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Broken wrist

(128 Posts)
Mildred Thu 04-Aug-16 10:09:20

Playing football with my grandson yesterday I slipped and broke my wrist. It is now in a plaster and I am going to the fracture clinic tomorrow to make sure it is correctly aligned the fact that I have an appointment so quickly makes me think it isn't. I might need an operation to set it. I am asking for tips on coping with a broken right arm also tips for any operation which hopefully I won't need but if I do. I am lucky as do not live alone.

Mildred Tue 09-Aug-16 08:57:09

Supposed to go in today, for an operation, but it is now possibly Thursday, they have pulled it twice and it is not aligned so they plan to pull it again under a full anaesthetic and possibly wire it, if that fails I will need to have a plate screwed in. Very annoyed with myself because of all the things I cannot do mainly gardening. Mr M has been very helpful but is so slow. durhamjen I will be thinking of you on 17 with as many fingers crossed as I can. I am not very brave so with the pulling, although I had gas and air and a pain block, I feel like Rambo. Still scared of the operation though.

Greenfinch Tue 09-Aug-16 09:02:22

Hope all goes well Mildred ?

Jane10 Tue 09-Aug-16 09:06:39

You poor thing Mildred. I suppose its not helpful to say my mantra -this too shall pass- but you never know. This time next week things will be different. flowers

Mildred Tue 09-Aug-16 09:50:15

Just not use to doing very little, Mr M is having a masterclass on housework and already has made improvements on my time worn technique (get it done asap as it will only need doing again tomorrow). Daughter coming down with 2 gc this afternoon so possibly he might realise "doing it properly" not good time management. Told him not to vacuum until they have gone.

Mildred Tue 09-Aug-16 09:54:32

Jane10 it will pass and I am fit and healthy, refuse to add the usual Gransnet/ younger person qualification, just feeling rather stupid my head is a lot younger than my body.

durhamjen Tue 09-Aug-16 11:57:20

Thanks, Mildred.
Not easy to cross your fingers, is it?

Hope everything goes okay on Thursday.
I had the problem of being told I would have the op on the Sunday, so no food and only a cup of tea before 7 a.m., and the same on the Monday.

Have my middle granddaughter coming to help for a couple of days tomorrow. First thing she'll have to do is make her own bed!

Mildred Tue 09-Aug-16 18:59:11

Hospital rang this afternoon they can fit me in tomorrow!

Maggiemaybe Tue 09-Aug-16 19:08:14

Oh, Mildred! Well, it's probably best to get it over with as soon as possible. All best wishes flowers

durhamjen Wed 10-Aug-16 00:02:22

Good luck, Mildred. I'll be thinking of you, and I really do know what you are going through.
No more to eat or drink from now on, one minute after midnight.

trisher Wed 10-Aug-16 13:56:53

Hope by the time you read this it is all done and you are safe at home. Stay young in your head, the bits that crumble/drop off don't matter, getting through and facing each new day with hope and humour does.

Mildred Fri 12-Aug-16 15:12:46

Back Wednesday night felt better at home immediately. Wrist is now wired and plastered go back next wednesday for X-ray and new plaster so will be thinking of youdurhamjen and thank you all for your advice and encouragement. Xxx

Mildred Tue 16-Aug-16 17:24:36

Arm now replastered and I have been told to exercise my fingers, they are stiff and swollen, go back next week for another X-ray.

Man who put the plaster on suggested that when cleaning your teeth you should stand on one leg as this is a good way of improving your balance.

durhamjen I am exercising my fingers and will do my utmost to cross them tomorrow. Have pm you too I hope all goes well.

durhamjen Tue 16-Aug-16 17:36:09

Thanks, Mildred. Make sure you use lots of hand lotion, too. Last week the skin started peeling off my fingers, and I haven't been able to sort it out yet.
I have a long list of things I want to do after the cast comes off tomorrow. I think the balance thing is a problem. I am sure that's why I have pain in my back all the time now.
Hopefully it will go away after tomorrow.
My list starts with using a pen, and degenerates to using two hands to tear off toilet paper. Having to use your shoulder to keep the roll still is annoying.
At least we have a visible reason for using disabled toilets.

Anya Tue 16-Aug-16 17:52:54

Hi mildred from a fellow sufferer, having a fracture of the left distal radius. I'm due back a fracture clinic tomorrow for yet another cast replacement. I'm extra hammered by having fractured the radial head in my right arm.

Must be something in the water?

Luckygirl Tue 16-Aug-16 18:07:56

Oh - good luck to all you broken people!

When I had a large right-angled plaster from wrist to shoulder for three months, when they took it off the hair underneath had grown and I looked like a gorilla!

I also used a Limbo to make it possible to shower when I broke my foot - it covered up to my thigh - we used top call it the Giant Condom!

Mildred Tue 16-Aug-16 18:14:49

I have read your message and wondered how you were coping, when I went today I have a different lighter cast, over my thumb still but lower down the palm so more movement. I was told to exercise my fingers as much as possible but it is not easy. The technician said that some doctors like to check weekly and others just at the end of six weeks. So I wasn't too stressed about going back next week. On reflection I think it might have more to do with the type of fracture. Mine has a K-wire so today was to check the wire was OK apparently it is not sterile! Didn't hurt when he took the cast off and he was a big guy.

durhamjen Tue 16-Aug-16 18:30:22

I have had four casts on, so assume that the cast loosens every couple of weeks. This last one is the heaviest.
Hit myself on the nose with it again this morning when I woke up. That will be something else to be thankful for after tomorrow.
Pleased to know you just looked like a gorilla, Lucky, rather than the cast had stuck to the hairs! That's what I am worried about tomorrow.

glammanana Tue 16-Aug-16 18:37:28

Its now 14mths since I fell and broke my right shoulder and top of my arm when I tripped outside the bank,the shoulder joint was pushed right out of the socket and in a pretty bad way leaving splinters of bone all around the area it was too bad to operate on at the time and the Surgeon suggested we wait and see how things progressed,I had a close body sling for 3 months and hoped that the joint was healing in some way so there was something to attach the replacement joint to but no such luck,after months of treatment and CT scans I am now waiting until February with the hope that my Surgeon can lift the top of the shoulder joint and there is something to attach a metal plate to,the whole process seems to be never ending and oh so painful.

Mildred Tue 16-Aug-16 18:43:08

Hi anya it was you I was wondering about being able to cope asked oh to put a pair of earrings in, just a simple hook, I think he thought it was the worst thing I have asked him to do, don't understand as he watched them pull my arm in A&E. I just didn't want the holes closing. Teeth brushing is improving but still difficult to do.

Mildred Tue 16-Aug-16 18:45:51

glammanana you are a brave lady.

BBbevan Tue 16-Aug-16 18:48:43

I am just going to whisper this.I am nearly 72 and have never broken anything. But I can still sympathise with all you ladies and wish you well

Ana Tue 16-Aug-16 18:53:51

glamma that sounds horrendous! I thought you hadn't been posting much this year...flowers

cornergran Tue 16-Aug-16 19:02:33

Goodness, what a lot of broken bones. Sending good wishes to all who are having to manage the restrictions and discomfort. I plan on being extra careful!

grannyqueenie Tue 16-Aug-16 20:53:28

Heck! What's going on ....I thought it was winter when the fracture clinics got filled up with grannies! Best wishes flowerscupcakewine to all those with broken bones. The rest of us are thinking the same as cornergran as we walk rather more gingerly than usual!

durhamjen Tue 16-Aug-16 22:38:21

Bevan, I thought I was doing okay, having reached 67.
Do you have the record?

Some of us will be even more careful in winter, queenie.