)
funride and all others contrbuting to this hub:
thanks so much for all the comforting words!
i broke my left distal radial two days ago in my backyard and was fortunate
enough to find the only working orthopedic surgeon that day
(it was july 3, in the us, and all docs had taken the day off)
fortunately, because i was able to be seen within hours, he reset it beautifully without surgery and i have minimal discomfort...but i will have a cast for 2 months...and already i feel my fingers stiffening from lack of use...
i think i must agree with you & others, this frustration and hard times can only build one's character and cause tremendous personal growth, i think there is no alternative in such a situation, except to become a much better person through these tribulations.
i have one question for everyone: is airline travel with a cast on a problem?
could reduced cabin pressure cause the arm to swell and result in pain and throbbing?
i imagine elevating the arm during flight would help; does anyone have any comments?
thanks again, char
Hey Char, nice to meet you. I see you are dealing very well with your injury and all it´s repercussions.
I flew from Lyon in France to Lisbon with both my arms wearing casts and I didn´t felt any problem (I was lay down and under morphine influence though). I believe you should ask your doctor for his advise ;)
Hope you get well very soon and I´m sure you are a better person already ;)
Take care and keep us updated on your recovery.
hello, funride, thanks for the advice. i return to the doctor this thursday for a check-up & recasting and i will ask him...5 days from then i am due for a 6 hour flight (not including 1 layover)...so far i have read that a cast set 3-5 days before a flight should not result in excess swelling on a plane; apparently less than 48 hours after casting can be problematic.
i am adjusting to life at a slower pace...i have never broken a bone before...and i realize it's very traumatic! i don't know what i would do if i broke both wrists like so many of you brave souls! i have not yet gotten up the stamina to take a shower...today i learned it is good exercise and a sense of accomplishment to pick things up off the floor with your feet!
i also find i have lost my normally insatiable appetite since the accident...food and alcohol have much less appeal for me now, (i will not drink at all during recovery, my sister says the body has to process the alcohol and this takes energy away from healing) especially since flossing my teeth is a lot more time-consuming now. i expect i will be losing weight through this, weight which i need to lose anyway, so that may be one good side-effect.
thanks, this is such a nice forum!
char
Hey Char, what did your doctor said? Hope you can take that flight without any problem ;)If you need to lose weight then this is the time, but don´t forget to do some physical activity like walking or something like that ;) You don´t want to lose muscle during this time. I kept pedaling on my static bike and that helped me a lot when I return to ride my bikes again :)
hi! thanks for the concern!
i went to the doctor and things are going well, but he is a very serious doctor and he said the first three weeks after a bone breaks are the most critical time for the bone healing, and he forbid me to take an airplane trip. so i had to cancel the trip. this thursday i see him again and he may clear me to travel starting at the 3 week mark...i kind of expected this cancellation...it seems that if you can avoid it, postponing an unnecessary trip is the only responsible thing to do, not to mention, now my husband won't let me travel alone with a cast on...we may reschedule the trip and he would go with me...oh, when i am healed i will forever appreciate the joy of being whole and able-bodied! what a joy that will be! of being ableto carry out your summer plans as scheduled!
i am doing a good bit of walking each day, plus picking things up with one's feet is fun exercise so i think i will do alright...
thanks!
In November 2008 I broke my left wrist and had surgery with a plate left in. I had a cast and then it was removed and I had another one for 2 months. I started therapy in March 2009 and it has done some good but I still have pain when using or exercising it. Also, I can not move my wrist nor straighten my fingers. They seem to be stuck in place. Can anyone tell me if they have heard of this after 7 months? I can't use my left hand much at all. They have stopped therapy because they say not showing improvement. I go the the surgeon July 30 and she is going to discuss surgery. I hope it will be of some help to me to get some use back.
Thanks for your hub!!!
Bonnie, I'm no expert by any stretch, but to start therapy 4 months after the break/surgery is a long time. I have similar hardware as you and my ortho had me in therapy at 5 weeks after surgery. He saw the stiffness in my fingers and wrist setting in and scared me. That day I saw the therapist and off we went. I have to say I saw huge gains in my fingers the first week.
In the hospital right before surgery I asked the surgeon if everything went well how long before I could play golf again. He said 4 months. At the 2 month mark of surgery I was chipping/putting and played 9 holes at the 2.5 month mark. Not well, but I hit the ball off the ground when necessary. I had a great PT and worked my tail off for this to happen. I wish you luck, but I think the amount of time has caused significant stiffness in your ligaments and tendons. Not to mention scar tissue binding up.
Good to here lots of people making a recovery from thier wrist injuries and sounds like some have been very fortunate.
I broke my left wrist nearly 3 years ago whilst playing football, the hospital classed it as a high impact fracture. They tried to minipulate the wrist first, then a second time then after a 6 weeks in plaster they decided I needed surgey and a bone graft, after another 8 weeks in plaster I had several weeks of physio which prodused no results as the bone had not healed in the wrong place, I then had futher surgey with metal plates and another bone graft followed by several more weeks in plaster and then physio. Then in March this year I has further surgey with more metal work and 3 months in plaster, when I went to physio I could not do an awful lot as the bone appreas in the wrong place, the surgon has said I now require more surgery and they may shorten th eother bone to accomodate the broken bone. Seems that my wrist has got worse through all of this and it now appears to be in a bad way. My left are has badly wasted over the last three years and my right to some degree due to lack of upperbody excersice. Seems the wrist injury is now effecting the rest of my health as I cant progress physicaly. Im now waiting for a refferal as I want to know if I have been receiving the treatment I should have been.
So as you can likelt tell im getting a bit fed up with this now hence why im looking on the internet and come across you guys. Any advise would be greatly appreciated on how I can build up my upper body/arms etc also any thougts on th e treatment I have received to date. Have been using the NHS to date with the same surgeon the last few times but wonder if I should go private. Any advise very much appreciated! Thanks
Hey everybody, sorry for my absence this last couple of weeks (lots of work and very little time for the internet).
@ Char - Hope everything is going OK and that you are already able to do some more things ;)
@ Bonnie - Different doctors most of the time means different opinions... this does not mean that one of them is wrong, every injury is different from another and the best solution can vary accordingly. Also the healing process is something that it is never the same for different people so one can not expect to see his/her injury heal the same way as another person. I´m curious about what your surgeon decided to do next... hope things get better for you ;)
@ fishman - thank you so much for participating and for helping Bonnie ;) It´s not possible to see results without sacrifice... and you have done your share ;) Good to hear you´re playing golf again so soon :)
@ James - I´m sorry to hear about your difficult healing process :( As to your question, I would advise you to use some sand weights (there are some which attach to the wrist with velcro). I used half kg ones at first doing lifting exercises. But even now I still miss my former biceps :(
Even though I can´t help you choosing the right hospital I must say that you should hear a second opinion from another orthopedic surgeon. Good luck with your recovery, take care.
Found this website and postings...I too, broke both wrists in May. I have plate and screws in my right wrist, my left was immobilized for 3 wks.only. My fall was horse related, but not from riding. I have had many falls from horses and never hurt, Thank God, but this was a 'grooming' accident. It happened in the pasture and I had to walk a LONG way to the house, I even went to the Tack Room, put the tools up, locked the door, opened the pasture gate, locked it...but when I got to the front door of the house, realized my hands did not work and had to kick on the door. My husband opened the door, and said...Let's go to ER...long story short...had surgery, plate and screws in right, and now I am wondering, after reading this, why my orthopedic dr. did not mention 'removal of plate'...I pray I do not have to have it removed. I am doing fine, have 95% range of motion, no pain...my left one however has nerve damage I assume. It has a tendancy to tingle and feel as if it is 'asleep'...I can live with that if that is the only result of the injury. I have begun riding again after 2 months and so far no problem with either wrists. I do feel my left one is a bit weaker than the right, but the tingling is the most annoying thing. I wake up at night and have to get up and 'shake my left hand' to get relief...I am so sorry about your fall, it sounds horrific, and you are one lucky guy to be alive!!! Hope by now you are doing fantastic and back riding your bicycle and doing all of the things you did prior to the accident. Good Luck ....
Hey HorseLady, thank you so much for such kind words, in fact I´ve been doing more than I did before the accident :)
I am also sorry about your injury but glad that it only took 2 months before you could ride your big friends again ;)
Most of the times the plates are removed after some time but that´s not always required. You should talk with your surgeon and listen to what he thinks about it ;)
Once again thanks for your nice comment, take care.
hello, everyone,
i'm here at 5.5 weeks after my distal radial break.
i ended up canceling my airplane trip this summer;
my fingers get swollen and to risk greater swelling during a long flight seemed foolish.
instead i stayed home & rested...
i go back to work tomorrow after my summer vacation...1.5 weeks ago, the cast was cut down to just below the elbow...it took many days to get used to the increased mobility...after 3 days i was sling-free! what a joy! the sling was just depressing...
i'd like to say i'm able to do more, but if i lower my hand to do anything, fluid rushes in, my fingers swell, and i really feel too uncomfortable to do anything...all day i just keep my hand elevated any way i can...
in 4 days i will get my new and final cast. i'm told it will allow for more finger freedom and motion...i'm sure it will be a great improvement, and then, 2 weeks from then, i will be cast-free and soooooo excited to do the simple things again!!!!
i hope i will be able to return to normal function soon after cast removal...all during my casting, i have been urged to make a fist and then straighten for 10 second intervals to prevent my tendons from forming scar tissue...i've done this while elevating my hand to the best i can, but i've always retained some finger swelling that has prevented full fist formation...
bonnie, i hope you can find some way to regain function and reduce your pain...i have found that there is a lot that physical therapy can do! several years ago i had severe nerve damage in both my feet (Morton's neuromas)
my foot surgeon insisted that they it was so severe, surgical removal of the enlarged nerves was the only solution...when i opposed this, he suggested electrotherapy and ultrasound therapy...well, after 1.5 years of weekly or biweekly 30-minute treatments, my symptoms mostly disappeared, without surgery...i mention this because the therapist said this combination of therapies "breaks down scar tissue"...so if your problems are stemming from scar tissue, such a treatment might benefit you and you should get more opinions on your options for treatment. good luck!
I've never had a broken bone (damn lucky) but I did sever a tendon in my hand so I know what it's like to be layed like that. 6 months in a cast another 6 in physiotherapy and 3 years later it's still not the same. But thankfully I'm wright handed and it was my left hand.
i've had severe tendonitis in both arms and the pain drove me to desperation...physical therapy did little to help, neither did acupuncture or pain meds...finally i took one tablespoon of cal-o-rad every night and within one month my pain almost disappeared...i had thought the pain from that was bad, and that this broken wrist is bad, but i think a severed tendon might also be quite bad...i find after 5.5 weeks, a cast gets so painful and awkward, it seems to get more uncomfortable at the end, i cannot even imagine what i would do if i didn't have my good right hand to help get my left arm cast in a more comfortable position, so "my hat's off" to you double wrist break victims and your caregivers, you are stronger persons than I!
Hi Vadim, thanks for passing by. I am sad to hear about your injury and the fact that it didn´t got better after all this time :(
Hi Char, tanks for your comments ;)
Just curious, "cal-o-rad" it´s a weight loss supplement, isn´t it? How come it helped your tendinitis?
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger."
Friedrich Nietzsche
oh, i am counting down the hours when this awkward cast comes off and my last, hopefully "mini-cast" comes on for 2 weeks more, 22 hours from now and my 6-weeks cast is history!!!
I hope to draw inspiration from your strength quote, Ricardo,
I've been thinking about your comments that patience with the healing process is so required...i've not realized that i actually have been able to do more things with my large-cast arm, mostly having to do with just being able to lift it, if one pays attention, small progress does happen...
i also find inspiration with the pope's statement that his broken wrist this summer is teaching him "patience and humility". I know that this experience has brought me more of both these qualities, and i was in need of more in these departments...
the cal-o-rad healing my tendonitis came about because i was anguishing about my chronic pain and an aquaintance, who himself had suffered from crushing back pain since a Vietnam War injury (and the cal-o-rad had cured him of it)promised me that cal-o-rad would cure my pain within a month and it did! it took only one bottle, i mixed a tablespoon into a glass of water and drank it every night before going to bed, and not having eaten or drank anything for at least 2 hours before taking the cal-o-rad...it was explained that cal-o-rad is an easily absorable form of broken-down cow connective tissue (cow tendons?) and so overnight i was absorbing these and repairing my tendons...i don't know how it worked but it did and i would do it again if i had that pain again, but the pain's been gone for over 12 years now...wish broken bones could heal like that, but i'm sure tomorrow things will start looking up for me, i think i'll just start letting things look better now...!!! thanks for the supportive words!
Hi Funride
I posted here before. On September 30 I fell from an extension ladder 30 feet up broke both wrists to my right couple ribs and experienced some injury to my right ankle.
I have three plates and 13 screws in my left wrist and one plate and 12 screws in my right wrist. I have recovered very well. I can even play golf once a week.
The problem is with my left wrist. It is not painful but I can feel a crunching when I bend it. Did you experience that with yours?
I'm scheduling an appointment with my surgeon to have his opinion on the matter. Is removing the plates a risky proposition? I don't want to go backwards after going through what I did over the last year.
i have a broken scaphiod at the moment and the doctors havent really told me anything about it or what the opreation will/may involve (im having it next week!) this has been really informative thanks!
