Broken elbow (human!) experiences?

tobiano1984

tobiano1984

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Hi all - I'm 4 weeks 3 days into a broken elbow experience, I fractured my olecranon completely. No operation, seems to have realigned itself. I was in a 90 degree cast for 3 weeks 3 days, it came off a week ago and now I'm in a brace with restricted movement - apparently I shouldn't straighten it completely yet as my tricep will rip the bone back off (nice! Thanks Doc for the visual). Anyway, I'm using it lightly and can pick small stuff up but the major issue I'm having is flexing it past 90 degrees towards me - it feels tight more than painful, just won't budge. I don't want to force anything but also don't want it to seize up or atrophy anymore than already! Has anyone else had a similar experience they can share?

I just want to be able to tie my bloody hair up..!
 
My recovery aim was to do my bra up! Mine was broken and dislocated, pinned in surgery. In plaster for 5 weeks. From zero flex/extension I had probably 95% movement back by about 8 weeks after plaster off. Could do my bra after about 5 weeks Physio. Started Physio the week I was out of plaster, twice a week for maybe 4 weeks. Then weekly until I had reached almost full movement. Movement was slow to come back, very VERY hard work and VERY painful. If you can't get NHS Physio now, go private. It will be more than worth it. Good luck!
 
Not elbow but I had the same in my ankles once I came out of cast - you're unlikely to get complete motion back but once the bone is healed enough you should be offered physio which will help increase the range of motion. It's got a lot to do with the joint being fixed in once position in the cast
 
Hi, sorry nothing of any help to add, but just wanted to say hope you heal quickly and well. I was feeling sorry for myself after I dislocated my thumb yesterday during a bucking incident, but after reading this thread I shouldn't complain. Would agree with looking for good physio when the time comes, though.
 
Hi,
I cracked my elbow....not as bad as your injury...but the same L shaped non bendy arm....went to private physio and the best thing he said was to get something that will hold water and take an L shaped arm...fill with water hot enough to bear..immerse said L shaped arm until the water takes the weight...and once the skin has warmed up...GENTLY unbend the arm.....this will not cause the tricep visual....once in the morning...once in the evening:) Worked a treat.

Good luck
Bryndu
 
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I didnt break my elbow but did massive damage to the ligaments in my arm (was told a break would have healed quicker!) and had a similar problem once I had any movement back - it would get to a certain point and then stick and just couldn't straighten it any more cos it was too painful. Ended up having a fair amount of physio, with some ultrasound, and its pretty much as good as new (my joints hyperextend and was at the docs who noticed one arm doesn't hyperextend quite as much as the other - still goes straighter than 'normal' arms though!)
 
My husband broke his olecranon in April 2012 and had it pinned in October 2012. He still has pain from it and can't bend or straighten it fully. It is also very sensitive to being touched. He had broken it as a child falling off his bike but no-one realised at the time! It had then healed with cartilage not bone in the gap so was not very strong. Now waiting until they can take the plate out to see if it will improve at all.

Good luck with yours - I would say follow physios advice and don't overdo it as you don't want to be in his position.
 
I broke my elbow (falling over my own feet into a road when I was out Trick and treating with the kids) years ago. It took a year to go completely straight again - i picked up a heavy bag in the supermarket, there was a horrible cracking sound, and it was straight! No problems with it since, though the doctor thought I'll probably have arthritis in it at some point. I wouldn't reccomend it as a cure, but at least it shows that time might make a difference.
 
I broke mine a few years back. Shattered the Ulna and dislocated the radius. I was operated on immediately to pin it all back together and then in cast for 18 days. The consultant told me to use it as much as you can - in a use it or lose it" kind of way. I was very strict on myself when it came to rehabbing (practice what you preach and all that!!), I also had a lot of acupuncture which I am certain speeded up and increased recovery.

I would second the poster who said that if you are having to wait for NHS physio then go private (if you can afford it) until it comes through. The more effort you put in now the better for you in the future. Oh yes, the rehab bloody hurts. I had to have many "man up" conversations with myself :)
 
Hi

yep fractured elbow falling off hay stack in barn, in plaster for 3 weeks ( worst part was turning over when i slept used to wake me up!) also went for hack round our bridlepath in plaster horse was excellent then tried to dismount!! wont do that again.
took ages to get full flexion in the arm just had some physio and then just had to get on with it

Sorry for un helpful reply :-)
 
Great to hear, thanks everyone - I'm going to demand physio at my hospital appointment next week, and if that isn't forthcoming I'll go private. I've spoken to my mum's physio who's just leaving on holiday and she gave me some exercises over the phone to strengthen it - just pressing against my other hand and the like. I've also broken my foot so am basically useless at the moment :-( I think the physio will become my new best friend over the coming months!
 
