Hi,
Would appreciate to please hear of others experiences.
Five weeks ago fell and broke my wrist. Shattered a few bones. Had a cast for a few days until surgery -4 weeks ago. They put a plate in my wrist. Then they put a short cast for about 10 days. On the 21st of July my surgeon removed my cast and put a bandage. Obviously my hand is swollen and at a position like the image i uploaded.
A few days ago i started occupational therapy and was given an orthosis. The therapist told me that my hand is at a bad position.
She told me that i need to have the orthosis and arm slong pouch on at all times.
With the orthosis on it is straighter but when i take it off i have to force it not to fall. I still can't make a fist and can't bend my thumb on its own. My hand is swollen.
Today, my wrist and arm feel sore.
This is my dominant hand.
Is it ok that i still cant make a fist or move my thumb on its own? That my hand is bent? I am a computer programmer. How long till i will be able to type? In 3 weeks the therapist will start working on moving my wrist.
Thanks
Do not despair. You are in the very very early throws of recovery. I had a fractured distal radius and ulna after a fall downstairs 11 weeks ago. 10 weeks post orif and plate and screws today . I too am struggling to get my poor wrist moving and it's getting me down .... But ... Although it's very little it is improving very slowly. I didn't realise how long this will take to get going and I'm in tears most days but I won't let it beat me. My arm looked exactly like yours when the cast came off 4 weeks post op. They wanted it off 2 weeks post op but plaster room had already put the fibre glass one on and I couldn't face them removing it again!! I stayed in it 2 weeks before it was removed. Still early than the normal 6 weeks.
I think you just need to hang in there and what you are experiencing is perfectly normal. Have you any numbness. I have in my thumb which still has not resolved. Good luck in your recovery
Hi
I broke my wrist 3rd May in cast for 5/6 weeks and out of cast now for coming up 8 weeks and I still cannot make a fist!!! I am a pretty fit person so really fed up with this but from what I can gather we are all different and so I have to just put up with it and work hard on my exercises (which I do). I have been driving again for 4 weeks and hard at first but now okay and typing for 6 weeks but still struggling to make a fist. My physio has told me that I might have CRPS!!!! and could take two years to be 100% all I want to do is get back to golf but I know I have to be patient. I thought a couple of weeks ago I was on the right road but have taken one step forward and six back.
Good Luck you are early days yet and I hope you are luckier than me
Regards Wendy
Hi
Are you able to move your wrist? When typing is it difficult? Were you able to straighten your arm? Myy elbow is stiff and i can't straighten my arm. Can't you do some kind of tests to see if you have CRPS? Good luck!
Hi,
I am also in tears - kinda feeling sorry for myself 
.
I can feel my fingers - my dear friend decided to take it upon himself and check if i had feelings with the help of a fork . I can't bend my thumb but no tingling feeling. My one finger since yesterday has been hurting when i try to bend it with the help of my other hand.
Are you back at work? Driving? Typing?
Hi
Yes I can move wrist a little sharp pain now and again but nothing I cannot deal with. Driving the car and typing was difficult at first but fine now except I need to use two hands for handbrake. It's my fingers that are the problem and CRPS seemingly is hard to diagnose so I don't think there is a test as such. What worries me is that the use of my fingers won't come back and how long do you leave it!!!!!!
Isn't there a professional you can go see? It must be stressful!
My wrist is sore and i can feel the plate in my hand and it brings me to tears. I have an orthosis on - did you also have or anyone else reading this and if yes for how long?
I broke my wrist 10th July and had surgery the following week. I had to get 4 metal plates into my wrist and carpel tunnel surgery!!
A week after surgery when my stitches were out my arm was put into a splint which I still have on. Iv gone to physio therapy twice since as my surgeon wants me out of the splint asap!! My wrist is still quite bent, I can make a weak first and just about touch my fingers with my thumb but I can't straighten my arm to allow my palm to face upwards! The best I can do is put my hand sideways which is killing me!! The doctors said my injury mirrored one you'd get from a motorbike crash so I suppose I'm probably healing well considering but I'm so worried that i won't get full movement back!!
I broke my other wrist 4 years ago and never had any of these problems! I was advised to stop making being my wrist as much and start using it normally as much as possible to allow it to strengthen and for blood circulation! My surgeon said if I don't start using it I'll be at a high risk of my tendons irrupturing!