@ puttnow - I guess that crunching feeling can be normal but I never experienced it because I still can´t bend my left wrist and my right one will never bend as it is fixed. I´m sure your doctor will advise you to do what is best for your complete recovery ;)
@ lil_amz99 - Hey Lil, I´m glad this hub has helped you. You should talk with your doctors and ask them about all the procedures they are going to use in your case, this way you´ll feel much more confident before the surgery. Wish you a fast and complete recovery, and don´t forget to keep us posted ;)
Wow, that is quite an advanced fracture, just glad to hear you are alright now. Well written and really informative hub, thumbs up!
Just wanted to join the party. I broke both wrists 6 weeks ago falling off a ladder, just 10 days before my wedding! Had a complicated 7 hour op where both wrists have sandwich plates and 11 screws each. I brokeradius and fractured the top part of the radius into 4 parts on the rh and 3 parts on lh. Casts come off in one week and then begins the occupational therapy, and planning the next two ops to remove top plates n bottom plates. Got married 2 days after leaving hospital, thankfully my bandages matched my dress colour...
Found you looking for some help. I broke my ulna and radius at the wrist. Doctor said it was a clean break of both bones like knife cutting butter. I also chipped the protruding bone (whatever that is called). I got the cast off on September 15th. I can type and make a fist but i can't turn my arm palm up. Is this part of the normal healing process? How long will it take to get that motion back? Thanks for any help.
Hi guys, thanks for your comments. I have been very busy lately (work, family, bicycle rides, etc.) but I will be updating this page very soon... that´s right, I will go through another surgery next month. This time it will be just my left wrist and I hope it will be finally put into proper position :)
@ Beriyani - Congratulations on your marriage, I bet you looked great even though you were wearing those casts and bandages ;)
Hope your wrists heal fast and completely.
@ Funtobegranny - Sorry to hear about your injury. I experienced the same problem as you are living now. My doctor decided to cut the top of my ulna (cubitus) in order to allow me to turn my wright palm up. But that only took place because therapy wasn´t enough, my left wrist started to turn properly after a couple of weeks of physiotherapy. What happened was that the ulna and the radio were too close together and that didn´t allow them to rotate. In your case I suppose it is still too early to say... I hope you regain full rotation just with physio help ;)
All the best.
Thank you for giving me hope. I broke my wrist in three places on holiday this year. I had the plaster taken off three weeks ago and am surprised at the lack of use I have. I have rigorously done my physio and can see some great improvements. After reading this article and the comments, I realise that I was a little unrealistic in my recovery period. I will stop worrying so much - boy 1 to 2 years woa I don't know if my yoga can wait that long.
Hi Shell, it happens to everybody. I also thought every thing would be fine just after a couple weeks... unfortunately it took much more. In fact, now, after 2 years and 3 months from my accident, I´m going to be operated again next monday to my left wrist... finally!!! As I promised I´ll update this page with all the news.
It´s very rewarding to know that my experiences have helped others. Thank you all for your continuous support, see you soon ;)
Wow, what else can I say, no wonder you got 90 for this hub, it is just so well written, explained and so thorough. It's really fantastic - congratulations!!
Thanks Stagnetto, right now and 3 weeks after my last surgery I can say that everything went well :)
I´ll have my left wrist casted one more month before beginning physiotherapy once again.
Your info. was great but I didn't see where you addressed if you had any pain and to what degree, if any, that you had when you were in the cast. I have a cast on and am having some pretty bad pain (have pain meds. but don't want to take until I can't stand anymore). I just need to know if this is common/normal thing to expect for awhile, I have had the cast on for a week but just now starting to have some pain that bothers me.
Chuck
Hey C Dorff, the pains are more than natural. After the first week I started to feel excruciating pains mostly because they stop giving me morphine as soon as I arrived at Portugal. At that time I took some meds but soon I put them aside.
It is expectable that you will get use to the pains (and almost forget about them) after a couple of weeks. You will feel them again once the physiotherapy takes place.
Did you went through surgery?
i just broke my unla and radius but the break didnt go all the way through my bone i think and dislocated my two grothplates it hurt for a will but i am still recovering i never got to see any x rays yet they have never shown me any i saw a glimps of them thogh when they were moving my bones back into place well i hope i can start baseball practice in feburary
Hey BC, sorry to hear about your injury. As I understand you didn´t broke any joint so you should expect faster healing. On the oder hand I´m not sure if your bones can heal completely in such short period... how old are you?
I have found this site so useful!! I am a 66 yr old grandmother and I broke my wrist in Nov when I slipped on a wet floor in India. I was taken to hospital where I had surgery - plates and screws in the distal ulna and distal radius. After 3 days I was discharged from hospital with a backslab plaster on my arm. I was told to straighten my fingers and make a fist immediately after surgery, and touch all my fingers with my thumb (It took time and effort to touch my little finger but I got there in the end). I returned to the hospital after 10 days to have the skin staples removed (about 32 of them!) and was fitted with a splint as I was flying back to the UK 4 days later. I had no problems on the flight, in fact it was a doddle as my holiday insurance arranged wheelchair assistance, which meant that I had someone with me at all times to carry my luggage and I was fast-tracked through customs & passport control.
I went to the local hospital when I got home, where they put my foreatm in a cast from just below the elbow to my hand, leaving my fingers and thumb free.
In early January I had the cast removed and immediately went to the physio dept where they showed me exercises to do at home. Now, after 2 more sessions at physio they don't want to see me again, although I have to continue the exercises at home.
I am really pleased with all the treatment I have had, both in India and UK. I have good movement in my wrist but need to build up the strength.
I was worried about my prospects of recovery at my age, but after reading all the accounts of broken bones here I decided to work really hard and prove I could get back to normal. I can do most things now, even pick up my 8 month old granddaughter - so I can start babysitting again!
Never give up hope, and do the exercises as often as possible!!!
Hi Jackie, thank you so much for your kind words. Your testimony shows everybody how to react and work through the healing process. I´m sure all your hard work was well worth the minute you held your little granddaughter ;)
Funride these pages are such an inspiration - I cant imagine how hard it must have been for you. I fractured my left distal radius 5 weeks ago slipping on the ice in appropriate shoes and had the cast off y'day.
The physiotherapist says I have good range of movement for so early on but I really struggle to turn my hand palm up or bend it backwards. I have exercises to do at home but how hard should I push it? Its still pretty painful. Also, there is some soft scar tissue in a lump on the back of my hand. Any ideas how long this will take to go down?
Hi Shoe_gal, thanks for stopping by. I understand you didn´t need any surgery, am I right? If this is correct I don´t know what that lump could be... did your doctor or physiotherapist explain you what it was?
After some time you´ll be able to push it harder but remember that you´ll have to feel pain in order to recover completely. I call it physiothorture LOL
Wish you fast and complete recovery :)
Thank you :) They did consider surgery or a manual reduction but decided it was just about ok without. My worry is that it is set in the wrong position and thats why my movement is limited? Guess I will just have to wait and see. Lol, physiotorture sounds about right though!
Take Care xxx
Hi
I am somewhat relieved having read all the posts, thank you so much. I broke my wrist (radius with distal fragments )and had k wires and cast removed last Friday.Really worried that I cannot do anything more than wiggle my fingers, anyone know how long before I might be able to even move towards making a fist?Have started physio and can bend wrist forward a little and a tiny bit backwards.
Hey Susie, I´m glad this hub and all the comments have helped you.
The period of time needed to regain more wrist movements depends on several factors but physio will have a big role. You should make an effort in the first couple of months of physio because those are the most decisive ones.
Wish you a complete recovery ;)
Thanks, back to physio tomorrow hopefully they will see a little improvement.Best wishes to you.
i got plates installed go to youtube.com/u2uberculosis to c video how long after the plaster is removed after 2 months i be normal
great info, i myself broke my wrist a while back. it made me remember those old days...
I am a physically active high school student, and I must say the 4 weeks I spent with a cast on my right wrist after fracturing it in a snowboarding accident were almost unbearable. I had the cast removed yesterday, and am itching to return to normal activity. Unfortunately, my elbow is very stiff (my cast covered the elbow joint) and i have very limited mobility in my wrist. I hope to play golf and ride my bike soon ( I need to train for a cross country (U.S) bike trip scheduled for this summer), but I know I shouldn't rush my recovery. The stories of broken bones told before mine make my fractured distal radius seem like nothing. It is great that people are able to maintain positive attitudes while dealing with such crippling injuries. Best of luck to everyone!
hey funride. Hope u r making lots of progress. I broke my right wrist feb 8th. They casted it and then 3 weeks later decided it needed surgery. Surgery was done march 9. Before surgery my fingers were very swollen and would not go down, andd my fingernails stopped growing. After my nails started growing and some of the swelling is gone but still swollen and hard to grip anything. Is this normal? Most people look at my fingers and make the comment that hey shpuld not be so swollen still. It worries me and makes me think maybe it isnt healing.
Last month I was in a really terrible biking accident resulting in me flying through a fiberglass fence and breaking both bones in my wrist, my femur, and tearing my ACL. I've been in more pain and discomfort than ever imaginable but I look on the bright side that I am just lucky to be alive! The healing process has been incredibly tough and is far from over. I'm a professional jazz guitarist and have missed out on many incredible opportunities due to my injuries and have had trouble just maintaining a normal life. I have a plate in my wrist and in a few days get my cast removed and the two pins pulled from my wrist. I have no idea how playing guitar will be and I'm very worried about my future, but have to stay positive.
Thank you all for your comments ;)
@ Lynn - I´m not sure if it´s normal but I had the same problem for some time. It got better with physio and both the swelling and the insensitivity are now gone. You´ll notice a much faster recovery after the physiotherapy :)
hey
u realy helped me and now i can help my mom she broke her wrist tryen to rollerstate and fell both bones are broken on da side and da amdulance took her to da hospital and put her to sleep but dey said if da medicen goes to far she could die but she did not care she said go ahead i dont care are dey did she alright and feeling butter but da pain is still there she wants to no how long will it take to heal but we dont no so we came upon this site and u let us no a whole lot dats y i say thank u very much
thanx
Hey Terisa, sorry to hear about your mom :(
I´m glad this hub has helped you :)
hi, gr8 site .. and nice to know that there are people out there with similiar probs and willing to post their experiences. My son had a internal fixture done on his broken forearm 2yrs ago. now we are faced with the dilemma of deciding whether to go for plate and screws removal. Doc says 80% of the time they come out smoothly but since it involves GA I am worried. any similiar cases of removal ?
My daughter has just sent me the link to this site and just reading it has helped me tremendously! Funride - I cannot begin to imagine the pain you have suffered. I am a 62 year old grandmother. I slipped on ice January 13th. and broke my left wrist. I was in plaster for 6 weeks and during that time I went back to the Fracture clinic twice because I felt that something was wrong. Both times I was assured by doctors that everything was fine. When the cast came off my wrist was badly twisted. I was sent for a CT Scan and the result showed that the bone had healed more than the doctors anticipated - I believe that they were going to operate straight away and pin it - however, this was no longer an option after the CT Scan result. They decided to leave me 3 months with Physio. 3 weeks later I saw the P.T. for about 20 mins. She sent me away with 4 A4 sheets of excersises to do at home and gave me another appointment for 4 weeks later! Considering I was to have physio for 3 months - that looked like I would only see the P.T. 3 times - I was getting frantic! I could not straighten my hand i.e. point the fingers straight forward to type or even do a simple thing like hold the handle of a shopping trolley. To cut a long story short they decided to operate and put in a plate. This was done almost 3 weeks ago - the stitches came out on 8th. April. Since then I have gone into mega depression! I thought the reason my hand could not point straight out was because the bone had slipped whilst in plaster - so now that the had operated and inserted a plate, the hand would at least point straight - in fact my hand is exactly the same - if not worse because of the discomfort of the plate - and I now have pain in the side of my hand as if a nerve is trapped or similar, This pain is worse if I press on certain parts of the palm of my hand. I go back to see my Consultant on April 29th. and he will probably arrange physio then - do you think that the physio will help/stop the pains I have in the side of the hand? Or is this going to be another problem? I know very little about physio other than it can be painful - but if it will help me get back to some normality then it will be worth it. I am desperate to drive again - the day before I had the operation to insert the plate i managed to drive my car a short distance. The problem was pulling the gears - as I am in the UK the gears are operated by my left hand. I was so pleased to be able to manage it I could have sang from the rooftops!! Now I am back to square one and very worried about the pain in the side and little finger of my hand. I don't have enough strength in the hand yet and I know that it is too early to try however I am impatient so today I tried moving the gears when the car was in my driveway - straight away the pain shot down the side of my hand. Whe I try to type it feels as if the knuckle bone is in the wrong place. If anyone on this Hub can advise me regarding the physio I would really appreciate it. My hand has been very badly swollen since day one and the colour is appalling! Sort of bluey red. As Lynne (further up ^ ) has said, that people comment and say that it shouldn't still be so swollen - this has also caused me great anxiety hearing comments like that! Funride - you have really been an inspiration to me - and I have more hope now that my hand will return to almost as good - I cannot turn the hand around to look at the palm - hopefully physio will help that too. I have put this Hub onto 'My Favourites' I have an 18 month old granddaughter - she is beautiful and I long to be able to pick her up. Thank you to everyone who has posted on this Hub - but my greatest thanks and sheer admiration goes to Funride - God Bless you! x
@ Asha - Hey there, every time they removed plates from my wrists it was because I needed another surgery. Right now I´m not sure if I´ll need to have my plates removed in future... if you ask me I think I´ll keep them as long as they do not affect me and my ability to use my hands.
