Broken arm
- Thread starter Michelleker
- Start date
Summit
Well-Known Member
didn't break my forearm but broke my shoulder in five places two years ago. Surgery one year ago followed by loads of rehab (physio, hydrotheraphy, muscle massage), still not 100% there yet with movement and strength. Trying to stress that with any fracture/injury that it's very important to do all you're told by the physio.
Midlifecrisis
Well-Known Member
Depends on the person and how the body repairs. It takes up to 12 weeks to lay down new bone and it is still pliable/sticky at that stage. To harden well takes a good few weeks after..and I echo summit..do as physio and drs advise.
Michelleker
Member
Thank you. Just trying to find the best treatment for recovery & speed things up
Michelleker
Member
Its my 17 yr old daughter. No cast on and been 5 wks. She can't bend her wrist and rotate her arm
Summit
Well-Known Member
Thank you. Just trying to find the best treatment for recovery & speed things up
It's so upsetting and frustrating. I cried for months .... Couldn't even wash myself
Keep on top of appointments with your hospital and push for treatment. I was very fortunate that I got to see the consultant after my injury and for each subsequent visit (I asked for him each time). Request a physio referral, as dependent on your location, it may take a while to get booked in,. Im in the West Country and cant fault the NHS treatment I received. My muscle massage appointments were private and I had these monthly to help break down scar tissue and help with movement.Michelleker
Member
Im taking her private physio. The hospital said she didn't need physio as not a moving joint! Is the bone fully healed at 6wks? She's desperate to get back to the yard even just mucking out!It's so upsetting and frustrating. I cried for months .... Couldn't even wash myself
Summit
Well-Known Member
bones can take 6-12 weeks to heal to a significant degree... as it's plated I would be guided by the hospital re the rehab but I guess if it's in a cast she may be able to carry out minor tasks, if the pain allows her....
Michelleker
Member
They haven't been very helpful. Only dont ride for 12wks. Nxt appointment is in 3wks. 5wks has passed and its the unknown of how much you can push yourself
Summit
Well-Known Member
personally if it were me, I would pop along to physio at the 6 week mark, even some finger exercises may help. I understand that she shouldn't ride as if she fell off it could break the arm again. As disappointing as it is, best to look after it now than have healing and mobility problems in the future, especially as she's so young. I bet she'll be in a much better place by xmas
The Fuzzy Furry
Getting old disgracefully
If you need to crack on, then contact Brian Simpson in Ipswich, known by many as the bone fixer. He's used by top notch motorbike racers and others who speed fall, breaking bones.
He'll come up immediately on a google search.
He'll come up immediately on a google search.
Michelleker
Member
Its soo frustrating! Its her job to ridepersonally if it were me, I would pop along to physio at the 6 week mark, even some finger exercises may help. I understand that she shouldn't ride as if she fell off it could break the arm again. As disappointing as it is, best to look after it now than have healing and mobility problems in the future, especially as she's so young. I bet she'll be in a much better place by xmas
i guess if she could just get back to general duties without thinking she's going to damage herself would be great!Michelleker
Member
Thats very helpful thank you!!
ILuvCowparsely
Well-Known Member
humerus and pinned and plate
very long due to hospital changing their mind on each check up whether to leave it or plate it lost loads f muscle wastage. I went into the pool and got my arm on a float to exercise, humerus is worse that radius as you won't get such debilitation shoulder wastage. Hospital failed as 1. they x ray my radius and said nothing wrong when it was humerus. 2) they put a cast on radius not humerus.
have had fractured wrist I as a child
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Casey76
Well-Known Member
How much physio is she doing?
I broke the distal end of my radius, it was plated, and starting 2 hours after surgery I had twice weekly physio for 19 weeks.
For the first 8 weeks I was told not to lift anything heavier then 250g while the bone healed, but I had lots of flexion exercises to do.
I broke the distal end of my radius, it was plated, and starting 2 hours after surgery I had twice weekly physio for 19 weeks.
For the first 8 weeks I was told not to lift anything heavier then 250g while the bone healed, but I had lots of flexion exercises to do.
sport horse
Well-Known Member
I broke my radius and dislocated the elbow. Plated and in plaster from finger tips to shoulder for 12 weeks. Had a little physio but only once/week for 4 weeks or so but they did show me exercises to get arm moving again. 5 weeks is far too soon to start riding again. Healing should have started but the bone will not be hard enough to withstand another fall or bang. The movement will start to come back as the bone heals - as pain goes you naturally use it more.