Advised to stop minding my wrist*
Good morning Collie, I'm Shawn from New Hampshire USA. I couldn't help but reply to you as my wrist looked the very same as yours when I had my casts off just last Thursday after having a broken wrist from a motorcycle accident and having casts on for 6 weeks. I did not however, require surgery. My right hand is also, like you, my predominant hand and I am work as an online wireless support for a major company here in the states., so my job is typing, typing, and more typing. I was so saddened for you when I looked closely at your picture because of the swelling. I looked this way until 2 days ago. I had replied to another post, so I hope no one will get upset if I copy paste some info I shared with another patient. Unlike others who complained about their pinky finger, I too like you had issues with my...what I call my dead thumb, because that's what it felt like. I couldn't move it unless I used my left hand to help. All due to extreme swelling and very painful tightness from my hand, both top and bottom, up to the middle of my forearm at times. It's was so awful; I feel for you. Not being able to stand the pain anymore, 2 days ago I went back to my doctor complaining of severe swelling and pain. The following is copy/pasted from my other post from yesterday. "I want to stress to you how much of a different person I am today after he perscribed me 2 medications. The first is 4 mg of Prednisone for the swelling as well as 300 mg of Gabapenton for the pain. For the prednisone, you are supposed to take 6 the first day, then 5,4,3,2,1 for only 6 days. Having used this med many times before, I only took 1 last night at about 8 pm. I am also desperately trying to use them sparingly so they last longer. This morning, I awoke to such minimal discomfort and the swelling was down I would say a good 90% or more. I can actually fold my fingers and touch my palm for the first time in many weeks. I even picked up a half a cup of coffee today, also for the first time. I am not in pain, just a little discomfort. The tightness and swelling is so unbelievabley minimal, my family cannot even believe the difference this morning. As for the Gabapenton, I took 2 instead of 1 least night as well as this morning. I would highly, highly recommend this course of treatment for anyone suffering from terrible swelling." Today is day 2 and the swelling is down remarkably 95%! No pain, a little discomfort only. From 2 days ago having a wrist and hand as well as forearm appearing as yours did to today being able to wash glasses, wash my hair, hold a half of a cup of coffee is absolutely miraculous for lack of a better word. I continue to use soft ice packs on top and bottom for comfort. I can see my veins now and am able to move my thumb even! It's not perfect yet, but is a 180 degree turnaround from 2 days ago. Having had a lot of experience using the steroid anti inflammatory Prednisone, I know how powerful it is. I never ever expected it to work this well only taking 1 pill instead of 6. I wish you well with your recovery. I know it's been some time since your post, but I do hope this helps someone who might be experiencing the same swelling and pain that both of us have had. Regards, Shawn
Hi. I just had my wrist surgery also 2 weeks ago. And now my hand only can bend down at around 1 o'clock direction. Is it normal. I feel tight when bend down lower. Will it get better? I'm so worry. My wrist still abit of swelling. I'm going for physio once a week. Anyone can advise me.
Hi Janice, I was just wondering how you are getting on? I had a plate and screws op on a fractured distal radius 4 weeks ago. I'm still in pain and cannot make even near a fist or bend my hand back at all. I can't turn my arm so my palm can face up and when I try I'm in agony for hours. Have you got any positive news for me?
Since your post was 5 months ago, things are probably a lot different now. Let me know your current status on your wrist. I am 2 months out from surgery, and saw my doctor today, as I am so concerned that i still am SO tight, can't bend hand back and can only get palm to 90 degrees--facing other hand--cannot see into my palm. Exercises are same ones given 1 week after surgery andI still can't do them properly. Thumb basically non-functional-swollen, all joints in it hurt. Cannot make fist. I do heat, then exercises, then massage scar area, then ice pack. I go to Physical therapy twice a week, & today he ordered 6 more weeks.......I am told everyone is different and I could have swelling for about 4 more months. He prescribed Celebrex today. I've taken 1 this evening. Hope this is encouraging. I am so tired of not beng able to drive, hitching rides, etc.
