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Broken Humerus

(9 Posts)
Granny23 Mon 28-Oct-19 10:35:21

2 weeks today since I fell and broke my humerus and it is no joke. I have been to the fracture clinic where I was told that it could be up to 6 months before my arm returns to full use. Is this normal?

I am finding it nigh impossible to wash and dress, so from 7.00am tomorrow a carer will come to help me do this, returning at 9.00pm to get me ready for bed. The following week I start to attend physiotherapy. this will be difficult as I cannot drive meantime.
Anyone been through this and can reassure me as to how long recovery will take?

Jane10 Mon 28-Oct-19 10:41:52

Sorry I can't reassure you of a rapid recovery but I sympathise. What a shame. This is the last thing you need. flowers

Charleygirl5 Mon 28-Oct-19 11:04:31

If it is your dominant arm it does make it very difficult for you.

It is not easy to put a specific time on when it is likely to heal and you may be back to normal. I am assuming you are in plaster of Paris which will be on for 6 weeks and then the hard work begins. I would think it would be painful for more than 2 months and more so when the physio begins.

At least you are getting some help.

Harris27 Mon 28-Oct-19 11:10:23

My husband fell in 1977 we had just been married and that’s what he broke it did take a while but it did mend. Sorry to hear your struggling though best wishes.

wildswan16 Mon 28-Oct-19 11:34:56

Sorry to hear about your accident. I have had a broken humerus but I was only 12 at the time so not much advice to give you.

Do try to do all the physio that is advised as that really will help your arm to make a full recovery. Also - make sure you eat well - lots of calcium and protein etc.

mcem Mon 28-Oct-19 11:37:19

My broken wrist a few years did not take an age to heal but short-term was a real bind. It was weakest when the cast came off so take care at that stage.
Maybe not very useful advice right now but please take advice from physio's and be extremely conscientious at doing the prescribed exercises- makes all the difference to your long-term recovery.
Bear in mind that if they say 6 months to full recovery then you'll start to regain use much sooner than that and have a gradual improvement week by week so don't think in terms of being out of action for 6 months! Glass half full!!

crazyH Mon 28-Oct-19 11:40:04

No advice, but good wishes for a speedy recovery .

blossom14 Mon 28-Oct-19 17:42:37

Granny 23 , you have my sympathy I broke my humerus when I was 68 ten years ago. Yes, it will take 6 months and I do remember how painful and miserable it was.
The physio will seem slow at first but cannot be rushed.
Three months in I used a sort of pulley contraption that fitted over the top of the door and as I got more movement I found arm exercises in the water in a swimming pool very helpful.

Welshwife Mon 28-Oct-19 18:30:23

I tripped and as I fell and broke the humerous of my right arm. I did it late at night and did not go to the hospital till the next day. I was given a special sling and was not put in plaster. As I had previously fractured the ball joint of the same arm I knew that early physio was important. I kept wiggling my fingers immediately and continued to do some of the exercises I remembered.
We were in the process of moving to France at the time and I was able to go for physio in France - they start it earlier in the healing process than U.K. The orthopaedic surgeon in U.K. knew about the French physio and when he asked me to show him the movement I had was so very surprised he asked me to show him what exercises I was doing.
I had good movement after about three months - I agree about the dressing and showering being so very difficult and painful. My French GP asked me if I did my bra up behind me and when I said yes he said I must continue the exercising until I could do that. It was very painful and exhausting but I continued and gradually got full movement back.
I was 72 when I did this break and I would say it took a bit less than six months to be fully OK. Work through the pain as the results are worth it.