Advice on recent wrist break please!

Bones, joints and muscles
1

nearly 5 weeks ago I picked up a distal radius fracture playing football. while I know its broken and have got x rays (attached) I’ve been given little details on how badly its broken, how much pain I should be in and how long I can expect it to take to heal. 4 weeks ago I had it manipulated (with no warning or painkillers!) and a different cast put on. the consultant called it a colles cast. I’ve never seen anything like it! my hand is at an angle and as a result I can hardly move my fingers. the edge of my cast at my palm makes it impossible to bend them too far

I guess what I’m mainly looking for is advice and reassurance please!

thanks so much :slight_smile:

2

A colles cast is put on a fracture like yours to stop all movement so dont worry that you can hardly move your fingers. Thats the idea.

3

Hi Ellie,
I broke my radius and ulna in February 2022 (3 mths ago) and it was called a Colles fracture.
i was really worried about my cast as my hand was at a really weird angle that made me look as if i was trying to impersonate “emu” (if you remember that crazy act that used to be on the telly)
The Nurse said it had to be at that angle in order to be able to rotate ones wrist (turning a key in a lock for example) once the cast comes off and physio begins.
… but you mentioned that you can’t move your fingers properly…
You must exercise your fingers and you should be able to move them freely… if you can’t move them easily or they feel squashed then you must return to the fracture clinic and get the plaster cast reapplied.

4

how is your wrist now? did it recover fully? just wondering because I am 4 weeks post cast for distal radius break, physio not recommended by intern, they just told me to practice waving side to side and opening the fridge :thinking:. i am watching online physio excercises..my hand and fingers continue to be swollen and I use hot water to bend my hand to make a fist, can’t do it without pushing it, fingers swollen. I can rotate down and palm up and i can lift up to 3lbs and hold things in my hand. ..grip not the best. August 2 next docs visit and xray and as my benefits run out mid August, I have to return to my work, which is heavy and busy…hope it survives. i will wear my splint.