Wish you and your son all the best :)
@ Kingsland - thank you so much for your kind words :)
I´m not sure that physio will help stop your pains... in my case it helped a lot. At least I became less sensible to pain eheheh. Time will always help, there were times when I thought things will never get better... but they did :) and things will get better for you too ;)
No matter what happen you´ll have to learn to do some things once again and I can assure you that those victories will give you the motivation you´ll need.
Hope you´ll be able to pick your granddaughter up soon enough ;)
Please, keep us informed about your recovery. Take care
CAN'T believe someone else also broke BOTH wrists!! I did one and a half months ago - underwent surgery on both wrists after ulnas moved and now.....waiting for casts to be off in 2 weeks time - yay! I LUV LUV LUV ur positive attitude - i have to have one too as i was or am or will still be a massage therapist!!! methinks it's a hint from ABOVE that i need a career change! Good luck, health and healing.
Hi Anna, sorry to hear about your injuries. How did it happen? I hope your recovery will be complete and allow you to restart your beautiful work again soon. When we want something badly we are able to do things we never believed we could - never giveup from your dreams ;)
Take care and feel free to return and tell us about your progress ;)
Good to hear fr u funride! well - i fell on rocks whilst on holiday in Eilat (Israel) - was a bit in shock at first as i've neva broken anything in all my 37 years! but everything happens for a reason and as you rightly sed it makes us stronger!!! so - 10 more days to go until casts and pins come off - will let u know how it goes. By the way, how is YOUR progress??
Anna
That´s the spirit Anna ;)
After my last surgery (November) things went just fine, the recovery from this operation was faster than the others and I return to my everyday activities in no time. Even though my wrists will never regain their complete mobility I´m happy with the outcome. Stronger, much much STRONGER!!! :)
I fell on the ice during ice skating a month ago four times. It's been clicking alot and it's painful but i'm still albe to move it around and lift weights with only a bit of uncomfort. Seeing the diagrams have made it slightly more easier for me to think about what it is. Suppose I have to get a support and see if it feels better soon
Hey funride,
I just broke my wrist last week and i am going in on thursday to get a plate and screws put in. how well did you get back motion in your wrist. was it like before your fall?
Hi again funride!
Was soooo excited to go get casts off today ....but it seems G-d wants to really test my patience ( like he tested yours!!) and, after xrays the Dr said I must wait 1 more week...so i'll keep u posted. Hope u doing well,
Anna
Hi again Funride,
Thought I would give you an update. Went back to see Consultant on 29th. April. He was very concerned about the swelling and colour of my hand. I can't remember what the medical term was but he said basically the hand was collapsing and that I needed physio a.s.a.p. I have basically had virtually no physio since the start. He sent me to physio - they asked loads of questions and measured any flexability in my hand then gave me an appointment for the next day. Back I went - I was there 15 mins and given another appointment for Wed 5th. May (tomorrow). The doctor's reaction to my hand has really frightened me - the hand is constantly swollen and red/blue in colour. The feeling in my fingers is not the same as the right hand. I have good stretch in the fingers but find it difficult to make a fist. I still cannot position the left hand to type or hold a supermarket trolley bar etc. and I think that the knuckle side bone could be in the wrong place. Iam hoping the physio will help this. I feel so depressed all the time this has been going on now since 13th. January - when my plaster came off the wrist was twisted - hence the surgery 26th March to put in the plate. I suppose it's not really a long time - considering how long you state for recovery! I have been doing physio excersises at home and I am beginning to feel quite a bit of pain in the plate area and also the forearm but I will keep at it if it will help me - no pain no gain!!! The pain is worse when I try to bend the hand backwards or forwards - within seconds the pain starts! I have virtually no bend in the wrist at all and trying to turn the hand palm up it feels as if the knuckle is in the wrong place. Funride, I do hope you are continuing a good progress are you due for any more surgery? Hopefully not and your surgeon has abandoned his 'Ricardo' knife - !!! Nice to 'speak' with you again - Take care - God Bless x
@ Jaden - Hope those pains will go away soon :)
@ tmhalley06 - Sorry to hear about your injury. I believe that every case it´s different... that said, and in my case, I never got back the same wrist motion as before the fall. The right wrist just because they fixed it it´s not possible to move it freely, on the other hand (the left one that is eheheh) and after the last surgery the wrist mobility hasn´t improve much but the position it´s much better allowing me to do a lot of things I couldn´t before. It´s possible to get your wrist to move as before but it isn´t granted. Physio will help alot though ;)
Hey Anna, nice to hear from you again. You must trust your Dr and you´ll be free from those casts in no time.
Hope the news will be better next time ;)
Hi Kingsland, thanks for keep us posted. Your description reminds me of my left wrist... I also had the knuckle in the wrong place which didn´t allow almost any movement. In my case another surgery was the only option, they try to put my left wrist into its proper position and now the knuckle doesn´t show up (but I still can´t bend the wrist although I can turn it like before). Physio will help blood circulation and also the amplitude of your wrist movements.
Last time I went to an appointment with my surgeon he asked me when would I like to see him again... I guess this means he think I´m done with LOL.
Take care, hope to talk with you again soon ;)
I just broke my wrist and had two closed an one open operaration and had the same plate put in as yours. Your article is greate the only problems I have now all my bones on my hand hurts and my palm try to stech my fingers but it doesn't always help. 3 more weeks of cast hope I will be fine after.
Hope by now you fully recoverd and started skiing again.
Hi Suzanne, sorry to hear about your broken wrist. How did it happen?
I´m sure your pains will go away after some time (at least the worst ones) and then physio will help you regain more hand mobility.
I feel fully recovered now (even though both my wrists lost almost all mobility) as I can already make my normal life: working, taking care of my daughter, riding my mountain bikes and, if I would like, I could also try skiing and go for a fun ride :)
Take care,
Ricardo "funride"
HI again Funride!!
Today both my casts came off - it looked quite gross under the casts -- dry, dead skin, scars etc.. BUT at least they off!!!! In true Israeli- public - health- system -style I have to return on Thursday to have pins out - under local anaesthetic. Don't know why they couldn't do it all today BUT as we know : all good things come to those who wait!!!
My wrists are quite weak and the right one ( which was less seriously fractured) looks and feels much better than the left one. I'm sure, as you say, pain will decrease and mobility increase when I start physiotherapy.
Thanks again for your great hub and good advice - i'll keep you posted on what happens on Thursday - hold thumbs for me!!!
Wishing you peace, health and happiness!!!
Anna
Hey Anna, it´s great to lose the casts, isn´t it!? :)
It´s normal to have all the dead skin removed and a brand new one in place in a week or two. In my case the pins were also taken out after a week or two after taking the casts. Removing the pins feels strange but it isn´t the worst pain I remember ;)
I´m holding both thumbs for you ;)
Hi funride, Thought I'd give an update on whether to remove my plates and screws. I have seen two consultants now. They will remove my plates if I want to but because of scar tissue and the risk of nerve or blood vessel damage in the wrist area they wouldn't recommend it. I have decided to leave the plates in. I have 99% wrist function but still ge a twinge of pain on lifting heavy loads.
Thanks for your advice and it's great how this blog post has now become a major discussion and support area on the net for wrist injury! Rgds Rob.
Hi Rob, I´m glad to see you back :)
I think you made a good choice. If the plates and screws aren´t compromising your wrist mobility there are no reasons for another surgery.
When I first wrote this hub I never thought it would be so useful, even though the idea was for me to share my experience with others. But back then I was unaware it was such a frequent injury, now I know, I´m not the only one. It´s great to share experiences and learn from it ;)
Have fun,
Ricardo
I must agree with Rob - your hub is a great help for all of us with wrist injuries. Today I had the pins out and now must wait 2 weeks to have the stitches out - must admit that my Italian nerves are getting frayed!!! then, hopefully physio next...patience,patience!!!
Have a great rest-of-the-week
Anna
Hi there thought I would give an update having read entries from Kingsland. Since my last entry I have been diagnosed with RSD (also known as a Sudeck's atrophy/ regional pain syndrome, complex pain syndrome),and my symptoms were so similar to Kingsland. A word of caution though there is some scary stuff on the net about this - a huge number of people get better completely in time!
If it is this condition then it is important to get the pain under control and you cannot have too much physio. Just to give a back ground history,I live in UK, broke wrist on 23rd December, surgery on Christmas Eve to have k wires inserted, in back slab for two weeks, then plaster for further three weeks before k wires and cast removed on 29th Jan. Sent straight to physio where I couldn't do anything and next physio appointment physio very concerned because of swelling and stiffness. Saw registrar on 19th Feb who mentioned RSD but then said not showing enough symptoms so nothing further done. Two weeks later in unbearable pain and absolutely fed up with everyone saying how swollen my hand was and what an unusual colour it was went to GP who diagnosed RSD and said if we could afford it to go for private physio as well as having nhs physio as with this condition the answer is physio physio physio. He also put me on pain medication and anti inflammatories. Saw private physio on 9th March and I would have to say she has been my saving grace. I have been through a lot of pain but she and my own determination have been responsible for getting me where I am today not better but with a fairly useful hand again. No all of my symptoms have disappeared but my goodness I am so much better than I was.Saw consultant today and further x ray taken and physio working on improving bone density a way to go but like I said much better. Also RSD can affect mental health and whilst it is understandable that a lot of people will feel very down or depressed it may be that if you have this condition this is contributing to it as well, I certainly have had my moments. I have written this not because I want to worry anyone but to encourage anybody with these symtpoms to be persistant not only with their physio, by the way I do three hours in total each day, but also persistant about making sure they get the correct treatment. ps Kingsland I have just started to drive and yes it is a bit painful but I am getting there - good luck x
@ Anna S - Thanks for your kind words. I´m glad it went well ;)
@ Susie - First of all thank you for enriching this hub. Your contribution will help not only Kingsland but everyone who are looking for information about wrist injuries or other wrist problems. I´m glad you´re getting better and able to do things you couldn´t before. You´re always welcome here ;)
Take care,
Ricardo
Hi, I just stumbled onto this hub searching for information about "Impacted Ulna". I broke my wrist in February. I fell going down the basement stairs. I put my hands out to catch myself (it was instinct). I landed with most of my weight on the left wrist. I broke it and I did a really good job of it too :( the er thought it needed surgery. they splinted it, gave me painkillers and a referal to an orthopedic surgeon for that Monday (it was Friday when I broke it). The surgeon agreed that I was a good candidate for surgery : both sides of the wrist broken, broken at the joint of the arm bone on the side under the thumb. The bone was dislocated and pushed up toward the thumb. Since I had no insurance, he offered to try setting it first. He said that if he could get it in position there was a 50/50 chance it would heal okay without surgery. I said let's try. I spent a week in a splint after it was set and then x-rays to see if it was healing in the right position (warned that if not, surgery was the only answer). It was in a pretty good position, so, he cast it. 5 weeks later the cast came off. Today, 6 weeks after the cast came off, I had a follow up visit. There is a constant bruised feeling in the wrist under the pinky and the bulge of the arm bone there is almost twice the size of the bump in the other wrist. I was told that the wrist healed with an impacted ulna and that is the cause. He will try reconstructive surgery if it really bothers me but he suggests that I try to "learn to live with it" because there is no garuntee that surgery will make it that much better. I was looking for something online to explain this to me (sounds like he is saying that it is as good as it is going to get without surgery) when I came across this hub. Sorry to hear about your double wrist fractures and the surgeries you had to go through. Maybe I should consider myself lucky it was not worse. I am ambidextrous and it seems that if I can live with a bruised ache, I will be able to do most of what I did before in time. The doctor says he is surprised I am recovering so quickly and it is already healed better than he thought it would without surgery. He gave me some exercises to build up the strength of my pathetically weak grip (and that was my strongest hand before the fall). He said flexibility will gradually increase over time. The pain, unless reconstructive surgery is done (and if it goes well), is here to stay. Such is life. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Kind of puts things into a different perspective.
Hi Cat M., Thanks for sharing your story with us. It´s never easy to get used (with or without surgery) to the limitations after some kind of injury. When I broke my wrists I also realized it could have been much much worst...
Before you notice you´ll be doing everything you use to and the strength will be back just after some months of exercises. As to the pains I´m not sure... in my case I guess I got used to them and I no longer feel them anymore :)
Wish you a fast and complete recovery.
Hi again funride!!!
I fully understand Cat M - had my stitches out on last Tuesday and my left wrist is still weak BUT i'm starting physio this Tuesday and am back to doing ALL housework - much to my husband and 2 boy's happiness - and the Orthopede says this is the BEST physiotherapy!! Cat M both my wrists still ache - especially the left which was broken more seriously and at night and in the morning my hands feel stiff like those of an 83 NOT 38 year old!!!! But, we humans are resiliant and I believe what Fun ride says - we'll get used to it. I, personally find massaging my wrists, fingers and arms in a firm upward ( towards the heart) movement with a blend of Arnica oil, lavender and vitamin E oil ( for the scars) really helps!!! As an aromatherapist ( maybe EX aromatherapist !!!! time will tell ....) I believe in the relaxing and pain relieving attributes of lavender oil!!! Good luck and wishing u all a quick(ish!!!) journey to pain free wrists and hands!!!
