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

Posted by tina8808 @tina8808, May 25, 2023

I’m a 55 year old female (not too active), I fell on a slab of concrete (landed on the palm of my hand) and broke my wrist. X-rays determined that I have three hairline fractures, one in the elbow and two at the wrist area.  No further scans (MRI, etc) were taken. I’ve been in a splint for 5 weeks (they gave me a choice between a cast or splint extending two inches from my elbow). I am being careful not to pick up anything or use my arm in a stressful way (not even typing).  Although I do move my fingers to keep range of motion.   After a five weeks in the splint, my wrist is still sore and swollen, my forearm is sore and I can’t extend my elbow.  

IS IT NORMAL TO:
1. To feel constant warmth in the palm of my hand?
2. Wrist swelling at this stage? (About 2 millimeters)
3. Forearm constant warmth and soreness, even when not in use?
4. Inability to fully extend my elbow?
5. Should I still need to take Ibuprofen every eight hours after five weeks, to maintain swelling?

Thank you

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heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | May 6 6:43am
In reply to @samcal9977zz "Excellent point. Here in New Jersey, there is a rivalry between the Mafia and the Devil,..." + (show)
@samcal9977zz

Excellent point. Here in New Jersey, there is a rivalry between the Mafia and the Devil, as to who gets to control things. So, I am not sure if the Mafia or the Devil himself runs healthcare in NJ...I just know it is one of the two.

I wish I were joking. Health care is frequently horrible around here. I really don't know a single person who gets good health care. Not one. Some get a bit better than others, but generally it is all pretty horrible.

Intake staff are often phenomenally nasty, cruel, abusive and sometimes even directly obstructive or you getting decent care.

It's truly very very bad.

And, of course, there are exceptions. I have encountered nice intake staff. I have encountered respectful and responsible doctors.

I would say, that in getting medical care, only one out of every 10 interactions is just fine without some very nasty encounter. Might only be the intake person and the rest of the experience is fine.

Might only be the pharmacy people...and everything else is fine.

But honestly, the times everything went fine....10% ??? You know, probably less.

Back in the 60s and 70s? Literally 95% of the time everything went just fine.

Jump to this post

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.

REPLY
1 reply
samcal9977zz | @samcal9977zz | May 6 8:48am
In reply to @heyjoe415 "Thanks Sam. Didn't know you are in NJ, and how awful the healthcare is there. What..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

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.

Jump to this post

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...

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jprust | @jprust | May 9 11:34am

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.

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pruitt | @pruitt | May 12 10:36am

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.

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