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Just had the k-wires taken out of my little finger but it is incredibly stiff at the moment. The physio has told me to try and straighten it, then bend at the middle joint, then hold the middle joint and bend the last joint and finally try to make a fist.
Great advice but bugger all movement at the moment.
The First picture is fully straight and the little finger stays bent.
The second picture shows me making a fist and the little finger has barely moved and the one it was strapped to is pretty stiff too.
Any advice for speedy recovery? Will manually pushing the finger into position help?
I don't see the physio until next week to ask her these questions so will take medical advice from weirdos on the internet instead
was it a pinky prime-cut ?
Bear in mind I'm not your physio - so maybe wait til you've had your first consultation but...
It was my ring finger with me that was wired. My finger was very stiff too. First physio was after a week. The physio manipulated it - forced it straight, into a fist shape and forced flat against the palm. It was agony, they didn't hold back. Had six weeks of it weekly with physio and also was encouraged to do the same at home.
Also physio gave me therapy putty - you can get packs of different resistance online. Used that to build strength back up.
It all worked in the end - back to 95% of movement compared with other hand and just as strong, I'm a climber so it's a big deal for me. It's a bit wonky but doesn't bother me.
"scaredypants
was it a pinky prime-cut ?"
I'm old enough to immediately get this.
I could bend a finger
Go out there and fight to save this hand
Be a regular poster
But I’ve problems with my hand
Wasted Life (STW edit)
It's been wired for how long?
And that's probably how long it'll take you to extend it back...
Jan 24th - Snapped and partially straightened at A&E then a badly fitting cast put on
Jan 31st - Straightened a little bit more and a new cast put on with fingers held straight
Feb 9th - Straightened properly, pinned and fingers set at 90 degrees
Feb 11th - Cast removed and replaced with thermo-plastic splint at about 45 degrees
Feb 21st - Splint removed and finger 'buddy up' with the second finger
Feb 23rd - Pins pulled and all strapping removed. Just sticky plaster over the puncture wounds.
Looks like my mum's little finger. She told me the medical name for the issue - can't straighten it and it felt like, to me, that the knuckle joint had fused into a bend. No way can you straighten it.
So before yours goes like that, do whatever the physio says. (Mum's 83 btw)
ps. enjoyed Kilo's post 😀 First live band I ever saw
I've got one like that, broke it in a mountain bike crash. Had it x-rayed but no treatment. Doesn't cause me any issues at all. You don;t really do anything with your little finger any way.#
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My mum has [url= https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dupuytrens-contracture/ ]Dupuytrens Contracture[/url]
It'll take a while. Fractured and dislocated my little finger day before NYE. Splinted & strapped for 2 weeks, then thermo splint for 2 weeks. 3 weeks later it still has quite a lot of swelling, is still stiff, and is a way off bending or straightening fully, either under its own steam or with the other hand manipulating it.
I was told that as there are no muscles in the fingers (just bones and tendons/ligaments), and not much blood flow, the healing process will take longer... swelling and stiffness will take some time, scar tissue will take time to dissipate and the time taken for your body to lay down new bone and remodel the joint will take longer. Was told I should expect reasonably normal functionality in 3-6 months, but that it will still improve up to 12 months.
I've also had carpal tunnel symptoms associated with the injury, which had hindered some of the stretches and exercises I was given to do; that's now easing and I am noticing definite improvement overall.
Straight is getting straighter and bent is getting benter after an intense day of flattening and bending as per physio instructions but boy does it ache now.
I think I will be applying a blend of Savlon and Vaseline to the whole area to repair the skin and stop the cut scab splitting open
How long was the K-wire in for?
The main solution is stretch and hold- unless you are holding for 20-30 seconds very little is going to change. At this stage I'd be looking to smash the stretches very often- maybe even every 2 hours if you can bear it. The smaller joints stiffen up so fast, this is prob going to be your only chance to fix it.if it's sore then have a heat pack/bowl of warm water nearby for before and after.
Other than that you can try accessory movements (moving the joint surfaces up/down, side to side, someone else (ideally someone trained) will have to do this for you) but despite what the text books say you rarely get much more range that way.
Stretch and hold is what I have been doing up to the count of 20. I guess I could go longer but it is bloody sore.
The good news is the Vaseline seems to be softening the skin and the big scab came off and left clean fresh skin underneath.
The finger is still quite swollen at the base and first joint. The stretching exercises are also making it quite hot so I use ice packs to cool it sometimes.
other hand
