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Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) Distal Radius Recovery

Posted by walk4life @walk4life, Jul 26, 2024

What can i expect pain wise and movement after surgery ?I fell while jogging on July 21. I went to the ER for a chin laceration (6 stitches) and broken right wrist. They took Xrays - comminuted fracture. I saw the orthopedic surgeon the next day. I saw the Xray and it looks bad. The orthopedist has me in a splint until my surgery. The swelling has gone done some. The surgeon told me after surgery I must have 2 weeks with no activities that cause sweating. I have an overseas trip in late September and he said i should be fine for that. I can currently close my fingers and thumb. I am taking Tylenol during the day and Percocet at night. The pain is pretty constant. I am apprehensive because I had a hip replacement in January 2023. They told me i would be back to normal in 4-6 weeks. That was not the case for me. My doctor did say I would start therapy the day after surgery. Thankfully I am left handed so i am able to do things that only require one hand.

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heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Jun 10 8:13am
In reply to @geronimo87 "I just wanted to give everyone an update. In my case, the doctor had not done..." + (show)
@geronimo87

I just wanted to give everyone an update. In my case, the doctor had not done a great job, the OTs were not fully appreciating the extent of my pain, and my recovery wasn't going to move forward by my simply enduring more pain and trying harder in OT. I ended up getting a 2nd opinion and then a CTR. That didn't help at all. I then got a 3rd opinion and they discovered several additional problems that were missed by the first and second surgeon. I am now on the road to recovery only because I sought out additional opinions and had surgery to resolve the remaining issues (some of which related to mistakes made by the first and second surgeon). The moral of my story is always trust your own direct experience and intuition more than any doctor, seek out as many additional opinions as needed, and never give up on your recovery.

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Wow Geronimo, you are very courageous and persistent! Good for you and thanks for sharing your experience!

I've had both knees and a hip replaced, shoulder is next in August. Diligence is required both pre and post op. It's very unfortunate to have to go through not one but two surgical mistakes. Your perseverance and spirit carries you. You're a great example for all!

Joe

REPLY
1 reply
geronimo87 | @geronimo87 | Jun 10 6:31pm
In reply to @heyjoe415 "Wow Geronimo, you are very courageous and persistent! Good for you and thanks for sharing your..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

Wow Geronimo, you are very courageous and persistent! Good for you and thanks for sharing your experience!

I've had both knees and a hip replaced, shoulder is next in August. Diligence is required both pre and post op. It's very unfortunate to have to go through not one but two surgical mistakes. Your perseverance and spirit carries you. You're a great example for all!

Joe

Jump to this post

Thank you so much! It has really been an ordeal and I have had so many professionals invalidate my experience along the way - both medical and OT folks. It feels wonderful to now have a bright and competent doctor who is overseeing my care, to have undergone surgery with him that reduced my pain 95%, and to have OTs who trust and support me. This is the kind of care everyone deserves:) I still have a few issues that are in the process of getting resolved and trust that my current surgeon will ensure a good outcome.

I hope that you are doing well since your knee and hip replacements and that you have a wonderful outcome with your shoulder surgery.

REPLY
1 reply
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Jun 12 6:33am
In reply to @geronimo87 "Thank you so much! It has really been an ordeal and I have had so many..." + (show)
@geronimo87

Thank you so much! It has really been an ordeal and I have had so many professionals invalidate my experience along the way - both medical and OT folks. It feels wonderful to now have a bright and competent doctor who is overseeing my care, to have undergone surgery with him that reduced my pain 95%, and to have OTs who trust and support me. This is the kind of care everyone deserves:) I still have a few issues that are in the process of getting resolved and trust that my current surgeon will ensure a good outcome.

I hope that you are doing well since your knee and hip replacements and that you have a wonderful outcome with your shoulder surgery.

Jump to this post

Thanks for your kind words Geronimo. It is what everyone dreads - having an incompetent or poorly skilled surgeon. I'm glad you found someone you like and trust.

We moved to WI from CA in 2018 and I didn't know any Drs. so my search criteria for ortho surgeons (any surgeon really) was a person in their mid 30s to mid 40s with a solid pedigree from a medical college and/or residency. My knee/hip guy is in his late 30s and did his residency at Cleveland Clinic, a well known research and care facility. My shoulder guy is in the right age range, and did his residency at the University of WI Medical College, where they only accept 6 ortho residents each year.

So that worked out fine. Even so, every surgery is different and nothing is guaranteed. As patients, we can work as hard as possible to stay in shape and be healthy - and then be willing to do all the things suggested for rehab.

Joe

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