Fractured Wrist: In splint for 5 weeks, soreness/swelling normal?

Thanks Sam. Didn't know you are in NJ, and how awful the healthcare is there. What do you think contributes to such lousy healthcare on a statewide basis? My guess is that it is something regulators are doing, or not doing, to make healthcare people so miserable in their jobs.

We lived in Nor Cal for 18 years and the healthcare was outstanding. We're back in our home state of WI and, if anything, it's better. And I mean from PCPs to surgeons to staff. Yeah there are a few clunker hospital groups, but nothing like what you describe.

And before someone thinks "Oh, it's NJ and the East Coast. Everyone is rude." - that is simply not true. I worked for AT&T in NJ (Piscataway) for years and loved NJ (especially in the college town of New Brunswick where I stayed, ironically home to J&J). It's not the people. The people are great.

Your comments do make me appreciate the care we get here though. Healthcare in the US is generally a have/have not situation, and it just shouldn't be this way.

I do know I have had horrible health care since the 80s. Most of the people I know have had similar experiences.

NJ, had had many of the major pharmacuetical companies here...and for decades.

I do know someone who took a meeting with a sitting US Senator from NJ. This was decades ago.

The Senator confessed to him, that in order to stay in office in NJ, you could not oppose the pharmacuetical companies.

Is that why health care is bad here? I don't know. I don't know the ins and outs.

But I do believe there is greed run absolutely wild. Just very little morality in the mix.

re J&J...my cousin married a tennis pro who taught some of the Johnson family. He has become a friend of the family and they even travel together on vacations. My cousin and her husband are both very nice people. If they are friendly with the Johnsons, to my mind, it also means they are very nice people.

Personally, I think there is a small percentage of horrible people in society. But that small percentage can cause a lot of problems...and also make it seem like the corruption is more widespread than it is.

Very familiar with New Brunswick. My brother got married at a chapel on the Rutgers campus. Kirkpatrick Chapel? Something like that. Have been to Rutgers many many times...they have a film festival there, various events...my friend was a booster of their basketball team...

I fell on concrete in November of 2023. When I fell on my right side I broke my wrist in two places and also it jammed my elbow into my rib cage. I had just got out of a sling after a reverse total shoulder on the same side. I was black and blue for weeks. I wore a brace for 6 weeks. My wrist still hurts and the top of my hand still hurts. It has been 6 months.
I just had a nerve conduction and muscle test that showed I have carpal tunnel and elbow impingement on my right arm. I think the fall and injury did do more damage than first thought. I am 74. I have burning and tingling in all my fingers and thumb, and across my palm.
I went to two orthopedic surgeons for consult-the first said it was not carpal tunnel but suggested I do the nerve and muscle testing.

After countless treatments & surgeries due to my weak joints & poor proprioception, I advise using an excellent orthopedic surgeon(s) & early physical therapy. For ex., I started PT 3 weeks after a bad wrist break (at age 66) requiring plate & pins. Soon after a 2nd surgery at 5 mos. to remove the metal, I regained complete strength & flexibility.

@glorialenora1 , how soon after her wrist fracture was your mother in law able to starg knitting?

It was a while ago but If I remember correctly, she started knitting while her wrist was in a cast-- possibly two or three weeks after the break.. it was amazing as she was in her late eighties or nineties.......at the time

@jprust, I fell in April of this year and broke my left wrist (distal radial fracture). I have had great results with hand therapy. I did not have surgery. Now, I have recovered movement in my wrist and fingers and have been sewing and have resumed playing my violin. I do, however still have some tingling/numbness in my fingers and have an appointment next week (4 months since accident) with the orthopedist Last time I complained about the tingling/numbness a nerve test was mentioned a s a possibility.
Did you get the nerve test done?

This is very hopeful and really yup, using it again the best you can as soon as the doc says or OT to get moving and prevent scar tissue is worth asking about even if dr doesn't usually order it and if insurance will pay or finances arent an issue. And of course there are tons of different kinds of fractures.

I just had trigger finger surgery. Can't straighten out my finger or make a fist. My PT told me to definitely get an order for OT as I heal keloid and walk with crutches so I need to get my hand back ASAP.

I asked and he says he never orders OT but also never needed to see me again after 1 week postop. He said he would order OT, no problem. Worth asking to get the best help moving faster.

The OT, after seeing I was already forming scar tissue, said it was very good advice from my PT. So, get all the help for a speedy recovery you can. Esp if there are other issues like fibro, autoimmune etc that can possibly interfere.

Im glad I asked. I walk on my hands 😎. Sometimes I feel like the doctor has no skin in the game like we do so we have to take care of ourselves first.

😁 my best.

@bebold
A dermatologist can inject kenalog directly into keloid scars to flatten out the scar, take away the redness and eliminate the pain. I had the injections in keloid scars from my mastectomies. I received injections every few months. Each time they would stop the pain for a few months. After 2.5 years of injections the scars were flat, light colored and most importantly were no longer causing horrible shooting pains all day long.

@tina8808
I broke my wrist 11 years ago. I didn’t need surgery but had a cast for about 5 weeks after the initial swelling went down. The bone healed up while casted but I also tore ligaments and that can take longer to heal. Nothing impacted my elbow. That seems strange unless you injured your elbow as well. My wrist was left permanently with what looks like swelling on one side but they had no explanation for it. For the first year it would hurt anytime I picked up something heavy. Range of motion took way past a year to go to normal. I couldn’t turn my hand palm up all the way. I don’t remember anything about feeling warm. Best of luck with your healing.