Shattered Distal Radius

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Fell down some stairs and got a Comminuted Intraarticular (in other words, bone shattered at the wrist joint). Thankfully (!!!) only the large bone - Distal Radius, and my left wrist. 5 pieces, put back into place and held there with 3 K-wires (pins).

Had backslab on top for 12 days, plaster cast which goes only 2/3 way round arm, underside only has soft padding - this keeps bones in place but allows for swelling. After that it was changed to a full cast, think it was fibreglass, looked like a bandage but when they wet it before wrapping it on and it dried rock hard within 30 mins, lighter than plaster of paris.

This stayed on for further 3 weeks. I was most surprised to only be in plaster for total 4 1/2 weeks. Initial relief to hear plaster was coming off and pins removed was shortlived.......

Blimey it is painful without the support of the cast - I didn't expect that, though they did say I would get shooting, stabbing and aching pains, I didn't really anticipate to what extent, or that I'd feel like Humpty Dumpty.

Started physio immediately, given mobilisation exercises to do at home for first week, surprised at how RIGID my wrist is, like trying to bend and turn a tree stump. Finger movements not so bad though, but no strength whatsoever.

Supidly thought plaster would come off, little bit of physio...............put it all behind me and drive off to work, all done and dusted in 6-8 weeks, tops. Somehow I don't think that's going to happen, silly me.

Think it's worse when the bone shatters at the joint, can't seem to find a forum with someone who has same experience to share, maybe offer me some reassurance about timescales etc.

If anyone is interested, I got a great product off the internet to keep cast completely dry in bath/shower/pool, good quality sealed plastic with rubber seal - called 'Limbo' £10 +pp £3 fast delivery, hospital gave me the leaflet. Also used a chopstick to disobey instructions not to shove things down the cast and scratch, just used it to give a gentle rub when it was driving me nuts.

2

Apparently only being in a cast for 4 1/2 weeks is quite normal - I initially felt it might have been removed too soon!

Given 6 different exercises to do by physio. Minimum 10 times each, 3 times per day, for a week. I did the whole routine religeously 4 times per day and sat doing bits and pieces constantly throughout the day. Get a balance between making the wrist/fingers work hard, and not overtiring it.

First day or two it seems impossible to make anything move properly, I can assure you that it DOES improve over the first week if you put the effort in. Saw Physio again after 8 days and she's pleased with progress, no need to do finger/thumb exercises now, wrist 'twist' has improved and about 85% back to 'normal' (though still sore). I can actually see both my palm and the back of my hand without needing a mirror now. May not get any better improvement than that, there will always be some loss of mobility because of the type of fracture.

Not so much movement in the bending forwards/backwards of the hand, reasonable but quite a way to go. New set of exercises focus on that and seemed IMPOSSIBLE yesterday. Better at it today though, helped by taking two ibuprofen and 2 paracetamol no doubt!

One thing I would say, your progress is very much YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. NHS physio doesn't really do much but demonstrate some exercises and give you a diagram sheet to follow, then sends you on your way to get on with it at home for a week.

When I went back she checked my progress, stretched out my wrist a bit further, then showed me how to do the next exercises & gave me a new diagram sheet. Have to go back after a further week.

Bit disappointing not to be seen mid week to stretch it further and check I'm doing everything correctly before continuing on my own for the rest of the week. Feels sort of 'physio by numbers'.

3

Twisting my wrist so I can look at the palm of my hand progressed the quickest, have reached the maximum that can be recovered according to physio, so lost about 10% of 'twist ability'. Mild 'stretching' discomfort felt but no pain doing that action.

Twisting my wrist to see the back of my hand has taken longer, still some discomfort with that manouvre, but it suddenly seemed to twist to a reasonably acceptable level yesterday, probably lost about 3% of 'twist ability'. I think more was achieved as the swelling improved, still needs work and it does tend to 'click' when twisting.

Bending my hand backwards still needs a lot of work, though definite improvement, it goes about two thirds of the way back compared to my healthy wrist.

Bending my hand forwards seems to be making the least/slowest improvement........very frustrating. Probably about half what I can achieve with healthy wrist. Just seems to be STUCK.

Hope I can improve those two (particularly forwards) otherwise I'll be disappointed!!!