PS ( a soft ball to squeeze helps build up a weak grip)
Anna S
Dear Anna, thank you so much for your invaluable contributions. You always add interesting points and ideas (like the massages with oils and the use of a soft ball for the exercises) which will help anyone going through a broken wrist recovery. I´m very happy to see you´re fighting and already starting to do everything again (btw, you should also start distributing some of those tasks with your family - you´re not a selfish person, are you!? LOL).
Hi again funride.
I wanted to thank you for your encouragement and Anna for the suggestions. I have used lavendar scented products for years and it never occurred to me to massage out the stiffness with lavendar oil!
I admit that I was feeling a bit sorry for myself when I first stumbled onto this hub. I had been told that my wrist would never be the same as before and that I should just get used to the bruised ache. After reading the experiences of other, I was not feeling sorry for myself. I was amazed at how resilient people are and hopeful that in time, I would be able to adapt to any new limitations resulting from my injury. Now I look forward to the day when I can honestly say I didn't notice the ache in my wrist.
I am typing this 2 handed! It makes my wrist ache. I am slower at it than I used to be. You would not believe the typos I make. But that is the beside the point. The point is ... I can type 2 handed! I guess I just need a little more patience. I am not good at patience. Sigh.
Thanks again - Cat M,
PS.
Don't bother looking for the typos, I proof read 3 times before I submit. I have always checked my writing or typing for mistakes. I never used to find so many of them though.
LOL, Hey Cat M., you made me laugh with the typos thing...
I´m really glad that this hub and all our experiences have helped you start feeling better and ready to deal with the recovery :)
Take care.
Yikes, broken wrist surely would put a damper on your entire life. Thank you for the awesome hub!
Hi again fun ride!! Ouch.... physio hurts BUT no pain no gain!!! also having acupuncture for the pain - only been twice - will let u know if it helps!!!
had the same op. done 3 weeks ago. in spain. all info. re. home recovery was,, hand in a bucket of hot water with salt for 20 min. then another 20 min. in clean, cold water, morning and night. absolutly left on my own to deal with. a.t.m. i'm sitting here, squizing an aerosol cap,,,, thank god i found this site,,,
can somebody tell me how to recover at home. what exersise should I be doing during the day , except from the water stuff,,
Hey Anna, I see you´re starting to deal with physio... soon enough you´re going to start loving those pains (specially the results) LOL
@ costa - I´m sorry to hear about your injury, how did it happen? Are you still using a cast on your hand? Did they use plates and screws on your bones? I´m not sure if (in your case) it´s ok for you to start physio or any other exercises already... 3 weeks it´s not much time after the surgery and perhaps you should wait a little longer before starting to make exercises with your hand. I would recommend what Anna S told us before: "massaging my wrists, fingers and arms in a firm upward (towards the heart) movement with a blend of Arnica oil, lavender and vitamin E oil (for the scars) really helps!!! "
When are you going to visit your doctor again? He will recommend you physio or other exercises as soon as you´re ready for it ;)
Keep us posted about your recovery. Take care
Wow- this has been most informative to read about everyone's broken wrists and their recoveries. Thanks to all who have posted, especially (of course!) to you funride!
I took a spill off my bicycle 6 weeks ago, and have also had the plate and 4 screw surgery on my left wrist(top part of the radius-"shattered" the doc said) I am now starting my second week of physical therapy, and I must say that I don't see much if any improvement yet. My wrist is still very stiff and sore, and it seems that even though I get a little more limber after the exercises, it's not long before it is just as stiff as before. Maybe all I need is patience! Also, I have about a quarter-sized area just above the incision on the palm of my hand that is still quite numb. I wonder if this is normal or something to be concerned about. I don't see the orthopaedic doctor for another couple of weeks, but wonder if I should call him or just wait and see what he says. Also my fingers are still swolen (sausage fingers!) as well as my wrist.
Thanks for any advice anyone wants to share...
Hi John D, thanks for your kind words.
Regarding the stiffness (in my case it´s almost complete) it´s something that should get better after months of physio. I would recommend that you start to do some more exercises after the physical therapy... this way you´ll notice a better muscle response and also less swollen fingers and wrist. Every time I stood still without moving my arms both my wrist and fingers swelled. But not anymore :)
I also experienced the numb feeling during the first months but that went away completely after some time.
In your case (and I don´t know your age) it´s still too soon... 6 weeks seems like much time but it isn´t :-/
Physical therapy, time and of course patience will make your wrist heal completely and I hope it will happen in no time ;)
Take care and don´t forget to keep us posted :)
Hi Funride, thanks for sharing your story.
I broke my radius last month (May 22) when playing soccer. Went straight to the Doc and after X-ray, he did the reduction and put a temporary cast on my hand. I went back the next day to do another x-ray and apparently, the bone was not completely straight. So he did some more pulling and twisting and put a hard cast on.
left is not my dominant side, so I still can do a lot of things with my right hand.
I had the cast for 3 weeks. During this period, I took two x-rays. The last x-ray shows (according to the doc) that the bone is healing.
After cast was taken off almost a week ago (June 19), it was a lot of pain which i guess from the muscle. I can not rotate my wrist (palm down, counter clockwise). When I tried with palm down, it only goes to 90 degree (thumb towards 12 o clock). My ulna felt sore and looks a little bigger than the right hand (is this normal after taking cast off??)
No swollen fingers and pain,except on the ulna side, which is not broken.
Today (June 25) my rotation is getting better (thumb on 10 o clock).
What i would like to know if this sore feeling on the ulna side is normal when only radius that was broken?
Thank you
Hey Nina, nice to meet you. As you already know the wrist it´s a very complicated joint. When you broke your left radius it´s expectable that the joint with the ulna may have been affected too and that can explain the fact that it looks bigger than the right one. So it´s not strange for you to feel that sore feeling as well as difficulties rotating your wrist.
Physio and/or hand exercises will soon allow you to rotate your wrist completely and to see your ulna less swollen :)
Hope you recover fast and completely ;)
hey funride, i was hit by a car in late may resulting in a fractured left radius,i had a metal plate and pins inserted. my cast was removed after 4 weeks. started physio 2 days after cast was removed, have seen some improvement but cant turn wrist fully yet. i know the healing process is slow. thank you for your website, its helps to read the experiences of others.
Dear Elaine (I love your name), sorry to hear about your incident and injuries. Your kind words made me feel good... it`s very nice to know that sharing my experiences helped others to deal with similar problems, thanks :)
Wishing you fast and complete recovery. Take care ;)
Hi Elaine,
seems like you and I have very similar experience. I've been doing hand exercise myself and I can see the improvement every day. I'm also cautiously using my hand as often as I can even when it hurt. I can feel some muscles become less stiff.
I also agree with you that this website really gives comfort during recovering time.
Funride, thanks for your kind words.
Hey funrude!
I'll be starting my 3rd week of PT, and I can really tell a difference. My wrist and fingers are still swolen, and the incision scar is still very sensitive, but my hand is starting to work again! Hope your recovery is still going well. And good luck and good health to my fellow broken-wristers!
Hi John D, glad to know you´re seeing good results. As I don´t remember being rude I suppose it was just a typo :D (a funny one though - funrude eheheheh).
Take care ;)
hi again funride, thanks for loving my name. a great tip from my physio - kids playdoh. making small ball and then flattening it, rolling the playdoh into sausages and making the back of dinosaurs, gentle excersies that can improve your flexibility. and most importantly patience, some days are better than others, good health to nina and you funride.
Thanks Elaine, that´s a great tip ;)
Every exercise we make with our hands and fingers will improve their flexibility and strength. I remember playing with small clips using the tips of my fingers... and it wasn`t easy to grab them in the beginning.
Hi Funride,
I just now found this hub; too bad I didn't find it sooner. I broke my right wrist in October 2009. While refilling a hanging bird feeder, I fell off a stool and used my hand/wrist to break my fall. As they say: no good deed goes unpunished! There was some discussion by my ortho surgeon about surgery, but decided not to at the time. The cast came off and I have done five months of physical therapy - sometimes so painful! I have most of my mobility back, and I am learning to cope with my reduced strength. Most movement of my wrist causes some pain. I have received two opinions about having surgery now. My original surgeon says the pain will subside over the next 12-18 months. A second surgeon says if I don't have surgery I will be in pain the rest of my life. He came to this conclusion by reviewing my medical records and x-rays only. He never examined me or even talked with me! I will be meeting with a hand surgeon next week and I hope I can make the right decision about any future treatment. The thought of "starting over" with surgery and then more therapy makes me depressed - plus I need to get back to work and earn a living again! I'd appreciate any insight or opinions you can provide.
Thanks for your time! -CJ
Hey CJ, nice to meet you :)
I understand your concerns... but I don´t know if I can help you. Wait to hear what the hand surgeon has to say and then try to make the right choice for you. In my case I always took the surgeons advices... but each case is different and at some point we have to move on. Even though I still have some limitations I find myself now able to do everything I want (work, ride my bicycles, etc., etc.) and so I don´t think I will go through another surgery to try to fix my wrists a little better.
You must see what is better for you and go from there... there are no guaranties your hand will improve after surgery, are there? If yes, then you should consider it.
I´ll be looking forward to know your decision :)
Take care,
Ricardo "funride"
Hi All,
it's almost 8 weeks since I broke my radius. I've got most of my ROM back, including able to turn my palm almost 180 degree (previously around two weeks ago, only up to 90 degree). Yesterday afternoon I started to do 20 push ups while holding to dumbles. This morning I started to lift my body up the pull ups bar and using my gravity boots, hanging myself upside down while doing reverse sit ups..
I just can't express how wonderful is to be able to do these things again..
There are no more swelling but there is still bump on the ulna and on the broken part of the radius though, which i believe is normal during recovery time.
I didn't use tennis ball to strengthen my grip, instead i used grip strengthener/exercise (that twisted spring that you hold and squeeze).
Anyway, good to know that everyone else is doing great..
Cheers,
Nina
Hi Nina, it’s very nice to feel your energy and happiness :)
The fact that you are able to do all those exercises again will make the recovery even faster. As soon as I was able to ride my bikes again my recovery became much faster with less pains and much more mobility.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us ;)
Wish you all the best,
Ricardo
Your post gave me hope, I was recently in a head on collision with a drunk driver and I have a metal plate in my wrist along with ten screws, and I start physical therapy tomorrow. I was worried because when I try to bend my hand it sends shooting pain down my arm, but I know that its going to be stiff for awhile as well and your information put me at ease. Thank you!
Ohh Kasey, sorry to hear about your bad luck accident :(
Keep that hope and determination and you`ll be fine soon. Physical therapy and all the exercises will make it a faster recovery.
Take care :)
Thanks for your wonderful hub, Funride. I have found it to be so informative and really inspiring and encouraging. I am a 63 year-old female who is very active. I swim competitively as a Masters swimmer and actually hold a couple of world records in my age group, so being fit and strong is pretty important to me. I broke my wrist 4 weeks ago today - fracture of the left distal radius (fortunately I am right-handed). My husband and I were riding our push bikes on a quiet bike path. My bike has double sided pedals (one side is flat and the other side has a receptacle for the shoe cleat). I really thought the flat side of the pedal was on the top, but when I needed to stop I discovered to my shock that the pedal had flipped over and my shoe cleat had locked in. So down I went! The fracture was manipulated under local anaesthetic and a temporary cast applied. I went to see a hand specialist and at first he said it was in good position and did not believe an operation would be necessary. But later, after more X-Rays, he told us that the fracture had moved and said an operation was now required. I had that operation 9 days ago (he also did a bone graft) and my recovery seems to be going quite well. Swelling in the hand has reduced a lot and I am getting back more and more mobility in the fingers each day – the specialist gave me some finger exercises to begin the day after the operation. I don't have a cast, just heavy bandaging. I go back to the specialist tomorrow and hope he will allow me to begin physiotherapy, although reading many of the posts on this hub makes me think it may be a little early for that. Your hub has really helped me to understand the need for patience and hard work and that recovery will be a reasonably slow process, and I also realise that my injury is much less severe than so many others! So a heartfelt thanks to you Funride, and to everyone else who has contributed to this wonderful resource!
While vacationing in Arizona, I slipped on a wet driveway & broke my lt wrist . . . both radius & ulna. I have a titanium plate with screws implanted. After extensive OT I have gained back my strength & I am able to function as well as before surgery. I don't have any pain but do experience slight discomfort when moving a certain way. This I can certainly live with. But a constant worry of mine is that the tendon which runs over my plate will "fray" & eventually break. My surgeon told me that if this doesn't happen within 2 yrs. aft. surgery, I am "safe". Do you know anything else about this?
Breaking my lt wrist was some ordeal, but I can't imagine what it must be like breaking BOTH wrists. You have gone through a lot!!
Carol in Massachusetts
@ Lyn - Thanks for your kind comment Lyn. The fact that you kept doing your workout and being fit will help you during recovery... your mindset will also be a great weapon through your recovery ;)
Don`t forget to keep us posted about your progress, take care.
Hey Carol, I understand your worries... I also have a tendon running over the plate on my right wrist and I also experienced some adhesion of the tendon with other skin tissues... as soon as you are able to exercise your hand and fingers you´ll feel confident about their strenght in no time. At the beggining it´s normal to feel some disconfort while moving your fingers but you´ll have to get used to it as the tendon will get stronger and stronger every day.
