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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Swelling After Broken Wrist. Still Painful, Cannot Play Sports. Done Physiotherapy. What Can I Do?

Hi I broke my wrist playing hockey and the Emergency Doc said it was badly swollen so rather than set it he put a splint on it and that I would see the ortho surgeon in a few days. The hospital called the next day and told me my appt. with the surgeon would be in 3 weeks? I asked if that was right and that the Doc said a dew days but she reassured me that 3 weeks was correct. I went to see my GP and he found it strange that I would have to wait 3 weeks but wrote me an Rx for Percoset to deal with the severe pain. I went 3 long weeks in that itchy/stinky splint, wrapping the 2 tensor bandages around it and going about my daily routine. When I finally saw the surgeon he asked me what I wanted him to do...I told him that I wanted him to set it and put me in a cast and he said that he couldn t t because too much time had elapsed and it had already started to heal. He said I should have had a cast put on the night that I broke it. Anyway, he took x-rays and put me in a cast. I returned 3 weeks later and the cast was removed and more x-rays taken. He gave me some exercises and said physio would help. I did Physio for a few months but got absolutely no results. I went back monthly to see him and he agreed that it was only slightly getting better. He had mentioned that I would probably only get back to 80% of what I had before the accident and that if 80% was acceptable then that is the way I would live the rest of my life. I asked about surgery and he said there were no guarantees...which I totally understand. I decided that since Physio wasn t working that I would try an athletic therapist...the surgeon agreed it might help. I have a friend who is a physical therapist for an NHL hockey team in my home town...he did more for me in one 45 minute visit than the physical therapist did in 3 months! It hurt like hell but I got results. Anyway, I am at about 80% and it s been almost 10 months and although the ache in my wrist is dull and painful, it is definitely something I can manage...the problem is I can t do any of the sports/activities that I used to...I played no hockey/golf/softball all spring/summer/fall...I went for a skate and tried shooting pucks and it was like sharp jolts of lightning in my wrist...I have no power and the pain is 10/10 when I try to use it...at rest it is a dull 3/10 which I can live with...it s the rotation that hasn t come back...like if you hold your arm out and pour a bottle into a glass or rotate your wrist to see what time it is...everything else is back to normal (up/down motion)...but the twisting part is not coming back despite really working hard on it...what can I do? It s my dominant hand so things like turning the ignition in my truck, turning the key to a locked door, any weight bearing is not an option...he ll I can t even wipe my ass anymore...what do I do? I need my life back.
Wed, 4 Sep 2013
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Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist 's  Response
You have not mentioned which bone was fractured and its site. Anyway there is a likely hood of a malunion at the fracture site which is the root cause of the problem.Try some Scientific intensive physiotherapy under expert guidance of a qualified physiotherapist with wax bath therapy and mobilization of the wrist joint and the fingers.
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Swelling After Broken Wrist. Still Painful, Cannot Play Sports. Done Physiotherapy. What Can I Do?

You have not mentioned which bone was fractured and its site. Anyway there is a likely hood of a malunion at the fracture site which is the root cause of the problem.Try some Scientific intensive physiotherapy under expert guidance of a qualified physiotherapist with wax bath therapy and mobilization of the wrist joint and the fingers.