Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Katejo on July 25, 2015, 09:22:14 AM
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I slipped and fell in the very wet weather yesterday and broke my wrist! It is a simple clean fracture of the radius so no complications. I would like to hear from anyone who has had a similar fracture. A few questions:
How long did you have to keep the plaster on? I have a temporary one now but have to go to the orthopaedic clinic next Friday to have it checked and the full plaster applied. Have been told 6-8 weeks.
Did you have to be signed off work? I really don't want to spend weeks stuck at home on my own. The doctor at the hospital didn't say anything about this and I didn't think to ask until i got home.
If you live alone, how did you manage? I can't move in with anyone
I am supposed to be flying to Italy in 6 weeks so am hoping to have the plaster off by then.
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The reason you have a 'back slab' plaster on is to avoid pressure should the fracture site swell. I expect that the wrist will be X-rayed again on Friday to make sure that the alignment hasn't slipped. Then a full plaster will be put on. Make sure you keep the arm elevated and you MUST keep MOVING the fingers which reduces the chance of swelling.
How is the pain?
6-8 weeks is 'usual' healing time. Make a list to take to the Fracture Clinic particularly about flying - I seem to remember :-\ that flying can increase the chance of swelling in the joint …….. you need to check your travel/health insurance Policy too!
Keep the limb dry. Don't let the limb hang down. You should be able to do most things and if showering/bathing, putting a plastic shopping bag over will keep the plaster dry.
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I have just been back to the hospital just to ask about whether I could try to go to work but was advised against and to wait until my clinic appointment. Yesterday i was told that the current temporary plaster would be removed at the appt and a new full one added. The doctor who spoke to me today looked up my details and said that the temp plaster may be left on and not changed at all.
I was told yesterday that I only needed to keep it elevated for 48 hours. The sling which I was given is just an old rectangular bandage sling so very difficult to keep on.
re. flights. NHS guidelines say that there is only a swelling problem for about 48 hours after the event and flying after that isn't a problem. I will have to tell my insurer but the doctor advised me to wait until after my appointment.
It isn't that painful really. I can move my fingers easily. Thumb movement causes discomfort.
re. plastic shopping bag in the shower. How do you seal it round the arm? I can't apply tape with 1 hand
Have just met someone at the hospital awaiting treatment. She had tripped over the vacuum cleaner and has broken the wrist in 3 or 4 places whereas I was told that mine was just a simple single clean break. On the x ray it looked to me just like a hairline break.
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Thanks for the update and glad you aren't having much pain! Good idea to go back for advice too.
Plastic bag round arm : large, post office size elastic bands? Get a large black rubbish sack and lay on a table: arm onto sack and pull up - do you have blue tack, if so are you able to stick the bag onto the plaster with BT? then pull up the other side of the sack and again, BT. Then pull up elastic bands, one as far as the elbow level the other at the wrist?
Or ask a niehgbour? I'd help if I could reach ;) pity someone hasn't invented something!
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I see that you can buy ' blue plastic protective oversleeves' on that well-known auction site! Any use?
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Or ask at the Vets for those long internal gloves that they use for cows ;)
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I see that you can buy ' blue plastic protective oversleeves' on that well-known auction site! Any use?
Thanks for the suggestion. I didn't buy them from that site but it gave me the idea to ask in Boots. My local store had some old stock.
I am surprised and a bit puzzled that my symptoms are so mild in comparison to descriptions which I have read on other forums and NHS guidelines. I think my swelling has gone down because the temporary cast is slipping up and down my arm slightly. I can use my fingers to turn a tap on or turn a key without any problem. Obviously I am generally avoiding lifting things but have cautiously tried lifting a plate or a full mug without any real discomfort. I can do a little keyboarding (2 finger). I haven't needed to take any painkillers.
I am cautiously optimistic but have to wait until Friday for my follow up appointment.
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That's good news! Let us know how you get on after your Appt. on Friday.
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That's good news! Let us know how you get on after your Appt. on Friday.
Will do. Feel bad about being off work. Did go in briefly yesterday just to do a couple of very small things as my manager is away but am staying off now until after the appointment.
Came across another UK website forum (Patient) in which users with more complex wrist fractures (several breaks or shattered bone) were saying that they had had plaster removed after 3-5 weeks rather than 6-8. They had also had considerably more pain than I am having and were taking continuous painkillers.
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Unless someone heals rapidly 6 weeks+ is 'normal'. Unless they then had another type of support put onto the limb to protect the site and that would also ease any effects of pain. The fracture in an adult knits on either side of the break which increases strength at that particular site.
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Unless someone heals rapidly 6 weeks+ is 'normal'. Unless they then had another type of support put onto the limb to protect the site and that would also ease any effects of pain. The fracture in an adult knits on either side of the break which increases strength at that particular site.
They mentioned things like a splint or daytime wrist support.
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How R you managing with showering etc.?
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How R you managing with showering etc.?
Just about managing but have to kneel on the floor with shower extension in left hand to do my hair. However it should be a bit easier from tomorrow. My shower is an over the bath one with mixer taps. I have just had the mixer unit replaced this afternoon. The old one was very old and the washers had worn out so it was getting harder to turn the taps on/off. Now i have levers. A friend whose sons have both had broken wrists in the past has recommended an arm cover. Will probably order one once i have had my follow up appointment tomorrow and so have a better idea as to how long I will be in plaster.
I can do lots of things with the hand with only minor discomfort. That includes teeth cleaning, turning keys in the door, chopping veg and very light lifting. Not sure how much of this is due to the plaster support but i had expected it to be worse.
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You're doing well! What time is your appt.?
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You're doing well! What time is your appt.?