Have added some weights to my bending backwards/forwards - first a tin of tomatoes in a plastic back, graduating to a tin of baked beans, now worked up to a tin of soup weighing 515g. Lets hope that brings better results.

Also started hot/cold therapy to help get rid of the rest of my swelling. Fill bucket with cold water and one with hot water, a sponge in each. Start by sticking hand, wrist and approx 3\" up forearm into cold for 1-3 mins (it's pretty hard) give sponge frequent squeezes to encourage circulation. Same thing in the hot water. Repeat both once more then finish by returning to the cold once again. All 1-3 mins each time. Do this 2-3 times per day.

Returning to work tomorrow (mostly keyboard work) and driving with confidence as long as I'm wearing my wrist support with it's brace (can remove that but not ready to just yet). Pulling up the handbrake has been the biggest challenge!

4

Was discharged from physio, to be frank, it was before I felt we'd achieved the maximum mobility I should expect after such a fracture! Didn't expect more than about 90% at best, but feel that on the NHS all I was being offered was \"enough to function\" - quoting physio there.

Got a second opinion elsewhere - insisted my GP refer me to another clinic. Whilst waiting for appointment I worked hard on my own to improve forward bend of my wrist/hand and it did go a bit further than before (it's so much easier when a physio does it, they can push it further than you can manage yourself, they'll cross much further over your pain barrier than you can do on your own).

Anyway, the new physio was cross they had not taken 'measurements' at each visit, so improvement could be more easily established on a regular basis. Though less than I'd hoped for, she was of the opinion that I'd pretty much got back all there was, though not as much as I might have hoped for.

Though still sore in some directions, fairly weak and knuckle/finger joints stiff, I have been instructed to ignore discomfort and use it fully in order to get improve mobility further.

Physio says I must expect it to be at least a year before I might say \"what broken wrist\"? Swelling finally seemed to settle down a couple of weeks ago, enough for me to confidently increase my wedding ring by 2 sizes.

Scars from the pins have healed well enough, almost covered by my watch anyway. The 'sore skin' feeling I had has completely gone so I suppose the nerve endings have recovered.

The one advantage of this experience...........the skin on the hand of the busted side shed, now I've got one hand which looks 5 years younger than the other :lol:

If this happens to you my advice would be to work HARD on your physio, it will be mostly down to you anyway, on the NHS their input is minimal and you won't get many sessions either. Don't BUY a wrist support with a brace like I did, ask the physio for one, they don't offer but they definitely have a cupboard full. Don't wear it much, only to give you confidence on your first few weeks back in the driving seat.

Good luck.

5

Hi there I have recently broken my wrist same place as you did I broke both bones and shattered distal also I have just come out of plsster and its very stiff I noticed you done yours in 2011 so I was just wondering what its like now has all the stiffness and pain gone?

6

Hi Lee

Yes, wrist is absolutely fine, totally mobile and bends in virtually all directions like the other one. Doesn't quite bend as much as the other to form the number 7 shape.........but who does that much anyway!!!

I would stress that you MUST do exercises the physio gives you, and continue on your own once the physio says you needn't visit them any more. It feels like a plank of wood doesn't it, I doubted it would ever 'bend' again, but the exercises definitely helped (though it didn't feel much like it at the time and took a fair while). Everyday living just got it mobile again to a point when I forgot I'd ever broken it.

Someone told me that when it's a bit cold out I would get an achey feeling in my wrist (a bit like rheumatism), well though I am older that has never happened. I still have scars from where the bones were pinned, but they don't bother me and I show them to people sometimes and pretend I was bitten by a 20ft snake.

Will take 3-6 months before you feel flexible again, about the 1 year mark you'll be saying what my physio said I'd say......"broken wrist, what broken wrist". Don't worry, though you probably will as I did, but it will be absolutely fine given a bit of time.

Bummer at the time, specially when the plaster had just come off. I walked around cradling it like a premature baby, terrified someone would bash into me and break it again. Nearly fainted when I forgot about it, dropped a whopping bottle of fabric softener and automatically went to catch it with the newly unplastered arm. OUCH. Be careful, but get it moving. Good luck.

7

Should explain different user name. Forgot details and had to 'rejoin'.

