← Return to Stiff fingers and wrist after distal radius surgery

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@sueinmn

My 40-something daughter is going through this right now after a severe open fracture, 2 surgeries, hardware and bone grafts. She describes her progress as "up to 70%, back to 40%, up to 70% again, back to 50%..." Her hand surgeon is pleased with her progress (after 10 months) due to the severity of the injury, and expects her ultimate recovery to be in the range of 80%. She is still receiving therapy once a week, and doing home exercise twice a day. But her early therapy was very limited, and only after 10 weeks after the second surgery was she allowed to begin.
How long were you prescribed therapy? Is everything fully healed internally?
Sue

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Replies to "My 40-something daughter is going through this right now after a severe open fracture, 2 surgeries,..."

I received therapy twice a week a week after my surgery. Initially therapy was focused on reducing the massive swelling in my fingers and hands. After six to eight weeks after surgery according to x-rays the doctor said my wrist was fully healed, but I had limited use of my wrist and fingers. I had difficulty picking up a washcloth. I have improved, but I cannot fully bend my fingers or wrist and I do not have enough strength to clip my fingernails. After therapy I have more movement in my hand, but then it does not take long for my fingers to become very stiff. I have had therapy for 6 months now. The up and down progress described your daughter echoes my experience.