It`s not easy to go through recovery but as soon as we feel fine all that time seems like no time :)
Thanks for passing by and commenting.
hi funide-i broke my radius and ulna and got two titanium plates on them. my wrists are not broken and i was having a crape bandage after surgery for 15 day and i exercised my digits and a bit of wrist. its 1 month now, my bandages are gone but i can have full range wrist movement and when i do a 'thumbs up' i see the incision area of the radius moving or stretching up. it doesnt happen in other hand. when the hand lying on the table etc this upward movement is very negligible. any ideas
Carol-can you tell me what exactly is this 'odd thing' when you move a certain way? if i make my hand upright on a table resting on elbow and move my thumb back, i can see the incision area move up towards wrist, kind of stretching upwards. my wrist is also not moving in full range. pls let me know ur story as i think u and i have same type of fracture
A great story. But why doctors decided that it's okay to remove four screws out of bones without anesthesia?
Hey Alber, I also got that stretching feature... specially on my right hand. At first I thought that this skin stretching was the reason why I couldn´t move my wrist freely but now I realize it´s only a slight tacking of the tendon and the skin and it doesn´t affect my hand movements ;)
Hi Varnav, thanks for passing by. When they were taking those screws I must admit that I didn´t felt much pain... I guess looking at it makes it more painful and awful :D
dear funride thanks, actually its the movement of the thumb downwards that stretches it upwards, also i feel sensation, kind of pain when doing it and feel as if someone is pulling a string out. its around 45 days after my operation. my wrist moves upwards and downwards but not in full range, fingers etc are fine but the thumb movement gives me this sensation when the upper prt of thumb is bent down.will it get better? i am scared if my tendon is sticking or rubbing on plate.
I broke my wrist 2 wks ago. Still hurts. Proud new owner of titanium plate and nine screws.
Dear Alber, I also experienced the same on my right hand and it got better after some time. It´s possible that the tendon is rubbing on the plate but it isn´t going to adhere to it. In my case the tendon got stick inside the scar... at first I felt weired seeing the scar moving every time I open my hand. I wouldn´t be scared if I was you... just keep exercising your hand and you`ll forget about this in no time ;)
Hey Joe, thanks for stopping by. Sorry to hear about your wrist fracture... how did it happened?
At first I remember thinking I was a cyborg made out of titanium LOL. But now I even forget I have all those plates and screws. Wish you a fast and complete recovery :)
Thanks
I was working on a ladder and it came out from under me.
I can't believe it still is constantly hurting after over three weeks. I have some awesome pics to send if you have an email address. maybe post them up here. How long did it take for it to stop swelling? Its usually OK in the morning but by afternoon it starts getting swollen. Any suggestions does/dont's on recovery?
Hey Joe, sorry to hear about your fall :(
Did you went through surgery? Three weeks it´s not much time... you´ll have to be patient and with physio`s help your recovery will happen in no time ;)
Have you been exercising your fingers? This will help with the swell.
You can contact me through the "Contact funride" link on the top right side of this page ;)
Wish you fast and complete recovery, take care
Hi All,
22 May ago I fractured my wrist.
It's a little over 5 month and my wrist is as good as new.
Cheers,
Nina
Hey Nina, so nice to hear from you again :)
I´m sure that your positiveness and attitude allowed you to recover much faster.
Thanks for your testimonial, see you soon ;)
I broke my wrist 6months ago now and am still feeling it. i had a plate and 7 pins put into my wrist and undergone hours of hideous physio sessions but have been told i will never get full movement back in my wrist! how are you doing with it now and are you back doing everything you were doing before the break?
Hey GAZJ, sorry to hear about your injury. Every case is different... in my case I really didn´t believed it would ever be possible to get full movement on my wrists but there are situations where it´s possible to regain full mobility.
Even though I can´t fully move my hands, I already do everything I did before the accident... if it takes extra effort? For sure... but that extra effort makes me feel alive and most of the time I don´t even remember I have this limitations ;)
Take care :)
Wow, what a great account and it looks that your personal experience helps other people to gain some knowledge.
I am glad you are fine now (well, as much as it can be). Stay away from balconies! LOL.
Thanks Vera, I will. LOL
Hi just been reading all about the bad experiences with mostly happy endings over time as well as some great advise. I had a fall from 6ft and split my left radius in 4 places and had the plate and screws fitted 3 months ago and continue to making gradual progress with the recovery, my palm still gets very sweaty especially when im driving i guess it's nerve damage what are your thoughts anyone!
Dave
Hey Dave, thanks for your comment. Perhaps that´s because of the warm caused by the healing process... I´m not sure but I remember feeling my hands warmer during the first months after every surgery.
Hope you´ll recover fast and completely :)
Thanks very much for sharing your experience,i need read it!
I had double fracture on my ankle and the main bone , tibula,last 3 week,a plate with 6 screws and a long screw alone in the ankle,but my doctor removed my cast after 14 days only and he pretended i'll recovery faster,but most of peoples keep it for most of 6 week!
i got an electrik bike accident
hope you fully recovery
bonsoir et bonne chance
Hello Quebecois, sorry about your injuries. And I`m glad you found this hub useful and that it helped you during this difficult time. Physiotherapy will make you get on your feet again soon and I also hope you recover completely from your injury, good luck!
I am afraid to undergo such operation... sigh ;-((
Hello Marjorie, why, did you broke a wrist? The operation is not the worst part though...
Hope you`ll never need to go through any surgery ;)
Great read funride - well, apart from the trauma you must have gone through. Very informative, and scary. I'm glad to hear that you're doing better now. What an ordeal. I can only imagine what must have been going through your mind mid-fall.
I took a tumble while playing soccer 6 years ago - got tackled, fell and landed awkwardly with my butt/hip sorta crushing my left wrist in the process. There was some numbness and slight pain at first before my wrist began to hurt like hell when I put any pressure down from my hand towards the rest of my arm - for example, I was driving a stick shift back then and changing gears was unbearably painful.
An x-ray the day after the incident showed no broken bones but I absolutely could not bend my wrist. The doctor just bandaged me up, saying it wasn't serious, but the pain was too much so I self-prescribed a splint and used it for about 4 to 6 weeks.
Now, 6 years on, I have free movement in my left wrist but occasionally (and more frequently these days) my wrist will hurt. I still can't use sudden force to pick up heavy objects.
After searching online I'm beginning to suspect a problem with my scaphoid bone. The pain is centred around the area just below my left thumb.
I've been doing research on it (which is how I ended up here) and plan to get expert advice from a specialist soon. I hope if any surgery is needed, it won't keep me away from the computer for long. :(
The other worry I have is the kind of problems this injury could develop into in my later years.
Hi Ravind, thanks for your kind comment. It`s possible that you broke your scaphoid bone without showing on a X-ray... your symptoms are similar with that fracture. Most of the times there`s not much you can do about it but you should indeed get expert advise from a specialist.
Hope you find some help and minimize your symptoms. Exercising your hand and fingers is perhaps the best way to avoid future problems ;)
Keep us posted on your research, good luck!
This is a very nice blog. I admit that it comforts to hear about other people overcoming their own painful experience with their wrists. I fractured my left wrist 10 days ago, by taking a false step on ice, fell down with with my left hand flat open. The pain was so unbereable i almost couldn't get up. was rushed with an ambulance to my local hospital (traffic jam included), where they tried to strenghten my bones to put them in the right position.
I was then told that due to my age (I'm 38), I should try to get a treatment that would ensure full utilization of my hand (apparently the position after the stretching was OK, but more adequate for an older person whose hands would not have to stand the level of activity I'm still supposed to have. So 5 days ago I had surgery. i was told that i would need a plate, but during the operation my surgeon decided that 2 metal pins will just do fine. Now i'm scheduled to have the pins removed by the 17th of february, a bit more than 4 weeks after the operation (they told me 3 originally, but later changed their mind).
I can move my fingers easily (my casting luckily doesn't include the elbow, so i am able to stretch my arm when it gets too numb from the effort of keeping my forearm in an upright position) my thumb is the exception, movement is very limited.
As a first timer in the broken bones club, i must say that the cast is your salvation and your damnation at the same time. i feel some pain in specific spots within the cast, as if a pointy spike inside it is constantly hurting the same spot. during the evenings my forearm seems to contract, so i find more space inside the cast to pull and push my forearm to one pf the cast's walls, that provides some relief...not sure whether that's a good idea though. during the mornings, the cast is pretty tight.
What surprises me is that I don't have any scheduled medical appointments until the day I'm supposed to get the pins off. I want to believe that the reason is that my recovery should be an easy one...
Keep up the good work funride, again, i was glad to find your hubpage.
Hey Andy, sorry to hear about your fractured wrist. You know, when I wrote this page I learned that "wrist fractures are the most commonly broken bone in patients under 65 years of age." but I never imagined how many people have broken their wrist(s)... by the number of visits and comments of this page I would say too many.
I`m wish you the best recovery. Don`t forget to keep us posted on your recovery ;)
I'm not sure what I'd have done if I had broken 2 wrists as you did funride. Having just 1 wrist broken is difficult enough. At least at this stage you must be laughing about those moments...I'm also hoping to start laughing soon.
Today I suspected that having a very loose cast was not probably a good thing, so went to the hospital again. My main concern was that my bone might not be healing in the proper position. Well, no more fear, it was confirmed to be OK. I was able to watch my naked wrecked hand, and the big pin inserted in my wrist right below my thumb. My new cast is softer but thighter. I can't belivee how helpless my hand seemed to be without the cast for those few minutes. Beside me at the hospital,an old man with a broken leg and a middle aged woman with a broken foot...they were talking about how science should someday achieve the paradigm of giving us unbreakable bones...sounds certainly good to me too :)
Hello, I'm sorry that all this business happened to you, however, I am very grateful that you documented everything along the way! I'm a writer, and when I was looking up information on broken wrists and bones, this hub came up, and was the most informational article I have found to date. I do have a couple questions though.
Did your scaphoid ever heal completely? And what exactly was it that they did to try to promote its healing? (Was that what the pin was for?)
Thanks for your kind words, Kagami.
Yes, I think the pin was intended to help positioning the scaphoid bone.
If it ever heals completely? I`m not sure, in my case I have lost some mobility on my right thumb and I believe it was also due to the scaphoid fracture.
Hi, Funride
Thanks for the great information on wrist fractures.
This is a whole new world for me, as I'm not accident-prone and made it to 58 w/o any broken bones. Anyhoo, I tripped over a cord in my bedroom and having about 2 feet to recover, landed on my wrist - with 2 impacts as I landed on the bottom of a bookshelf and had another 3 inches to go. I was told that the fracture looked good, but after one week in a splint had to have it reset (barbaric!) then I guess about 4 weeks later, was told I needed surgery - It looked like the bone had just collapsed back toward my elbow. I'm in week 7 from surgery and will have been in a cast for a total of 12 weeks at the end of this. My arm visibly atrophied around the 10th week- bummer. I can't imagine having all the surgeries you've had! this has been a trauma for me - I woke up from surgery to be wheeled to the cast room to redo the cast they had just put on and some more manipulation of the pins (!!!) Even with the nerve block, I nearly threw up! and I did throw up seeing my arm at 1 week, then nearly again when they removed the pins last week w/o anesthesia - which is all kind of shocking, as I'm not normally squeemish... At any rate, my question is, did your wrist and arm feel more sore after the pins were removed? Not the wound, but maybe using my hand and arm more w/out the support of the pins? (I'm still in a small cast) The break never hurt too much - just the surgery, and I'm really recovered from that. I am a little concerned that I may put too much weight on it, since I am trying to do more and lifting things. I do NOT want to extend this process any longer than I can help - Hey, something good came from this: I haven't smoked since the surgery. I have been treated at a county hospital, and I've seen and heard EVERYthing in the cast room, including people who weren't healing well because of smoking. Thanks again for your great page! It helps me remember my injury is really not so bad!!
Hi Laurel, nice to meet you! I agree with you, after they took the pins I felt more pains... but thankfully not for too long. You should start exercising your wrist with caution in the beginning, soon you`ll be able to do everything ;)
Great decision you made, smoking would only slowdown your recovery! Hope you recover in no time, don`t forget to keep us posted ;)
I broke my wrist 7 months ago. I was on my bike and was hit my a police officer on a motorcycle. Does anyone know the long term effect of having hardware in my bones? The doctor said I could leave it in. It doesn't bother me now, but will it cause arthritis later or any other complications?
Hi cbear, nice to meet you. I have several ti hardware on my wrists and arm (and face for that matter), and I never had any problems. I wouldn`t expect any complications later on :)
my sister's arm bone was fractured. doctor inserted nails for support. unfortunately, that nail also broked, may be, during some home job. door of boxbed felldown on her arm. again surgry was done and metal plate was fixed this time because of gap between fractured bone and some bone powder/material was also taken fron her thigh by a cut for filling the gap betwen arm bone.. now 2 years are over. she want to know following things:
1. should she undergo surgery again for removal of metal plate?
2. what are the harms and benefits, if plate is not removed?her doctor has advised, but she is afraid?
3. what are the chances of weakning or fracture of that bone again, after plate removal? if plate is not removed, will it support the arm bone or create problem in future?
4. what precaution, she should take life long after plate removal?
anyone experienced or doctor, please answer these questions.
thanks.
Well, I have read this website a few times, and like the support that is shown here.It is amazing how well the human body can repair.I have had my motorbike licence for a few years, always liked road bikes, however my brother brought a harley and I just had to ride it... first ride and last ride on a harley..lol...Well the throttle got stuck and I ran the bike into a solid brick wall...Naturally i tried to save the bike and broke my wrist,I freaked looking at my hand..I thought I was going to loose it, as it hung like a shape of a deformed snake from my arm...It gets better, my sister in law cancels the ambulance and I endure a bumpy ride to the nearest hospital, like 30km away...ouchhhh!
