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I've had a little fall and broken my radius, oops. The initial break was 30/05 and it was plated on 06/06, wound check and new cast on Friday. I'm pretty sure there will be a few people here that have done similar so please share recovery dos and don'ts.
I've been concentrating on moving my fingers and can now close a fist reasonably well, although there is no strength. So my questions are:
- Should I be trying to improve grip strength yet or wait until the cast comes off?
- What exercises / kit for strength?
- How long before I can run? (not that I can tie laces)
- Turbo training is fine I guess?
Also I seem to recall some boa enabled wide fitting flat shoes, anyone know who makes them?
That took ages to type... Thanks!
Pics for context
I’ve had this* (although I was 18 at the time so healed quickly) after coming off my bike and landing on an outstretched hand. It didn’t reduce under traction and was plated the next day. Backslab for 48 hours then a half-length cast which left thumb and fingers free to move. Wasn’t the neatest operation in the world because the screws are about 5mm too long and stick out the other side.
Surgeon said that it needed four weeks post-op. I was carrying shopping bags after two, and lied to a different hospital 21 days later and had the cast removed after an x-ray. The consultant there said that he didn’t use a cast at all and it’s down to personal preference. I worked on the principle that if it didn’t hurt it was probably OK.
No physio afterwards (wasn’t offered at the time) but after suffering for a year I bought a Powerball and it basically addressed the problem within a few weeks. Nearly 20 years on and I experience a tiny bit of arthritis in winter but nothing to write home about.
The point I’d take away is have the Powerball ready to go the moment you have the strength and mobility to spin it.
*reverse Barton fracture, apparently confined to 18-year-olds and elderly women.
Thanks. I’m not sure I’m brave enough to rush bearing weight on it. I have been doing as much as possible to move fingers, elbow and shoulder and since the swelling went down I haven’t bothered with the sling. The powerball is interesting, when can you start using it from?
You need proper advice - have you not been to fracture clinic? Had any physio?
I did this about 2 years ago coming a cropper at BPW....
I lost TONNES of muscle bulk in the affected arm..
You'll be seen in fracture clinic and referred to physio, BUT.... Not sure what it's like in your area but I actually got the physio call about 15 weeks after cast off... This would have been too late..
Basically you want to flex, extend, left and right, then rotate your wrist as much as you can... Or it'll completely seize up..
Also turbo is great... No issue...
DrP
Was at the fracture clinic on Friday, very little info from them. Don’t use it but try to move your fingers and see you in 4 weeks. It’s been a bit if a farce so far, 4 cancelled ops and I had to chase them for the fracture clinic appointment but hey ho.
<p style="text-align: left;">DrP, thanks for the advice. Should I be twisting the wrist now? I’ve been careful not to do so. They haven’t mentioned physio yet, should I be looking to book something in for when the cast is off or in a week or 2?</p>
Thanks again.
Only do wrist physio once cast off....
DrP
Gotcha, thanks for clarifying.