I am 2 months out from surgery, and still have tightness and swelling, and can't get near a fist or bend hand back. I insisted on seeing dr today (appt was for 1/26) & they did xrays, finding all looking good (to him!) He explained I am indeed tight, but that it is not unusual. He said some people swell more, some scar more inside and moretightness at incision, and some surgeries less difficult than mine are less swollen. He prescribed Celebrex, but said interferes with bone healing, but that mine are healed. I had plate and 7 screws with bolts. I have bad osteoporosis, thus the bolts. He ordered 6 more weeks of 2/week physical therapy. He assures me I am fine. Let me know how you are doing. I've also heard turmeric is good, & I've taken other supplements, but have run out and not getting more until I see how I do.Am continuing Calcium citrate and D3.
Oh no, so you are still not driving? I'm so desperate to get back behind the wheel but no where near. I'm 4 weeks post op, my wrist is still in pieces and doctor said any physio on the wrist right now would make it fall apart, so just hand therapy for now. I have to admit day by day it gets stronger but no flexibility and if I push it, the pain is awful. I have three young girls, can't even do their hair. Cannot believe how long this is taking to heal. It would be good to keep this thread up and hopefully see some positive results soon, just to give me a bit of hope lol
I broke my wrist 1 year ago (radius and ulna). I had open orif surgery with a plate and screws. To this day I am unable to straighten out my fingers. I a scheduled to see a hand therapist; I will be using finger splints. Do these finger splints help? Thank you.
I need that bit of hope too! I used to wear my hair back or up a lot, just different things on different days. Had to get it cut and it's all I can do now to get it washed and dried--wear it straight, tuck it behind my ears....My wrist is nothing has changed and no, still can't drive. Today it feels tighter farther up my arm which is new and NEGATIVE. I'm searching online for possible things that can go wrong, etc. SOMETHING is wrong and I cannot just keep going to PT, hitching rides, and still can't turn hand or move wrist back. Have no strength and now shoulder is frozen and many of my PT exercises are now for my shoulder. They must be really worried about that. My fingers are puffy and bent and I cannot make a fist--at all. Feb 1st will be 3 months since the fall and 2.5 months since the surgery. I pray a lot for healing, flexibility, patience, and strength in my hand/wrist. This is a nightmare.
Hi Collie was just wondering how your recovery is going now. On 27 th December 2016 I had an identical injury it would seem and have now after 10 weeks I nearly managed to make a fist although I can't fully straighten my fingers. Wrist movement is not very good and I have developed complex regional pain syndrome as a result of the nerve damage from the open fracture. It would be reassuring to hear that you have improved significantly after your 7 month recovery. Many thanks and good wishes. Jon
I fell and broke a bone in my hand almost three months ago. It was a clean break and no surgery was required. I wore a cast for about six weeks, which was removed and replaced a couple of times for X-rays. After the cast was removed for the last time, my fingers and hand swelled, and my fingers looked like sausages. Now the swelling is a lot better although my ring finger and little finger are still swollen. I cannot make a fist and also have pain in my wrist. When I wash my hair I notice that the texture of my hair feels different when I when I touch it with my injured right hand. When I wake up in the mornings, my fingers are very stiff and sore.
I am starting physical therpay in a few days, and i hope that this will allow me to be able to use my right hand normally again. I am an accountant and an artist, and I am very upset about the limited use I now have of my right hand. My doctor never warned me that the cast could damage my hand, but i believe this is what happened. I am 69 years old, and I wonder if I should have worn a standard cast on my hand and arm.
Judy
Hi Judy! On Monday, I will be 6 months from my fall and am still in therapy. i developed a frozen shoulder afterI started working on turninng palm up. So on 4/7/17 i started that and still have problems but went to last session 2 days ago. I am BACK in therapy for my right wrist, which contains a titanium plate and 7 screws with bolts. You might have read that in comments, above. I also had that strange "straw" feeling when I touched my hair, especially when washing, which was very difficult and still is, though not as much. Worst part is that I will never get full turn of my wrist back which PREVENTS my doing a lot of life's fun things. My grip strength in right hand is justt 27 psi and that is improvement. For you, that overly-sensitive feelinng in your fingers will go away in time. I was also VERY sensitive to heat and sharp edges like packaging and thing you never thinnk of. I turned 71 just 2 days before my fall, so we are in the same age range. Let's talk further. Oh, I am finally driving, starting March 26th--to church! Yea!