Broken Arm?

ButtermilkJack

Hey folks, not sure if this is the right thread but as a regular of the tech side at boards I thought I'd pop over to the science/biology area for some insight

I recently broke my arm (I know, I can hear the small violins playing in the distance... ) and was wondering if anyone could enlighten me as to the do's and dont's of the next coming weeks. I'm in a temporary cast at the moment due to swelling and will have the real deal put on next wednesday and that will last for 4-6 weeks they tell me

Now obviously I can't go around hitting people with cast for fun (cos that would be sore and dangerous; for me! of course ) and there's no need to wrap myself in cotton wool either. But, for instance, can I drive, or lift things, or generally use the muscles in my arm to any extent or will this slow the healing process?

Thanks!

DrIndy

Although I am more than happy to talk about how bones heal and other paraphenalia concerning injuries - you are unfortunately asking specific information. I am unfortunately not your doctor and do not know precisely what type of injury you sustained or how it occured and thus cannot advise further.

Have a chat with your GP about it and he/she will enlighten you best!

ButtermilkJack

Hey, thanks for the reply. It's a closed fracture near the top (wrist end) of the radius, but I completely understand you're position re advice. No problems there at all Thanks anyway.

At the moment I'm trying to assemble a kitchen table with one arm It's so much fun

chrisandra

obviously u cant drive wiv one hand! do u normaly drive wiv one hand?

N8

generally Gps know very little about this sort of thing so don't waste your time waiting all day in some stinky surgery to generally speak to a GP who is neither interested nor properly trained in this sort of thing. Speak to a physio (chartered) or proper chiropractor. Don't believe me? Read this... http://www.irishmedicalnews.ie/articles.asp?Category=news&ArticleID=14229

ButtermilkJack

chrisandra wrote:

obviously u cant drive wiv one hand! do u normaly drive wiv one hand?

Not usually but I have been all weekend. Not that hard either! Gonna take the bus to work tomorrow though. Not gonna risk it, or the lives of others

N8 wrote:

generally Gps know very little about this sort of thing so don't waste your time waiting all day in some stinky surgery to generally speak to a GP who is neither interested nor properly trained in this sort of thing. Speak to a physio (chartered) or proper chiropractor. Don't believe me? Read this... http://www.irishmedicalnews.ie/articles.asp?Category=news&ArticleID=14229

Wow, surprised to see how concerned GP's are re this kind of thing. Seems to be very common. I went straight to A&E though, less than 2 hours and I was out. Not bad!

DundalkDuffman

Just bear in mind how your insurance company would look on any accident that you may have(touch wood). May invalidate your insurance. From the point of healing, you may expect muscle degeneration when in your cast. It can't be helped as your radius is immobilised. Again I don't know the exact site of your fracture but if it is a scaphoid one then it can be a longer cast which will come to just short of your thumb.

DrIndy

N8 wrote:

generally Gps know very little about this sort of thing so don't waste your time waiting all day in some stinky surgery to generally speak to a GP who is neither interested nor properly trained in this sort of thing. Speak to a physio (chartered) or proper chiropractor. Don't believe me? Read this... http://www.irishmedicalnews.ie/articles.asp?Category=news&ArticleID=14229

What the gentleman requires is information of do's and don'ts with a cast and the specific fracture that he has. He doesn't require a diagnostic referral (which is what your article concerns). Any doctor (me included) can provide that information. I cannot do so as I must see a patient in person and have a clear letter from the hospital detailing the type and nature of the fracture to do so comprehensively.

Hence the suggestion to ask his own doctor. A phone call may well be sufficient, rather than a trek to the surgery. I am somewhat surprised you did not receive a wee info booklet when you were discharged from A&E

A physio can of course provide this although I question the qualifications of chiropractors in this type of circumstance.

Muscles go into disuse atrophy after prolonged immobilisation and they are initially stiff and sore after the cast removal, this quickly returns to normal though.

ButtermilkJack

Thanks for all the replies! I guess I'll ask a lot of questions in Beaumont on Wed morn when I head in. Thanks again. Much appreciated!