It's at 2.20pm tomorrow. I will add an update afterwards.
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:thankyou:
I'll be shopping in the afternoon ::)
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:thankyou:
I'll be shopping in the afternoon ::)
More fun than attending a hospital appointment ? :-\
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Probably ;D
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Probably ;D
However I don't intend to miss this one. Really want to see how it feels when they take this first plaster off (as I am assuming they will do). Have questions to ask
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Probably ;D
However I don't intend to miss this one. Really want to see how it feels when they take this first plaster off (as I am assuming they will do). Have questions to ask
Have just got back from appointment. Saw doctor, had temp plaster changed for more permanent one and had xray which was ok. Have to go back in a week from now. Was pleased that I could still move my fingers & wrist without plaster support. Asked about possible removal of plaster just before my trip away. Told that it may be possible. Asked about a letter to take with me if i still have plaster on (easyjet policy). Was told that Easyjet are wrong to say that you can travel in plaster provided that it is more than 48 hours old. I would have to come back a week before departure and have the plaster split and fixed with velcro. However this disagrees with NHS guidelines here http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2373.aspx?CategoryID=70
Can go to work next week as long as I rest the arm if it gets tired. The new 'plaster' is heavier than the temp one but i will probably get used to it. It isn't actually plaster of Paris but have forgotten the name given.
Now have to declare it to the holiday insurance. Hope that doesn't cause problems.
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Check with your Insurance Company and ask the Hospital for a copy of your X-ray to take with you?
Viscopaste? Back-slab? Did you get a choice of colour?
Glad that all is well!
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Check with your Insurance Company and ask the Hospital for a copy of your X-ray to take with you?
Viscopaste? Back-slab? Did you get a choice of colour?
Glad that all is well!
I think it is fibreglass. I had a back slab up until today with softer padded bandaging on the other side. No colour choice. I need to contact insurer but I am dreading it. Part of me thinks that they will just refuse to cover it. Could ask for xray copy but that won't help the permission to travel with plaster. When i go back next week, I will take a printout of the NHS guideline.
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Fibreglass ??? ……… how things have changed ::)
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Fibreglass ??? ……… how things have changed ::)
Back to hospital today for another x ray and then saw the consultant instead of the registrar from last time. Told me that x rays were good and that I would definitely have the plaster removed in 4 weeks, just in time for my Italy trip. Asked if I would then need a wrist support but told no as I would then need to keep it active. Asked about whether I was doing the right exercises now and told yes. Showed me a couple more to do. Just hope that it won't be more painful when they remove the plaster. When it gets removed, I will have to ask about how I should gradually increase use of the wrist.
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You could ring the physio at the Hospital? How's the pain?
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You could ring the physio at the Hospital? How's the pain?
I haven't had a physio referral as yet. The pain is mild/very manageable and has improved a bit since I had the accident. Just a bit of tenderness/slight ache and twinges. I can move the hand and wrist pretty well (allowing for restrictions of the plaster). Just don't know how it will be once the plaster is off. I haven't needed painkillers at all. Prefer to avoid them as I may then do things which I shouldn't do. A twinge of pain reminds me. Have an osteopath appointment soon (not connected to wrist incident) and I may well ask her about it.
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You are doing really well!
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You are doing really well!
I think I have come off quite lightly (when I compare this to to other people's experiences on the Patient Forum). Yesterday I got a copy of the doctor's letter to my GP written after my 1st follow up appointment just over a week ago. He said that it had been "minimally displaced" and that, after 1 week, i had significant bruising but minimal tenderness, no significant swelling or deformity"
If I point my arm down and rotate it left/right, I can do it fairly well but just feel a bit of tenderness/discomfort, clicking sensation.
I am still a little nervous about how it will feel when the plaster comes off but perhaps it is going to continue to improve before then. Still 4 weeks away.
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A lot can improve in 4 weeks ;)
Are you packed yet ;D
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A lot can improve in 4 weeks ;)
Are you packed yet ;D
I hope so. A bit early to pack yet. Clothes would be full of creases ;D
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;D
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Update: I have had the plaster removed today and am pleasantly surprised. It really isn't too bad. No visible bruising except for a tiny bit at the base of the thumb which is tender to touch. I can still lift small things and turn a key in the door. Slight swelling around the wrist but can do most exercises tried so far with only discomfort/twinges rather than pain . Keyboarding hurts slightly more than with plaster on. However i will have a rest from that for the next week due to short break from work.
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That's good. Have you exercises to do?
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That's good. Have you exercises to do?
Mostly I have got them from the webpages of other hospitals. Have discussed 1 or 2 with the doctor and also with someone on another forum with similar fracture. She had the plaster changed to a removable splint earlier so is slightly ahead of me even though her accident was a few days after mine. I have a follow up appointment in 7 weeks which is optional but i will probably attend to see what the doctor thinks of my progress.
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Any aching is a warning and will limit lifting etc..
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Katejo - It's good that your plaster is off and it's all gone well.
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Any aching is a warning and will limit lifting etc..
Don't worry as I am doing minimal lifting. No more than a mug of tea or small plate. Have just managed to iron a couple of items but without lifting. Just tip the iron up and slide across the surface.
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May I send my ironing over ;) ::)
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May I send my ironing over ;) ::)
sorry but I hate ironing so no ;D
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So do I - I have 2 items that require me to find the iron, switch it on and use it :D
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Just about to put up the ironing board and get started. There are umpteen shirts waiting ::)
Already ironed this morning at mothers , I'm a glutton for punishment
Glad the wrist is improving.
Honeybun
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On my way ;D
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To do my ironing CLKD ;D
That's really nice of you.
Honeybun
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:rofl: ……….