Rehab after broken arm

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Dreckly

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Well the cast came off my arm on Friday, but I had no idea it would be so swollen and sore. Fracture clinic signed me off and is referring me to physio but knowing the NHS it will be weeks before I get an appointment.

So I would love to hear peoples experiences of what they did. I know I need to use it to get the range of movement back, so do I use it even if it hurts, or use it until it hurts, never having broken anything before I am at a bit of a loss what to do.
 
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I've fractured my arm/wrist a couple of times and I always play it by ear once I have had my pot taken off... I have tended to be out on the yard anyway once I have a cast on it as I get really impatient so once it is taken off, I always try to resume normal service as quickly as possible but if it starts to hurt, I back off it a bit again.. You'll soon know if you're overdoing it... I thought I had broken my wrist a couple of months ago (turned out to be bruise of the bone) but there was absolutely no chance of me carrying a bucket/riding for the first 24/48 hours and mucking out took forever!

Good luck and hope it's not too painful for you...
 
It's years since I worked in orthopaedics, but I'm sure they used to advise people to move the injured arm gently, and to do exercises by "holding hands" ie raise the sore arm by holding the hand with your good hand. Disclaimer - this may be outdated!
 
I broke my arm a couple of year ago but I had it pinned, not casted.

I was told to use it as much as possible but to be careful not to overdo it. If it hurts a lot you're doing too much butyou need to keep it flexible and light use rebuilds bone.

However it may be different if it's not been fixed : mine couldn't move due to a great big metal plate but yours may not yet have knitted fully. Using it will then cause over-production and a big lump.
 
I will follow this thread closely as I broke my wrist 2 weeks ago! I'm going to the fracture clinic next week,and will then find out if it needs an Op,plus how long I will be out for. The useless lot at A&E never realigned it even though it was obviously wonky, so I am guessing that I may get it rebroken next week if it still looks the same! :o:rolleyes: I am very bored not being able to ride or work,so am just playing instructor to my little sister, plus leading and grooming my own horses as normal! :p I will want to ride as soon as the cast is off,but I ought to try and be sensible and refrain from doing too much too soon-I don't want anymore setbacks!!! :o
 
I badly broke my arm two years ago and got back riding and doing stuff as soon as I could. I didn't get physio or anything.

two years down the line I was really having trouble doing basic things like changing gears in my car and holding stuff up for even a few seconds. Finally went to a proper osteo and physio and got most of the power back in my arm. I wish I had got proper physio immediately after the cast came off. Would have saved myself years of hassle.

While I had the cast on I had been rolling my shoulder forward and only using the front muscles. So the "back' muscles of my shoulder and arm weren't being used and were actually getting worse. I was only using certian muscles and because of that lost a massive amount of motion in my arm. Physio gave me a really basic easy exercise programme and within a month my arm was 100% better. Once i started using the proper muscles they built back up and got stronger.

Get a recommendation for a good physio and even if you have to pay yourself, go to them! Wish I had done it 2 years ago!
 
Thanks guys.

Ghostie, I was really lucky as the A+E consultant put both bones back in perfect alignment in one go, so I did not need an op. I have followed advice to the letter and have not used it at all (luckily horse has been shipped out to friends). I was hoping to get back on and ride but I know at the moment that will not be possible. I am fine holding something in a straight line but as soon as I have to flex I get pain from the stiffness. Am trying to mobilise and use as much as possible and will have to see how it goes. I may get a private physio appointment if there is no improvement by midweek.

I hate doing nothing and miss my boy terribly but I know he is fine but it is so boring!!
 
I fractured my elbow and lower arm, plus detached the triceps tendon so had to have surgery, this was ten months ago and I still cannot fully extend my arm, but I could carry light things and put on headcollars etc after 3 months fine, and now can carry a heavy saddle/bucket on my bad arm which I have built up to. I was riding after about 4 months (getting on was the hardest bit!), but tendons take longer to heal and your break sounds relatively simple so I hope it is sooner for you, just try not to put yourself in situations where you could undo your recovery like some people do! Horsey bravado eh!

These are pretty much the exercises I was given by the physio which I admit I have not kept up with very well, but maybe the shirtless stretching man will have some info for you too. It depends where your break is I guess...

http://www.physioadvisor.com.au/8113050/elbow-stretches-elbow-exercise-physioadvisor.htm
 
I was given first physio within a week of the cast removal, so it wasn't ages. I started with pilates as soon as I could, then moved onto yoga. It did involve going through some pain barriers, but was worth it. My arm is ever so slightly wonky, but I can do everything again.
 
I will also watching this thread with interest. I broke my arm 3 weeks ago and have 2 more weeks before the pot comes off. Had people at the yard saying that they would be riding now with the pot on and because I want to wait til my arm is stronger so as not to set myself further back I feel like a bad owner/wimp/like I'm inferior etc. I know I shouldn't let other people sway me its just hurtful they way they keep going on at me.
 
I know of some people who rode with the cast on, but my break involved both bones and was told in no uncertain terms that to ride may pull it out again, or at the very least lengthen the healing time. I was quite happy to wait so that I hopefully have a better long term outcome.

Do what you think is best for you and ignore the others.
 
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