I still have my helment on as my head hit the brick wall and I am scared of the possible head injury I have ..lol who knows!!!Well finally get to the hospital and they are more interested in x raying my pelvis as the handle bars bruised my pelvis...internal bleeding was thier concern...And as you all know when finally getting the xray on the wrist...omg such pain...Well I had the wrist reconstructed by I must say a brilliant doctor...He did such a good job that after much discussion and further xrays I didnt need a plate.. however I still needed surgery and ended up with two screws in the jion as I broke the end of the radius and naturally crushed a lot of muscles, it was an open compound fracture so the bone actually went straight through the main muscle for alot of the wrist movement needed...pretty scarey when I visualize it..As you know it changed my whole life style..I used to do muay thai(kickboxing) 4 times a week and plus I run a daycare from home,I felt pretty depressed for sometime, my brother was more worried about his precious Harley..lol.Any how the good news is that I am now in week 4 since the cast came of and I have almost 45% usage of my wrist.. no I can not do push ups, nor can I scratch my back in that place I could before, however I can swim, I can run, and I can still laugh, I feel we all heal at our own pace, believe and you will achieve...
@ KM - it depends... if you`re not sure about your doctor perhaps you should hear a second opinion from another doctor. In my case I don`t intend to take them off, unless if absolutely necessary at some point...
@ Rachel - thou being sorry to know about your accident I`m glad knowing you are recovering well and with such a good attitude :)
Thanks for sharing your experiences and for the encouraging words ;)
hey i just had the surgery a week ago, fractured everything and now have 5 screws and a plate in (did it 1 and a half weeks ago snowboarding). This may seem a little funny but does anyone know if i can have sex???
Ahahahah... Hey Matt, I`m trying not to laugh, really :D
I`m sorry to ear about your accident and surgery.
Answering your question, it didn`t stop me from doing it (I even think it helped my recovery)... as long as you don`t try difficult positions I believe you`ll have no problems ;)
Have fun! That`s the way for best recovery :)
Matt, lets hope you can,cos I know one thing you as a guy, you wont be able to do if you broke your prodiminate hand...lol..but then again you can always use the other hand even if it is frustrating..lmao :)
ps...Sorry to hear about your accident Mat, and hope you recover fast, so anything I post is in all good nature, and as funride said, have fun as its the best way to recover.My favourite quote is... Every person is free to choose. You yourself choose whether to experience joy or pain, to be happy or unhappy.(I know what I choose :)
hahaha thats a relief, thanks guys i wasn't sure if it was concidered "exercising".
I just had a titanium plate screwed to my left wrist. The wrist was broken and misplaced, so surgery was the recommended course of therapy. I'm new to this, and hope I can get my mobility back sometime soon.
My surgeon says this procedure can shorten the recovery time to 6 weeks. Can anyone comment if this is an accurate statement?
Hi Guillermo, welcome to the broken wrist club ;)
The recovery time can vary depending on several factors... your age perhaps one of the most important, so the younger you are the faster it will heal. Your capability to work hard during physiotherapy will also help the recovering time.
My suggestion is for you not to get too high expectations on recovery time and total mobility of your hand... this way you`ll most certainly surprise your self positively ;)
If your doctor said 6 weeks then you should aim for that goal... if it takes a little longer, don`t loose your mind... stay strong and confident no matter what :)
I wish you a fast and complete recovery (with as few pains as possible), take care :)
Thanks a lot funride. I'm 46, so hopefully I still fall in the "young" category. :)
I like the idea of lowering expeectations and allowing for pleasant surprises. I've done 3 PT sessions, and I'm surprissed at the mobility in my hand: 95% for the fingers, 20% the thumb, and about 50% the wrist. Sometime I think I'm rushing the reovery, so I have to check constantly with the doctor.
I'll stay on this blog for a few months. Hope to hear from you all.
You seem pretty young :)
We learn so much during these recovering periods... "listen" to your body, He will "tell" you how things are going. And in no time your wrist will be as new ;)
You`re always welcome here, don`t forget to share your experiences (if you feel like) :)
7 days after surgery: (pls excuse the typos)
Today I had my fourth PT session. My therapist said I should continue to move the fingers heavily, and the wrist softly but firmly. If I get arm fatigue, I'm to rest for a while, and resume activities. We had a lot of new exercises and movements. She said that I need cold towels applied regularly while having the staples (yes, instead of stitches I got staples, which are supposed to bond the skin better). After the staples are removed on May 3 (about 15 days after surgery, which was April 15), then I can have heat applied to the wrist.
The fractured bone doesn't hurt at all. What hurts are the muscle or ligaments when I try to move the wrist. This is supposed to be normal. By the way, I got 95% lateral movement back, 80% forward movement, and 30% backward movement.
I travel next week, so I won{t attend PT. I'll need to practice on my own.
8 days after surgery.
Not sure why, but today I've felt mild pain in a spot near my plate. Not sure if it's bone or muscle related. It comes and goes, so I don't think it important. And is not getting worse or swollen.
I'm doing what the PT told me: keep moving the fingers and the wrist (though softly).
I've been away for a while. Right now my wrist is amanzingly well, with a lot of movement and little pain. What's killing me are the staples, that now hurt when I lay my arm flat. I'm getting them out on Tuesday.
Are you already free from those nasty staples, Guillermo? You`ll be fine in no time, take care ;)
Staples out tomorrow. Thank you!!!
April 12th i had a motorcycle accident, someone pulled in front of me - i blanked out for a few seconds, when i came to i had a dislocated shoulder and a broken wrist ( right hand) scaphoid, and trapezium bone, along with the radius boner. the ulna was shattered. i have a plate with 3 screws securing the Radius bone, and 1 screw anchoring the trapezium to the trapezoid bone. my hand was in a splint from April 12th to may 4th, i now wear a removeable brace, needless to say i remove it whenever it gets in the way. Should i leave it on during the course of the day? my wrist is swollen, i cannot grip anything and my wrist stiffens up. ive stopped taking ppain medications so i can feel the limits of my wrist and know when i have it in a compromising position.
Thank you for your blog. It was very informative and helpful. Glad your recovery has gone well.
Hey Alex, thanks for your words and for sharing your history. I`m sorry to hear about your accident... I wore my braces until the doctor gave me green light to start taking them. Of course I also took them before sometimes but with both wrists wearing braces/casts I couldn`t do much and the danger of wrong moves were frightening... make sure you give that wrist good rest and caring, it`ll help your recovery :)
I have a boss who will be having wrist surgery after a fall from his roof. He shattered both wrists. Do you have any suggestions on helpful gifts. We are all trying to think of something that would really be needed and used.
Hey Babs, thanks for stopping by. If you ask me the best gift one can give in a time like this is friendship... but you already gave him that, right!? I would say that good braces will be needed... perhaps you could also give him some physiotherapy material like rubber balls to exercise the wrist muscles... but believe me, he will appreciate your friendship much more. I had lots of friends helping me all the way and that was the best thing they could give me.
I wish your boss a fast and complete recovery :)
man this was such a terrible time of my life,long wait for the surgery and very painful,it is something i never want to happen to me ever again r to someone i love! it is very painful wen the bone is broke in half and almost went through my skin,and rubbing together like to sticks as if you were making a fire,it is hard pain!
The exact same thing happened to me playing hockey, I have the plate in my hand now, it was over 3 months now and I was wondering why I still have all sorts of pain, thanks for writing this, you cleared up a lot of questions for me.
Hello Karen, very nice to meet you. No one wants that to happen... but sometimes it does and we must try to be prepared for it. That`s why I wrote this, to help people going through the same thing I did.
Hey Harold, don`t worry... the pains will go away as soon as your brain gets used to them ehehhehheh... ok, enough joking. 3 months is not a lot of time and you`ll probably keep feeling those pains a little longer. I`m sure that if you want you`ll be playing hockey soon enough ;)
I am just back from a wrist plate fixing surgery. I fell of a bike 4 days ago and for 2 days i did not know my wrist was broken. and as you see I am just googling...i have not read your post yet but thank you for sharing... the only thing i am thinking about right now is if i can remove the plates or not :(
Sorry to hear about your fall, Ramin. I wouldn`t worry if I were you... I had several different plates on my hands and still have the final ones. And I don`t expect to remove them, at least until the eventuality of them causing me pains or other problems which I suspect ain`t gonna happen :)
Stay strong and keep your focus on your complete recovery! It will happen before you notice ;)
i fell of my bike due to drunken drive
i underwent a similar operation, i got titanium plate over one of the bones below the left wrist which got 9 screws in it.
now its been 2 months alrdy and im able to ride my bike again.
infact my parent are willing to buy me my dream bike the honda cbr 250r :)
Hey Kumar, I`m glad to hear that you`re already able to ride after so little time... congratulations! Be careful with your new bike, will you!? Take care :)
on 3/19/09 i had a accident at work. My arm was caught in a roll of plastic as it was winding, came close to pulling it off. I had open compound fractures. First doctor had put 2 wrong plates in. Had another surgery and place two new plates. After awhile my outer forearm (where one plate is)had sores that wouldn't go away. The doctor removed the outer plate, the sores went away and I started PT, while in PT my bone was re-fracture, after this, the doctor again put another plate in (4 surgeries), And again I have sores on my outer forearm, pain numbness, stiffness. There was a MRI perform, (without contrast) and showed no infection. The doctor told me " It is what it is" and he then release me. Will these sores ever go away. palmer626@embarqmail.com
Thank you so much for your information. I had a very similar fracture and plate inserted (due a bike accident). Yes, recovery is my primary concern, particularly in that I'm an avid golfer. Currently, I'm working on flexibility and in 3 weeks I'll begin some strength training.
Maybe it's wishful thinking but could it be possible this injury ultimately ends up improving my golf game? I can only hope.
@ Steven Palmer - what an ordeal! I`m sorry to hear about your accident and all those healing difficulties. Did you ever had problems with cicatrization? Are those sores around the places were the open compound fractures happened? Your doctor should be able to find out what`s causing those sores... you better talk with them and try to find out why your recovery is going through so much difficulties.
Hope you`ll find a solution for your problem soon enough.
@ JPS - Thank you for commenting, I`m glad this information was useful for you :)
Only you can decide if you`ll be able to play golf and if your game will improve... I think it`s important to adapt ourselves to the limitations left from this type of injuries. To be honest I haven`t try golf since before my accident so I can`t be sure if I can play better now... but I suspect I can, it`s only a matter of will :)
Keep us posted on your golf game improvements ;)
2 and a half years on from a ladder fall in which i broke both wrist and mid shaft ulna and i am still suffering with pain. My right wrist had a comminuted fracture(smashed to bits)and although i have done well to get full movement it hurts when i do simple thing such as typing this message or any repetitive task such as handwriting and most of my job which involves intricate repair to componenets.I also now suffer with tendonitis due to the surgery. Good luck all and especially funrides.
A big, big,BIG one-armed hug to you from me. It never fails to amaze me that a friend can with one thoughtful gesture, turn my day around and make me smile. Thank you. I just got back from the orthopedist (who i found adorable and with a good sense of humor) and found out my...um, the big bone...is fractured in about 5 places. He gave me three options: let it heal on its own and hope for the best, pin it, or plate it. Since its my dominant right hand...I didn't want to leave it to chance...and the doctor really didn't think the plate was necessary...so we opted for pins to make sure the bones heal w/o gaps.
I'm having that done on Monday.
The pain is manageable and I will cope with whatever needs to be done. But there are times when I want to scream in frustration because I can't just perform a previously simple task! Grrr! :)
Maybe now would be a good time to install and use the voice recognition software my husband bought me for Christmas!
Sorry to hear about your injury Stuart! Never give up trying to improve your adjustment process ... our body never stops amazing us! :)
Hey Spryte, your big big hug felt really good, thank you my friend :)
I`m glad to know everything is going to be ok with your wrist soon enough.
Let me know how your recovery is going... and let me know if there`s something I can do to help ;)
hey, ive just had a head on collision in a car crash, this luckily only resulted with a broken wrist. both bones in the arm (close to my wrist) are broken. the doctors put a ' k wire ' in my bone. It has now started to 'click', or i think/feel that its clicking. Is this a common thing to feel? this has been happening for a week now, (the crash was last friday) how long does it take for wrist bones to heal..roughly?
Thank you for this...(whats it called? a hub?) site, its been really helpful x
Ooh...me too, blue! I just had 3 pins put in surgically to help things heal in the proper position 3 days ago and I get this "creaking" sensation now in my wrist. so I'm not crazy...yay!
Oh my dear spryte, thank you for helping blue... I haven`t been able to come here lately, I`ve been preparing myself to the Tang Soo Do European championships held here in Portugal this weekend.
Hey blue, glad this hubpage (or page, it doesn`t matter) was helpful to you. Thankfully it was just the wrist... car crashes can have disastrous consequences. The clicks and creaking are normal and should disappear with time. If you won`t need any more surgeries the healing process will be much quicker and I wouldn`t be surprised if you were fine in two or three months... it depends on your age, general health, physical activity, and of course on your diet.
Keep us posted on your recovery, will you? :)
Thank you for all your feed backs Im a massage therapist who fell off a 7 foot ladder 2 days ago i broke my right wrist in 3 places ulnar radis, i have surgery in a couple of days and am kinda scared if i dont heal normally, wondering if i will be able to ever massage again! :0(
:) Funride, this hub is so full of information and the comments too that I can't help but check it out for things I can understand thru the healing process. It's nice to have ppl you can commiserate with. Hope you do great things this weekend!