8

This you so much for comforting reply. Your right it does feel a bit of wood.Im a 40 year old builder so like you was thinking it will be bad.Its great to hear that yours is good well it sounds very good considering physio physio physio for me cheers

9

I'm sure yours will get better even faster than mine. I work in an office and it was left wrist (right handed), I'm sure the more manual your job is the quicker flexibility returns.

If the physio hasn't given you one already (mine didn't, never even knew they had any), buy a wrist support brace.

Cheap at just over a fiver, and for me it was a godsend for a couple of weeks when I was able to drive, but needed a bit more 'welly' when I was trying to change gear.

Obviously NOT a good idea to wear it all the time, but on and off or for specific tasks for you at work (for a few weeks) where your wrist still feels a bit sore/weak, it's great.

10

My reply looks like it will be delayed. Had a link to ebay in it (which must be moderator approved) where they sell wrist supports for post injury, with removable metal support. Have a look for Orthotic Neoprene Wrist Brace, great piece of kit for £5.45.

11

Hi,

I had to remove the ebay link as we do not publish direct links to selling sites like this. If you want to exchange the specific link please use the message facility.

Regards,

Alan

12

Hi,

I had my wrist broken and had a surgery (3 k-wires) i think its exactly like yours I'm still in the cast and i just want to ask sometimes i feel like a thick liquid is coming out my wrist and i feel it going all the way down my hand but i cant make sure is it sweating or blood the cast is covering my elbow i don't know if you faced this or not please help is it possible that blood comes out from where the wires are? Sorry for my bad english.

13

Oh dear, sound horrible (& scary). Where my wires were didn't bleed, not 'running' blood anyway, just a little dried blood scabs around the wire entry points into my flesh.

I had my initial backslab plaster cast changed for a proper fibreglass one so I got a look at it all after a week or so, there wasn't really any blood on the backslab or bandages when it was cut off, certainly no more than would be expected given that the pins had been shoved into my flesh!

There wasn't really any on the fibre glass one when that was removed either, and on neither occasion was there dried blood on my hand or up my arm.

To be honest, there wasn't even a lot of blood when the pins were eventually removed either, only evidence of it ever having bled at all were the small scabs that had formed round each pin, which came off with the pins so bled a tiny bit then - no more than a couple of little plasters were required.

I think in all likelihood you are feeling a little sweat, and worry is making it worse! Can you discuss your worries with your doctor?

14

Thank you so much for the quick response. Actually the i visited the doctor after 8 days and he checked the x-rays which were taken right after the surgery and he told me everything is great don't worry about nothing then i told him i'm feeling weird things inside,Then he made fun of me and said come visit me after one month from the surgery date.two days after that i was really worried and i wanted to go and have new x-rays but in the hospital they said the doctor must recommend the x-ray and tell us the code. Anyways couldn't do it and i decided to visit any doctor just to explain what i'm feeling and if there is something wrong he would recommend an x-ray.when i was with the doctor he checked the surgery's x-rays and said everything is great just 6 weeks and you will be free. I told him something wrong he said all this is normal you will feel weird things don't worry the pins will never be moved or something calm down. I went home and tried to be normal and forget about what i feel. After 23 days (yesterday) from the surgery i visited my doctor and i had new X-rays he said everything is perfect another 23 days and we will remove the cast and you will use wrist supporter. While I'm trying to sleep i felt the liquid and i'm really afraid if it blood or something. By the way the doctor told me we didn't open your hand in the surgery we did it by new technology. Of course i didn't understand that cause i didn't see my hand since i woke up from the surgery. Anyways really sorry for this long reply maybe wanted to know how it feels under the cast from someone had same experience. I'm glad that you are fine now and wish the other user a quick recovery. Sorry again for disturbing and for my bad English.

15

Don't worry, your English is fine!

To be honest, you've reminded me of the few 'moments' I'd had which I'd probably describe as mild panic attacks. At one point I was so disturbed by being 'trapped' in the cast I nearly got some equipment from our garage to have a go at cutting it off!!! Pacing around in the living room like a caged animal, stressing out thinking "oh my God I want this thing on my arm off - NOW.

If you are on any prescription meds (painkillers), I'd stop taking them. I blame mine for my minor psychotic moments.