I dislocated my elbow and broke just above and below when I was younger (although the plasterers ended up breaking my elbow(not meant but agony)) I was in a cast from my wrist all the way to my shoulder for 8 weeks and then in a sling afterwards. Had physio but still can't fully touch my shoulder after 13 years. Is say take it slow and don't try and lift too much you don't want to damage it further. Give it enough time to heal and get physio as they will know the best excercises to do. Hope this helps :)
 
I didn't break mine but tore the tendon that links my elbow to my tricep (the one you're worried about pulling the bone apart by the sound of things) almost clean through when my old boy and I both fell over and he stood on my arm getting up when I was 16 (20 yrs ago now). It was hanging by a thread so they didn't operate but I've been told since it would have been better to have done it completely and had it operated on as healing would have been much cleaner. As it is I have a big lump of scar tissue there and can't straighten my arm 100% - I can't lock my elbow out, which makes things like lifting hay bales a bit tricky as there's less strength in it while it's bent. It's not painful but just gets to certain point and won't go any further. I never had any physio, just leaflet of exercises to do but wish I had now as I think it would have made a difference.
 
I broke my olecranon 10 yrs ago I was given option of pinning or cast. I had it pinned and was back lambing sheep within two days.
It is a strange injury in that I could lift anything but could not push with my arm for about 3 months .Now I have full painfree use however the pins can be a little uncomfortable if rubbed awkwardly,I have never felt the need to have them removed. I do have quite an impressive scar still though about 20in long.If you wish to know more PM me.
 
I fractured my radius proximal to the annular ligament, so despite being very sore, unable to pronate or supinate, and unable to weight bear, they wouldn't even give me a cast, so no one believed it was broken!! Was very frustrating as had to rearrange a supervision at uni, and my supervisor looked very pointedly at me when I came in to the rearranged sup with no evidence of any broken elbow...
 
Not fractured my elbow but I have severe nerve damage and muscle damage from 700kg of horse stomping on my elbow in July - I have full range back (albeit too much as I don't have my wrist flexors fully to stop it) but still suffer great pain at times. Extension is the hardest to recover, but elbows are tricky joints - never force the movement, only encourage it. As another member said, use a bath of hot water (not scalding, but warm enough to warm the tissues) and it'll help with the heat and buoyancy of the water.
 
I broke my elbow, put in traction for 24 hour, and then pinned. I had lots of physio and eventually it straightened, but over time its stopped going straight. I have had further physio with not a lot of success, and talk of more surgery, to release the nerve stuck under the scar tissue.

Its a long process, you need to be patient. Although mine doesn't straighten it doesnt actually cause me too much trouble
 
Not very helpful but mine was pinned & in cast for 6 whole weeks (snapped off my funny bone... not sure what the technical term for that is :p ). I admit, when the cast came off, I just made a point of walking around carrying heavy-ish objects to make it go straight, bending it wasn't too much of an issue really. Loads of people told me I'd need physio but I never did, I got a new horse about a week after the cast was off, tried him with it on :o Definitely sympathise though - had to go into school a few times & ask my friends to do my hair, because I couldn't reach it. Not fun!
Only thing now is that I still will automatically hold my arm as if it's in cast (holding the front of my jacket/coat to support it!) & where the scar is is very sensitive - hit it properly for the first time since I broke it (about 5yrs ago!) the other day & dear god... never again I hope.

I'm just glad I didn't break both, as the way I broke it involved landing on my back, slamming both elbows & my head into the road! Not very clever!

Hope you make a speedy recovery!
 
Sol said:
Not very helpful but mine was pinned & in cast for 6 whole weeks (snapped off my funny bone... not sure what the technical term for that is :p ). I admit, when the cast came off, I just made a point of walking around carrying heavy-ish objects to make it go straight, bending it wasn't too much of an issue really. Loads of people told me I'd need physio but I never did, I got a new horse about a week after the cast was off, tried him with it on :o Definitely sympathise though - had to go into school a few times & ask my friends to do my hair, because I couldn't reach it. Not fun!
Only thing now is that I still will automatically hold my arm as if it's in cast (holding the front of my jacket/coat to support it!) & where the scar is is very sensitive - hit it properly for the first time since I broke it (about 5yrs ago!) the other day & dear god... never again I hope.

I'm just glad I didn't break both, as the way I broke it involved landing on my back, slamming both elbows & my head into the road! Not very clever!

Hope you make a speedy recovery!
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Sounds very similar to mine - I've broken off the olecranon which is the pointy bit of the elbow, I think the funny bone?? I landed on the road too on my back/head/elbows - luckily the other elbow only had a bruise and a few grazes. Can't imagine having two useless arms..!
 
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