Thanks spryte! Last weekend was unforgettable... had a great time with family and friends :)
Hey, I think your doctor screwed up your right wrist. you might want to sue them. I think you needed a wrist fusion because of the first substandard surgery but I am not sure. Ask to an expert please.
Hey Jack, thanks for your advise... thing is the first surgery was performed in France and it was in fact the left wrist that they didn`t take good care... I`m not sure where you`re (USA?) but here it`s not that easy to sue doctors and hospitals, after all they did help me when I needed. Of course I would prefer to wait and be operated by a specialized surgeon... my insurance paid a lot of money for those operations and for the time I was there. If only the money could really make my wrists go back to normal...
The first surgery was made just to prepare my flight to Portugal but they told me that it would be necessary to make a wrist fusion later, I was never taken by surprise. Back in Portugal my right wrist was fixed and that resulted in wrist fusion. Don`t get me wrong but after dealing with doctors the last thing I need right now is having to deal with lawyers! http://hubpages.com/_11dnkbj0le0q9/hub/about-funny ahhaaahhahah :)
Hey Funride, this Hubpage is awesome, thanks so much for creating a place to exchange experiences. It's very helpful. I was hit by a car while on my mountain bike on May 8, 2011. The crazy thing is I had just finished a ride up Mount Tamalpais near my home outside San Francisco. When I got home I realized we had no wine for dinner so I got back on my bike to ride to the market. That's when I got hit! Injured three ribs, my right shoulder and knee and fracture my left distal radius.
My surgeon first tried to reset the fracture with a closed reduction and slint/cast. That didn't work so well. I'm also very active, biking, kyaking, hiking etc so he said I should have a plate and screws put in to ensure a full recovery. I had the surgery on May 27, almost four weeks ago. Still in pain and a little swollen. I have about 50% of my range of motion back but I can't bend my wrist back at all yet. I can't imagine biking any time soon. When did you get back on a bike?
I love road biking and went up Mt. Ventou last year. I was also in Portugal too but we never got to go riding. I'm a TV producer and work on a travel series so I'm on the road a lot. I LOVED Portugal, especially Porto!
Cheers,
Kevin
Hey Kevin, sorry to hear about your accident. I`m glad you find my hub and my experience useful and helpful.
In my case I only started to ride my bikes again after more than 16 months... and even then my surgeon thought I was crazy. But I tried to maintain my physical condition during that time using a static bike and walking outside. But I believe my injuries were worst and I`m sure you`ll be riding before you notice ;)
I have family members who also work in television... if you ever return to Portugal leave me a message, perhaps we could ride together :)
Would love if you kept us posted on your recovery, take care :)
hey funride! You're right the clicks have stopped :) and my arm (wrist) feels alot better, and stronger everyday, i am able to do alot more things with my fingers....(ok, that does sound a bit bad, just to be clear..i didnt mean it in that way lol...) i had a check up at the hospital, and turns out, i have 3 k wires in my arm...yay...lol but i should hopefully be getting them removed in less than 2 weeks :) thank you for everything ! Xx
I`m so glad to hear you`re feeling better! LOL about your fingers... :D
All the best! Take care :)
Funride. I just recently found your hub. It has helped me to understand that what I am feeling is normal. I slipped in the mud 7 weeks ago and broke my left distal radius and ulna . It was quite deformed when I went to the ER. Had surgery the next day, with plate and screws. Still wearing the brace that I got 5 weeks ago. Haven't had much pain, but I am experiencing a burning sensation along with something that feels like cramps or charlie horses all along my arm which is quite uncomfortable. I am 65 and noe realize that I need to stay off the slippery slopes.
Hi Sandy, nice to meet you! :)
Our bones tend to heal slower as we age... can you move your fingers freely? It`s very important to exercise them or they will became rigid with limited movements!
Hope you recover completely soon :)
Funride, I can move my fingers but I wouldn't say it was freely. I also have lost a lot of range of motion from the shoulder down. I sure hope that PT helps me regain at least most of it. The dr. just told me to keep it elevated, and not move my wrist, he didn't tell me that I should exercise my whole arm so I will probably end up with a frozen shoulder.
You shouldn`t move the wrist yet of course. But you may exercise your fingers, elbow and shoulder... otherwise PT will hurt much more. Try lifting your arm slowly and move your fingers from time to time, that will help keep your joints working :)
Hi Fun Ride ... would love to join you for a ride next time I'm in Portugal! It's been 4 weeks since they put the plate and screws in my left wrist. Still in a fair amount of pain and the hand is swollen. My doc says he wants to leave the stuff in my arm. I'm beginning to question that wisdom, however. Where does you family work in TV in Portugal. We worked with a Lisbon based company called DuVideo. Cheers, Kevin
Hey Kevin, you shouldn`t worry about your plate and screws... you won`t even remember you still have them in the future. If there`s no problem with them then it`s better to leave them there :)
I have a nephew who works with SP... mainly for SIC channel and another nephew who is an actor (TV and theater).
Wishing you a fast and complete recovery :)
hey funride, me again :)
i just had my k wires removed yesterday ! it was a very strange experience. the wires just didn't want to come out, so was a very big tug and pull to get them all out! my arm is very stiff, and is quite painful. (it also looks like ET's arm! lol) do u have any extra tips on how to get my arm moving and back to normal again? (also the tan line is terrible lol)
Thanks for everything xx
x Blue x
Hey Blue, nice to have you here again :)
It`s natural that it hurts now after they have removed those k wires... swimming was one of the best things I did to regain normal arm mobility. You can always try to make some exercises along the day... playing with a sponge ball will make your fingers strong and you should also exercise lifting your arms up and down slowly.
Be careful with the sun! The scars will became much more visible in the future if you don`t protect them from sun.
You`re always welcome xx :)
Awesome post!!! Im just a yr into recovering from right wrist surgery...similar to ur left.Were u told U WILL have arthritis at some point?
Hey Guz, thanks for commenting... how is your wrist now? I don`t remember they telling me that... but my right-hand fingers look like I`ve arthritis already. I believe it`s just the result of long immobility... I don`t feel any inflammation yet.
I guess it`s probable that those who broke any joint bones will be more prone to joint inflammations later... lets hope it doesn`t happen to us :)
I am so glad I found your log. I have just had surgery – pins and plate in left wrist, broken in three places and compressed the bones (don’t know what that means) anyway I am now in physical therapy, they are having problems with me because my swelling is so bad. My hand looks like a surgical glove that was filled with water. I am so sick of this non stop pain and inability to use my fingers, I have lost my small motor skills (working on that). Learning from you it could take 3 to 6 months to get full mobility back and that it will hurt for at least a year or more made me feel a lot better about this process. You hit a certain age and they put you in a box with a label - I fell off my bike right away they (doctors and family members) oh you have to have osteoporosis that wrist broke too easily. Excuse me, it folded like a pancake under my arm and for good measure all my body weight hammered into the ground. If an elephant had fallen the way I did he would have broken is wrist too (if he had one). Just to make a point to prove all these people wrong I had a bone density test and I am just fine. Thank you for letting me know that my slow recovery is normal, my pain is normal, and it will for quite some time. Knowing all this is a big help
Hi Karen, sorry to hear about your wrist injury... but happy to know this was useful for you too :)
Wishing you a fast and complete recovery! Don`t forget to keep us posted :)
My ordeal continues. Having broken my wrist in a fall on May 12, surgery on May 13. Wore the brace for 9 weeks. Now I am in therapy 3 times a week for 6 weeks. My hand and wrist still remain pretty swollen, looks a little crooked, a suggestion was to wear a compression glove, can't even get one on because of the edema. But i am slowly regaining some motion in the wrist. Beginning therapy at 75% of my normal activity, and the goal is 95% at the end of the 6 weeks. Any suggestions for the swelling will be appreciated.
Thanks for this hub, it is so helpful, especially at a time when depression sets in from being unable to do simple tasks.
I have asked no less than 4 medical people about my swelling and was told it is inflamed/damaged tissue and the swelling will go down in about 3 to 6 months or maybe a year. Don't get depressed, get mad, mad at the situation and work at home as hard and often as you can. PUSH through this mess. I'm 65 work full time and am active or used to be until this happened. Seriously that is what i have done, I just got mad at all this and started working with weights on my wrist and pushed until I was in pain. I realized no one else was going to help me through this except me
So Karen, I am also 65 going through the same things, I want to know if you have gained results from your hard work. I am exercising but not pushing as hard on my own. I wish to get moving as quickly as I can.
Sandy - You have to push yourself. The one or 3 days a week for 15 min with the physical therapist is NOT enough. I learned from my 86 yr old aunt who broke her shoulder and a guy here at work who races motor cycles (broken dozens of bones) and they both told me it is YOU that has to PUSH YOU not the doctor. You have to push yourself as hard and as far as you can. Yes it hurts but I want my hand back, I want my life back. I can type again, I can hold a hair dryer, I can hold my toothbrush, picked up a ½ gallon of milk this morning for the very first time AND I was able to open a door knob this morning to get into my car. If it were not for me sitting in front of the TV ever night and working this hand I would not be as far as I am. I want to hold my granddaughter again, I have lost 2 months of her life and it is killing me to watch her grow and not be able to hold her. In the beginning (about 9 days ago) when I really started pushing I would be in some pain at night and have a hard time getting to sleep. On day 9 I no longer have pain at night. If you are working your fingers or wrist hard and it hurts go to the kitchen and run the wrist under warn or hot water and start working it that way. I even work my wrist when I am taking a hot shower. I still cannot make a full fist, I still can’t turn my arm so my hand is a full palms up. I bought a 1 lb weight and work it when I watch TV. PLEASE for your sake start working at home or your hand is going to freeze in that position. WORK, WORK, WORK Your will HATE IT but do it.
Karen, Thank you for this encouragement, I am getting some improvement, especially after reading your entry. I know what you mean, I haven't been able to keep my granddaughter either because I can't change her diapers. I don't think my break was as bad as yours but it was bad enough. please keep us updated on your progress so we can compare notes. Thanks again.
Funride - how did you fall out of the door on the second story? Just curious I couldn’t find it anyplace on your blog. It has now been 3 years since your accident, how are you doing now? Is there still stiffness on your hand and fingers or does it feel like a REAL hand? I am through my pain now and only have minimal pain and that is usually caused from me working it to hard. I’m tired of having flexibility at night (after working with wrist & hand) only to wake up to stiff fingers. Did this happen to you?
Next Question: I am having a terrible time getting my wrist to bend, I do all the exercises, and I have 3 different weights 1 lb, 2 lb and 3. There is movement but not near enough to be normal. The therapist said it would be at least 2 more months before my wrist broke free. Oh Joy, I run out of therapy visits Aug 19th so I guess I just have to chug on with the notes they have given me – can I get myself back to normal by myself? I guess I have no choice but I just wanted your thoughts on it.
Funride I just notices you said at 7 months you went back to have the pins taken out. Oh No, No way, I do not want to go back into that hospital again. Please tell me I can keep my plate as long as I want.
Ricardo, Ouch! Glad it's over! And yes, falling with the hand open is not good! I tripped 9 years ago and used my open hand to give my body support and it broke my elbow. My arm is normal and functional but still a little stiff because the physical therapy was not at optimum. Last week I fell once again after 9 years, and in that instant I remembered not too use my open hand for support, so used the side of my hand to try to help me break the fall, but broke four of my front teeth as my mouth received the impact of the fall. I healed from oral inflamation in one week,still have a sore arm, but am now in the hands of a dentist to get the health of my teeth back!
Karen - It`s a long story... in a few words I can say that I had gone to a disco that night and drank a few beers, later I went home and went to sleep over the bed (I was still wearing my sneakers). My nephew stay in the balcony to rest his head and later I must have waken and sought for him. But I didn´t saw him sleeping in the living room (I was not wearing my glasses) and went to the balcony which had a little step. Well you can figure what happened next...
I can`t help you on your second question... it`s difficult to know in advance. I never regain normal mobility... but I know hat most wrist injuries recover to normal after some time. Keep your exercises and I`m sure your wrist will be fine soon :)
I knew they would have to take those first plates after some time... the ones i have right now I believe are here to stay (at least I hope so - no more surgeries for me, thanks). You must talk with your surgeon, he`s the one who can say if the plate will have to be removed... I hope you don`t need anymore surgeries :)
Good luck!
Ouch VioletSun!!! I also crack/broke a couple of teeth when I fell... I was lucky it wasn`t the front ones though... I don`t like dentists very much! lol
Here I am returning to let you know how I am doing so far. To recap, I fractured my wrist on May 12, was immobilized for 9 weeks, then began physical therapy going on a month now. I have made baby steps in my recovery but at least I can now type two handed, can fold clothes, sort of turn a door knob. The swelling is going down, fingers are still stiff and at times painful but with some work I can make a weak fist. I now can see that I will one day have normal range of motion and strength, just not as soon as I would like. During the immobilization my shoulder froze up on me so I am also working on that, it has improved some, too. I go back to the dr. on the 26th of this month, the therapist said I would not be done therapy at the end of the 6 weeks, guess I will still have to hang around the clinic for a while longer. I hope I never have to go through this again.