If these feelings of bleeding happen again, try to focus on your breathing instead. If you are trying to sleep, get up and have a cup of tea or something - lying there worrying will just make it worse..........distraction tactics are a better idea until you settle back down.

16

Thanks again,

Actually i took pain killers for the first week and half and then stopped but i don't feel the pain in the bones I'm just afraid from what's under this cast and want to get rid off it ASAP unfortunately i have to wait another 23 days. I really cant thank you enough i think i'm just worry about the weird feelings I'm having under this heavy cast smile

17

Hi,

Weirdly comforting reading that others are experiencing the same as your self!! After being hit and run by a

Drunk driver I have been left with both radius and ulna intra articular displaced comminuted multiple fractures. Basically both bones broken at the wrist joint and the ends smashed into 5 peices on the radius and 3 of the ulna. 5 weeks down the line and have been on a traumatic journey of 5 manual traction and manipulations of the wrist to manually move the bones back into the best place for healing. Why wasn't I operated on and put through these agonising episodes!!!??? The only answer I have had was to avoid surgery at all cost!? It seems you guys have successfully had similar operations so I'm confused. My go referred me privately and I saw the same consultant that saw me through the nhs. He confirmed at 3 weeks in it was too late to operate. My bones are now healing in what the consultant has confirmed as an acceptable position but that I would have limited mobility particularly with the palm up Palm down scenario. In reply to Armshowel, although I haven't had surgery I regularly get he feeling of hot liquid running down my arm from wrist to elbow when ellavated, I check this with my consultant and he confirmed it was blood inflating damaged muscle tissue and was normal. I also get sharp shooting pains again confirmed as the nerves awakening now I am doing physio on my fingers to stretch the tendons.

I am two weeks away from cast removal and am super nervous of how will feel and completely visualise your 'premature baby' Jeanette. I think I will be exactley the same!

18

Hope 'amrshowel' reads your reassuring response regarding the 'bleeding' feeling Elaine83673. Though by now I expect his/her cast has been removed, hopefully everything is OK.

Goodness, both bones shattered - bad luck there! I was initially earmarked to have my wrist sliced open and a plate fitted then there is no need for a cast, but the plate remains inside forever and when you fly off on holiday you constantly have to explain why the security scanner is going off as you pass through!

That may not have been an option for you with both bones shattered, though I wonder why (like me) they didn't just skewer it all back together with K-wires (my shattered bits were manipulated back into place without opening up my wrist, under general anaesthetic). You seem to have been forced to experience worse just to avoid time in the operating theatre and a general anaesthetic - but who knows why the medical profession make the choices they make (budget connected maybe).

I've stressed before the importance of doing the exercises you'll be given. There will be a period of time once out of the cast where you think your wrist is never going to twist or bend again but movement WILL come back. Make sure you are bending/flexing your fingers/thumb whilst in the cast as well - assuming they aren't still looking and feeling like a packet of sausages.

I'm not really suggesting this, but I found the fat end of a chopstick great for shoving down the cast for a bit of a gentle scratch - but I measured from the outside how far I could go without being too close to the busted area or my K-wires. Can be very satisfying to give it all a very gentle scratch/rub in there!

Every day living will get it moving when you become less protective of it after the first couple of weeks cast free (when you will be VERY protective of it). Try to use it carefully as much as possible. I guarantee you will reach the one year mark saying "what broken wrist", just like my physio told me I would (though I didn't believe her at the time).

Regards

Jeannette

19

Thanks for the wishes and for sharing the experience. Im a guy by the way smile

Actually im still in the cast and that makes it 6 weeks now in the cast and im in a bad condition not physically but mentally i wanna break this cast i have very weird feelings that my bone is moving inside everytime i move my hand like it's not connected to the palm . Altgough i did a lot of x-rays and a 3D x-ray 20 days ago and doctors are telling me everything is good its just a matter of time. I have an appointment tomorrow will do new x-ray and the doctor will decide wether the cast will be removed or still needs time. Also i visited the doctor two weeks ago and i got the cast cut till under the elbow. I wish you all a great life without any injury may this one be the last one.

20

Hey Armshowel. How did the follow up appointment go? Are you cast free now?