Patience is a virtue most horse riders only have with their horses not their own bodies but I think as her mother it is your place to pay down a few rules. Good luck (to you!!!)
Patience is a virtue most horse riders only have with their horses not their own bodies but I think as her mother it is your place to pay down a few rules. Good luck (to you!!!)
Michelleker
Member
Only just started therapy after 4wks & once a week. Hospital didn't refer her. I just new it wasn't right that she was so stiff!
Berpisc
Well-Known Member
20 years ago I broke my humerus and it is still plated. I was told to use it as little as possible and had a backslab to put it in when I was out and about. Knowing no better I did as I was told and several weeks later got referred to physio who tutted and very painfully got my arm opening and flexing (god it was painful!). So you are doing the right thing in my opinion getting it mobile. Just be careful with high impact stuff until the bone is healed. Mine took months to heal properly (seen on Xray) but was mobile long before that.
pippixox
Well-Known Member
Be as patient as possible. I broke my right wrist 5 years ago (both bones but not pinned/plated). The main issue was the loss of muscle strength and flexibility having been unable to use it properly in 6 weeks. It took at least 3 months of being careful and lots of stretching to start getting back to normal.
I mucked out by holding the poop scoop thing between my legs and using a rake in my left hand! Took for ever! Also got a cart to drag one handed instead of a wheelbarrow. Went to the yard everyday with friend who drove me (luckily lived up my road and horses at same place) but she obviously did a lot.
For years my wrist bone would still ache on a cold damp day exactly where the break was
I mucked out by holding the poop scoop thing between my legs and using a rake in my left hand! Took for ever! Also got a cart to drag one handed instead of a wheelbarrow. Went to the yard everyday with friend who drove me (luckily lived up my road and horses at same place) but she obviously did a lot.
For years my wrist bone would still ache on a cold damp day exactly where the break was
gallopingby
Well-Known Member
Agree re physio - you need a private Chartered Physiotherapist, they usually know whats what. NHS PT these days sadly is mainly just waiting list and box ticking. They will usually give you exercise to do after assessment and will keep reassessing but very little hands on treatment these days. If you have specialist experienced physio within reasonable travel distance they will be able to sort things out as quickly and safely as possible. Worth paying for!
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
Snap 😂
The doc told me once plated it was petty much as strong as before anyway, but the dislocation of the other bone was what he wanted me to protect. I rode at two weeks, jumped a BE 90 course at about four weeks, and was never even offered any physio. But I'm told that my healing powers are very strange and my ability to block pain is almost spooky
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The doc told me once plated it was petty much as strong as before anyway, but the dislocation of the other bone was what he wanted me to protect. I rode at two weeks, jumped a BE 90 course at about four weeks, and was never even offered any physio. But I'm told that my healing powers are very strange and my ability to block pain is almost spooky
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Shooting Star
Well-Known Member
Yes I have broken the radius and ulna in the past and had it plated. It needed some seriously hard work to be put in with the physio, and not just in sessions with the therapist but 4-5 times a day with 8 or so different exercises each time for several months.
It was a nasty break with ligament damage (think hand facing in the wrong direction type of thing😰) but I’m pretty certain if I’d not put the effort in with the physio at home I wouldn’t have anything like the range of movement that I have now which is still not perfect and never will be sadly.
It was a nasty break with ligament damage (think hand facing in the wrong direction type of thing😰) but I’m pretty certain if I’d not put the effort in with the physio at home I wouldn’t have anything like the range of movement that I have now which is still not perfect and never will be sadly.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
Mistake edit.
Michelleker
Member
Just started physio had 2 sessions & operation was 5wks ago. The hospital didn't offer any physio so i took it upon myself to get her treated! Good job i did as she's very stiff in her wrist, elbow and can't rotate her arm! Im just trying to future out the best rehabilitation
Michelleker
Member
I agree you have to move it as soon as you can. I booked private physio after 4wks & best thing i could of done. Just need to work out what other options i have in her rehabilitation!
Michelleker
Member
H
haha i do need luck!! Its so difficult when its your job & your passion. Im trying to leave it 3months before she rides again but if she can help out around the yard (mucking out) that would be a start. She has started physio and was looking to try and find other options. May be cold & hot therapy to help the scar tissue & muscle to.