Broken wrist

Can you drive?

It was about 6 months till I got full use, but 13 months on I can't open new jars without an aid. Wrist not as strong as it was

Grandchildren always think things heal miraculously, don't they?
Mine are on holiday in Scotland at the moment.
I told them I would be like gran again when they get back.
Here's hoping.
I'll have another week after that before I start teaching my grandson again at homeschool. Just managed to get him to start doing joined up writing after last Christmas.

Coping but get frustrated using left hand. Go back to the hospital on Wednesday, I reckon I am looking at mid September before it comes off. Still I am lucky I did not break my hip. Reading how you are getting on is helping as I keep thinking I will be there soon. Bought myself an electric toothbrush thought it might be easier than a manual, but my son who was down at the weekend went home with 2 toothbrushes! He will bring it back at the weekend hopefully. GC surprised it's not better yet.

Can't wait until I can cut my own toenails, Mildred.
Normally the housework does wait, but I've got someone coming round tomorrow morning and I need to be able to use my hand to sign some papers.
The room hadn't been vacced for at least two months. My cleaner weighs less than five kilos, as I was told I could not carry more than five kilo after having the aortic dissection in 2013. It wasn't heavy, just awkward.
My signature is still dodgy, but the company has never seen my real one anyway.

How are you getting on?

Lovely news but don't overdo it. Housework will always wait. My daughter gave me a manicure today feels so much better.

I have just been using the vacuum cleaner for the first time, and a brush and dustpan.
It's amazing how little it takes to please me these days, and to tire me out!

Good, that's what I keep trying to do. Touching the little finger still hurts. I also hold my forearm and try and turn my wrist a few times. Pleased to know that's what I should be doing! It's my thumb which is hurting and puts a stop to too much exercise.

I had a series of exercises some very simple like touching my thumb with each finger in turn, but it was the wrist bending which really gave me back full movement I think. I still can't bend my right wrist quite as far as the left but about 97% of the way. The physio encouraged me to apply slight pressure to make it bend a little further each time. I can also do complete circling, the right wrist just creaks a bit when I do it.

No, trisher, I was told I didn't need any. Just removed the last of the bandages, and it looks a mess where the wires were inserted. I was told that using a keyboard would be the best exercise. I know to stop when it aches too much.

Sue, my eldest grandaughter plays the violin. When she broke her wrist, she saiid it made her play better, as it hurt if she didn't hold the bow properly!

Anyone with a fracture is offered a bone scan by our hospital trust. I had one in my 50s because my mum has advanced osteoporosis and it is linked to families. Treatment is very successful, my osteoporosis is now osteopenia and I am on a drug holiday only taking calcium and vit D. If you haven't had a scan after a fracture you should definitely ask for one. DJ are you getting physio for your wrist? I had a few sessions after mine and it was invaluable. The exercises were hard work but it really gave me back full mobility.

Anno Luckily it's my left wrist that's in plaster. I tried to use the keyboard on my PC yesterday. Now THAT was painful on my right elbow. I'm currently using a tablet, propped up on my knees in bed.

Yes, the electric toothbrush is a must.

Interesting! My brother wanted to watch but they wouldn't let him because his hand was so mangled. Although he'd seen it when the accident occurred so I'm not sure what the difference was!

He's made a good recovery. He had been learning to play the fiddle and when I asked him if the accident had affected that, he said no, not at all, he was playing as badly as ever.

Yes, it's a bit more than at the dentist. It took three anaesthetists over twenty minutes to make sure you could feel nothing. Then it takes about six hours afterwards for the sensation to come back properly. In the meantime, the arm does not feel as if it belongs to you.
Like you say, quite amazing.

I was told to hold a toilet roll and squeeze it hard in order to strengthen my fingers and my wrist after being in plaster. It was cheap and it worked.

This thread has just solved a mystery for me! My brother had an accident last year, through no fault of his own, when his hand got trapped in a motor mower.

He had five hours of plastic surgery under local anaesthetic and I couldn't imagine how they'd managed to reconstruct his fingers with just a few jabs of local anaesthetic like you get at the dentist.

It's obvious from this thread that he must have had some sort of nerve block as has been described here - the marvels of modern medicine!

How long did it take for you to be able to use the hand properly again?

I broke my wrist last July, had to be manipulated twice then had an op to insert plates and screws, I too had the anaesthetic block in my shoulder, what a weird sensation that was, I watched the whole op which I found absolutely fascinating, the best part for me was having the fifth and final cast off and finally getting all the grime off my arm. I too had a bone density scan and was diagnosed with oesteopenia. My first and hopefully last broken bone at the age of 64.

Most tablets and phones these days have microphones so that you can dictate your message/post, if that helps?

Anya, you are amazingly good at typing. When I had a huge bandage on my right wrist for six weeks following surgery, I found it very hard to type left-handed and adapting to using a mouse with the 'wrong' hand was also difficult.

As someone else said, so many broken bones!
I had a bone density test a year or two ago and the result was good (TG).
And I've had lots of falls in the last few years.
It seems we all need to be wrapped up in cotton wool.
Wishing you all a speedy recovery. Will you have physio?

Anya how about an electric toothbrush? You just have to hold it to your mouth. They really make your teeth feel clean. Every little helps when you're struggling. So sorry to hear so many Grans having such problems. Good luck to you all.

Things you take for granted and suddenly you can't do anymore Glamma ...or at least you have to find a new way round them. And you certainly find out who your friends are!! DH does his bumbling best but my DD and DDiL have certainly come up trumps too.

At least, with luck, I'll be sorted in six weeks, but sounds like you'll have much longer to wait. I do feel for you. So good that your lovely hubby is there to help.

Anya I have a very caring hubby who has been a godsend we had a few trials & errors at first when it came to brushing my long hair and putting in a scrunchie band to hold it in place I think at first he thought he was grooming the dog and was none too gentle but he is fine now,he never goes out if I need to shower etc just in case I slip and he carries all the shopping etc so a all round good chap.I think I have experienced all the niggly problems you have Anya you never realise how much you depend on things do you?

Oddly enough I can sort of brush my teeth with the broken elbow arm, the right. I have limited range of movement but can manage up and down, if I lift my arm using the shoulder joint, but not side to side. Hence I can hold a glass, but not a cup (the handle is too painful to grip) I can lift a glass to drink, but cannot lift or use a fork or spoon because bringing it to my mouth involves twisting the forearm.

It's amazing how we do learn to compensate. I haven't enough strength to get tablets out of the foil by pressing, but use a nail to slit the foiled at the back. I can also now open some drawers with my foot. Can't open door though and have been stranded in various rooms quite a few times.