Carpal Tunnel after wrist fracture: What is your experience?

I conducted neurophysiology testing (nerve conduction and evoked potentials at that time) in a previous career. What I recall seeing after wrist fractures, depending on specific location of the break, was secondary nerve impingement in the wrist - most often carpal tunnel. That was from swelling or scar tissue or both. Steroids and physical therapy was usually effective in restoring feeling and flexibility. Not always like new, but good enough that function is mostly fine and discomfort is now and again but not all the time. Scar tissue softens and flexibility is typically restored with massage and physical therapy.
Again everyone is different depending on how severe the break was, low long a nerve crossing the wrist may have been impinged due to swelling or scar formation..

Good luck!!

Thank you. I am now at the scheduling phase- no appointments available for THREE MONTHS for an injection.
Best,
Ann Marie

@annshrader, I fell in April and had distal radial fracture. With hand therapy, I have regained my movement and flexibility and continuing to improve with that. However, I still have tingling and odd sensation in fingers. Although I am able to resume sewing and violin, the sensitivity is limiting me. I do have my follow-up appointment with orthopedic clinic next week. Hope to learn whether this normal for this stage of recovery or if intervention is needed. I want to "think" that I am improving and that time is my friend. The possibility of a nerve test was mentioned at an earlier visit.

Ann Marie, is there any chance that you can get an earlier appointment due to a cancellation?

Hi.
Getting an earlier appointment is always an option. I did actually get one.

Nice to meet a musician and sewer. I knit.

I saw my orthopedist for my hand this week and I believe I heard him say that openings could happen for next week. Yesterday afternoon- I was at the clinic and scheduled "something" also letting scheduling know I was looking for something earlier. This a.m. the appointment for next week was in the system. I have no real conflicts as I am on medical leave, so next steps.

I don't know who you are seeing. Each of the docs have their own way and processes (although they follow a similar decision tree). They have different backgrounds too!

I would keep a journal and document what your feeling, doing, including rehab (it never ends). It was brought to my attention that there could be scar tissue and now I may have carpal tunnel syndrome. (Not totally out of the ordinary to expect.) The treatment plan is to see if a steroid injection will help before next steps.

I now have a wrist/thumb brace which helps keep my hand in a place so my thumb and wrist don't hurt. Don't know if you might try something that may allow you to continue playing with some more comfort!

Best,
Ann Marie

I fell while ice skating and broke the radial bone. The orthopedic doctor said he wouldn’t do surgery to insert pins and plate to move the bone back, as he felt it would return in place by itself in a cast. Well, it almost did, but not fully. That accident happened in January 2022. By November that year, I had had developed carpel tunnel nerve impingement and had a surgery which corrected the nerve pain. Now pain is resolved, but there’s a bone spur on my wrist bone that ultimately will need to be dealt with. I’m waiting until the steroid shots no long work before I have another hand/wrist surgery.

That sounds pretty consistent. I believe that the position is to try to get the bone back in place without more complex option that comes with surgery.

I appreciate your sharing and hope everything moves forward in the right direction for you!

Best,
Ann Marie

Thank you so much for your well wishes. This hand (right hand) has been through 5 surgeries already including a scaphoid surgery, an LRTI (anchovy) surgery, a “tight rope” surgery (thumb) then the fall. This hand is a disaster!

Holy cow!!

I feel for you - and not having been in your shoes.
Keep positive and keep the hands (both) moving as well as the rest of your body.
Your hand is not a disaster!

I would ask how your fall happened. It is how many of our injuries happen (myself included).
It has perplexed me so much that I have a project "on the burner" to address the fall issues. I had a neighbor of a coworker experience a catastrophic injury (broken ankle) and decided "I can do this!" and so I did and I am.

I have officially joined the "Carpal Tunnel" Club. I have my first real steroid injection into my joint this week between PT for my hamstring. Time will tell how it goes.

I actually decided to try ice skating after 45 years of not skating. I thought it would be like riding a bike - it wasn’t. My feet went up and I went down on my back hitting my head. My friend who was there watching thought I’d have a concussion - I didn’t. But the top of my wrist had a huge lump and was black and blue. Urgent care was next stop. Have crossed ice skating off my to do list!