I'm 'armless, or the saga of my wrist.

[cinema guy]

I broke my wrist back (http://http://www.customerssuck.com/board/showthread.php?t=57888)in December. And had to have an operation (http://www.customerssuck.com/board/showthread.php?t=58290). I had pins put in my wrist. (http://www.customerssuck.com/board/showthread.php?t=58684)

So I had the plaster taken off and the pins pulled out, which was pretty much like the video linked in the other thread, except they gave me gas. My hand and fingers were horribly swollen and I had barely any movement in my wrist of fingers. The doctor insisted on pressing my fingers down until they hurt. They gave my a support for my wrist.

I visited occupational therapy this week, who measured the amount of movement I have in my fingers and wrist - not a lot. My wrist will move left and right just 5 degrees. I can just touch my index finger with my thumb, but no other fingers will reach my thumb.

So I have exercises to do, and massage to do,and have to did my hand in hot and cold water to reduce the swelling. And I'm waiting for a physiotherapy appointment.

I have to admit, I had hoped that once the plaster came off, I would be back to normal fairly quickly, but it ain't so. So I'm pretty fed up with still being one handed.

[Ree]

It's frustrating, I know, but it will come in time. Make sure you do the exercises, because that's the key to getting back the full function.

When I broke my wrist, I was shocked at how weak my hand was, and how limited the range of motion was.
Never having broken a bone, I didn't really know what to expect when the cast came off.

I expected to get the function back much more quickly than I did, and it was really disappointing.
It was a gradual progress, though, and I kept at the exercises and it did come back.

[cinema guy]

I've been doing them. I can see a very gradual improvement.

At least my arm is less painful than when I had the pins in.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Is the lack of range due to the swelling, or diminished muscle tone from not moving it for so long? Or both? Hope it heals quickly!

[csquared]

You may not feel that way, but it does sound like progress. It took me a couple of days to get my fingers to touch my thumb. About a week to touch my palm and about two weeks until I could make a full fist. That was all muscle attrition. Sounds like you are making better progress than I did.

I had three different hand/finger exercise devices. Used them constantly. It still seemed to take forever to get my strength back. Of course, until I got my hand back, there was nothing I could do for my arm and shoulder.

As mine was "only attrition," I did not get physical therapy. You will probably recover sooner than I did.

[cinema guy]

Is the lack of range due to the swelling, or diminished muscle tone from not moving it for so long? Or both? Hope it heals quickly!

I'm not sure - probably both.

[AccountingDrone]

You may not feel that way, but it does sound like progress. It took me a couple of days to get my fingers to touch my thumb. About a week to touch my palm and about two weeks until I could make a full fist. That was all muscle attrition. Sounds like you are making better progress than I did.

I had three different hand/finger exercise devices. Used them constantly. It still seemed to take forever to get my strength back. Of course, until I got my hand back, there was nothing I could do for my arm and shoulder.

As mine was "only attrition," I did not get physical therapy. You will probably recover sooner than I did.

Hell, I still use my grippy ball, and it has been about 25 years since I broke my wrist. Is sort of my adult pacifier =) I play with it and do my exercises when I get bored at the computer.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Hell, I still use my grippy ball, and it has been about 25 years since I broke my wrist. Is sort of my adult pacifier =) I play with it and do my exercises when I get bored at the computer.

I have a little squeezy ball at work...I play with it when I type too much.