Well it has been a total of 3+ months now and my last therapy apt. is Aug.19. I am so much better than I was but my fingers are stiff and wrist does not move as it should. I am not very happy with my PTA the PT is pretty good but in 2 months I ony got to see him 5 times. I just do not think they worked me hard enought or showed me enough. I am working on my own and seeing improvement I just would have liked more use out of mky hand but I guess this w /have to do. The is no more burning sensations, very little pain now. I get shooting pain - not sure what that is all about. Never want to do this again ever. LOL
Karen, Officially I have one more week of therapy, not sure if there will be more after that or not, I, like you, am impatient about recovery and will not be satisfied with the condition it is in now. . My OT said I probably would never have the side to side movement in my wrist. She did say that eventually I should be able to rotate my forearm so the palm is facing up. My thumb doesn't seem to be in the proper place, I need to ask the dr. about that when I go in, it still has some burning but all that I did have in my arm is gone. I am using Emu oil for pain, not sure if it has helped yet or not but it sure can't hurt. From my research I have done, it can take up to 6 months and possible 2 years before we see all the improvement but meanwhile, I am out in the garden, working on my compost bins and raking leaves once again, I just have to adapt my range of motion and not over do. Today, I will be keeping my grandbaby, hopefully diapers won't get the best of me. Good luck and we can update in about a month to see if there has been any more improvement. Thanks for your comments, we need to have someone to sound off on.
Funride,had trouble finding this again(4 weeks ago), HA.My wrist has very good mobility but it def gets stiff now and then.When I play basketball I have to NOT shoot 3pts as the strength/force it takes does hurt after a bit.My thumb does not fully bend and is permanately bigger than my left,I have a feeling something got snipped that shouldn't of. Check ya later :)
Guz, it sounds like your thumb and mine are about the same. My Dr. said it looks like I may be developing Carpal Tunnel, which seems to attack the muscles in and around the hand. Have an appointment with a neurologist in a couple of weeks to find out what he thinks. If you have read my earlier posts about my wrist and the very slow progress I am making, May 12, I broke my wrist, 9 weeks late they took off the brace, leaving a very deformed hand. After all this time I KNOW, I couldn't even to toss a basketball much less shoot one, fingers are still stiff and somewhat swollen.
I'm so afraid and scared for what i see. Having a Broken bones are really dangerous. I will choose to have a great sickness than to broken bones.
Great hub, now i know that there's always a cure even in the broken bones.
i have had a surgery about 3 or so years ago to my wrist after it was broken.After the surgery I decided to keep the iron plate and nails that they have put.Now i want to take up boxing as a hobby but when i try to punch the sandbag my wrist kinda hurts.SDo Should I forget boxing as a hobby or there is a treatment or exercises that can help me get over the wrist pain?
Hey everybody... thanks for all your comments :)
@ milkymik - Hi there, thanks for stopping by! You should probably try some martial art which doesn`t require you to punch the sandbag so hard. I found out that several martial arts can be appropriate for people who suffered broken bones (wrist). I "play" Tang Soo Do (traditional Korean martial art)... :)
Hello
Just reading your page about your accident in 2007 (Somehow didn't see this before)
I broke both my wrists in 2010 from a similar fall. One - my right and dominant hand - required a titanium plate and the other a cast for 8 weeks
Now after 1.5 years I still have pain in the both wrists and hands as well as "Arm Pump" from riding my motorbike.
I have less movement in my right wrist and was wondering about others experience in having the plate removed to regain some movement? Given that its my right hand and the one I use to control the throttle on the bike with - a bit of extra movement would be good.
I am also interested in others recovery. After nearly two years I still have pain in both wrists and dont want to undergo another big operation to remove the plate.
Marc
Geez.... Just reading above....I am not the ONLY one to break BOTH wrists.
Unfortunate - but good to know that there are others who I can share my thoughts with.
fell off my flat roof during snow storm....flat roofs do not do well in rain or snow, at least in my experience, fell off landed on right wrist, took a week before surgery that lasted apx 4+ hours due to the radius/ulna injury; 2 plates 12 screws! had to protect face, head, neck, back on fall down to frozen concrete....chose the hand which took the wrist out....very luck we all are i would say. lots of roof and ladder injuries so be very careful!
I have recently broken my wrist and, I had to have a plate and screws put in. Being that I started therapy 11 days after the break. It has been two monthys and I still have a lot of pain in my fingers. I still cant turn my wrist in the up position. My shoulder is hurting now and, I have to go see a shoulder surgeon. I just hope I do not have a torn rotor cuff.
Thank you all for sharing your experiences! Sharing mine also helped me a lot... still does! Wish you all fast and complete recovery!
Wow I just read a bunch of the posts....I broke my left wrist on Nov. 21st Snowboarding. Broke The Radius distally all the way through with small fragmented pieces and also the side of my Ulna where a ligament comes through. After 2 1/2 hours of no pain meds and having my husband drive me 40 mins to the nearest hospital I saw an ortho doc. that drugged me and reduced my wrist. I was sent home with a fiberglass splint and refered to another doctor near my home to get a cast. My ortho doc now says I’m lucky because the doctor that did my reduction must have worked a miracle on my wrist because as of now I do not need surgery. I go back on the 27th (in a week) to hopefully get this cast off and just have a brace till I feel completely healed. This was the first time I have ever broken anything and man I must say I hope it’s the last. I have 3 kids 7,2 and 8 mon. Trying to take care of my little ones with a broken wrist is tough! LOL I’m also an Ultrasound Technician so I had the luxury of doing a CT on my wrist 10 days after the break and saw it in 3D imagery. Pretty cool :) any way wish me luck and I hope this all heals and I can get this stupid cast off soon... It stinks! Literally haha your article was great by the way. I did not realize that It would take so long for it to get strong again...Guess I won’t be doing any more Boarding this season, bummer
Hi KBick, thanks for your kind comment. I`m glad to know that you won`t need any surgery! This will allow a faster recovery. You never know, maybe you`ll still be able to do some snowboarding this season... you don`t need your hand to snowboard, do you? There are good hand/wrist protections you can wear.
You`ll be fine in no time... I would love if you keep us posted on your recovery. All the best! :)
Hi, Lovely people on this thread, giving me lots of encouragement. i fell on Ben Lomond beginning August, distal radius fracture, lots of as yet unexplained ulna pain. Alignment slipped while in cast, drs felt not in need of surgery at that point. No abatement of ulnar region pain and lack of movement in all directions. Played fiddle of sorts from day one after cast off. Painful but seems to help with finger mobility and general strength. need to do lots of rubbing and shaking after just a few moments of playing, to keep it supple. Playing actually improving tho! Would be miserable without my fiddle and the life and people who go with that lifestyle. Belly dance too, so a different range of hand movements. Get despondent tho, when I just want to get better. Still a long way off. Huge ulnar side lump with the pain, and constantly obsessed by it. Spent 2 hours on this amazing site so far, when really I took the day off to prepare for Xmas!!
Hi Finddlefiend, sorry to hear about your continuous ulna pain... sometimes I even ask myself where all the pains went?... I guess they go away every time we get use to them! hahaha
Your contribution is much appreciated! Thank you for your comment. Have a wonderful Xmas!!!
Merry Xmas to you too, and to all of the contributors to this amazingly supportive forum. here's to good wrist/arm/ shoulder/ankle health, and to happiness in every nook and cranny in 2012. Fiddlefiend (Val)
Thanks! Yeah well this was my first time boarding lol so I will be doing a lot of falling so I was told if im not careful the first few months I could break it again easy. I think I will play it safe and wait till next winter :) I see the doctor tomorrow, hope I get this stupid cast off!
Would love some advice on exercise during rehab period. Broke wrist on Nov 26, had surgery on Dec 5th. Now one month post surgery and have just had my first week of therapy. still working on making a fist, feels very slow.
My question is other exercise. I have gone back to yoga class, doing as much as I can without putting weight on my left (broken, plated and pinned) wrist. I seem to have more pain doing my rehab finger and wrist exercises on yoga days. But the movement in my elbow and shoulder feels so great, as does overall body.
Thoughts? Should I push through? I take some ibuprofen to help with pain and swelling. Also walk some and get on my static bike for short periods of time.
Am I doing too much? I'm going stir crazy, but still get tired fast. Would love to hear others' thoughts. Thanks!
Hi Mom21b, thanks for stopping by! I think you`re doing a great job... I`ve also had great results with swimming and long walks. Unfortunately I only "found" Yoga after the recovery period, but I`m now sure it can only help your life!
Don`t worry too much... try to have fun while exercising (even at therapy)... your thoughts are very important for your recovery! Always positive thinking! Namaste :)
Thanks for the encouragement. I vacillate between being gung-ho, and being dog tired. My energy just isn't normal. I hope it's just part of the healing process.
And you are so right. Worrying and negative thoughts are important to manage. Working on that!
It's a funny old thing, this healing process. Part of me wants to (and does)stay positive, have faith that my wrist will heal, and be even more grateful that I can still do most of the things I used to do, albeit much more easily Before Broken Wrist. On the other hand (sorry, it's been done!), there is a sort of grieving process going on. In my own case it's recognised in hindsight that my break should have been reduced/aligned, and on the gamble of the doctors it wasn't. I don't blame anyone for that. I wasn't in a position to make an informed choice anyway. 5 months on, it doesn't look great for me because of the poor alignment, and there are decisions to be made further down the line. For now patience is required, because the body is a wonderful thing, and i still have hopes that the remodelling stage, and further reduction of swelling is going to turn out a pretty well healed left (dominant and very busy) wrist. So, it's all emotionally and mentally exhausting. I also read that the body needs loads of extra calories in the early healing stage. Mom21b, get yourself some nice treats!
Thank you so much, Val! Your words are so true and I totally relate with them! Now, almost 5 years after my incident, I no longer think about other scenarios (like the first surgery which could have been much much different, and all that followed). I got to know myself better during the recovery period and afterwards... perhaps it was an awake up call for me... and I`m grateful for that! Calcium supplements is a must... fresh vegetables! :)
Your contribution is greatly appreciated, thank you! :)
i dont know if anyone will read this. but im out of suregery two months mow after my scaphoid fracture its healed with a screw and i cannot bend it back they said its healed but its going to be stiff i hurts when i move it back or put pressure on my palm wiill it ever be close to normal again will iever be alble to do push ups again? im so worried
Hi Jamie, sorry to hear about your injury. The pains will most certainly disappear after a while... as to the stiffness it`s more difficult to know how you and your wrist will recover. But I would like to encourage you to think positive and find activities which can help your recovery as well as give you confidence to return to your normal life... my wrists have never been the same (major stiffness) but I`m happy with my life now... happy to be alive! I`ll be thinking of you and wishing a fast and complete recovery! Take care :)
Hi, thanks for your blog. I am a 54 year old lady that was trying to be 18 Christmas Eve. I fell backwards and broke my left wrist. I had my surgery December 30th, my incision is healing fine but it still hurts to do anything with my left hand. I had a plate and seven screws put in my arm. Will this pain ever go away? Also, I think I may have messed my left shoulder up because I cannot move my are out on up past my chest high. Could this be part of the wrist?
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to listen to all of us!
Judy
Hi Judy! Sorry to hear about your injury... first I want to share my experience with pain, first I also thought it would never go away... it did but only after some time! And I also had problems with my shoulder... too much time without activity... I only regain total shoulder mobility after long hours of torture... I meant physical therapy and swimming.
Thank you for stopping by... your words made me feel very happy, thank you. Don`t forget to keep us all posted on your recovery ;)
Thank you, I will keep you updated.
Admire your courage to revisit all these painful experiences, and eventually share with all of us. I myself just have left wrist fracture 3 weeks ago. I slip on black ice. I am in second cast. I will have this cast removed in another 3 weeks. Doctor said that I can go back to work in 1.5 month after that. But after reading your article, I do think that suggestion is too optimistic. Now, all I can do is to pray for the best, and prepare for the worst. In Jesus name. Amen.
Hi Sally! If your doctor said that you`ll be back to work in 1,5 months it`s probably because your injury was not very severe... did you went through surgery? Any metal plates?
I`m sure your healing process will be much faster than mine was (my wrists were shattered very hard), remember to keep your faith and stay strong during the most difficult times... you`ll become stronger after going through all the pain. My thoughts will be with you and I wish you a fast and complete recovery! Looking forward to hear from you soon... take care! :)
Orthopedics
- Bone Density Testing Less Frequently
Bone density testing is done to determine if people have thin bone, a condition called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can cause significant problems including susceptibility to fractures that can... - 3 days ago
- Less Than 50% of Patients Fully Recover From ACL Surgery
Most doctors tell their patients that the success rate from ACL reconstructive surgery is between 90-95%. But are the doctors talking about the same thing patients are talking about? ... - 7 days ago
- More Young Patients Having Joints Replaced
Joint replacement surgery has been growing in numbers, and even more striking is the fact that more young patients are having joint replacement surgery. Data from the American Academy of... - 10 days ago
- Find a Surgeon With the Right Experience
Everyone wants, and expects, their surgery to go well. But we all understand that surgery has the potential for complications. Some complications are more difficult to control, but we know that an... - 2 weeks ago
- Keeping Fit With Arthritis
Exercise is important for people with arthritis and for people who have had a joint replacement. Keeping your weight down and your muscles strong can help to delay joint replacement and improve your... - 2 weeks ago
compu-smart 4 years ago
Ouch! I have suffered many bone breaks too so i can relate to your story!!
If the worse did happen to both of us, then this hub would not exist AND this comment!!
Lifes good:)