Probably no plank poses
December 27, 2016 6:11 PM Subscribe
You are not my doctor, but maybe you have broken your wrist before: what is okay and not okay to do before you get a plaster cast?
This morning I broke my wrist. The doctor took an x-ray but did not give me very much information other than that it's broken. Because I am flying tomorrow, they put my arm in a removable splint – the velcro kind you buy at Walgreens – and I made an appointment to (probably, they said) get a cast on January 9th. However, they didn't give me information about how to care for my wrist (rules I need to follow or steps I need to take) in the interim, which I'd sort of like, especially since I will be traveling overseas. I was pretty out of it at the time, so I didn't think to ask. I do not know anything about the type of fracture I have, only that it is "not TOO broken." (I assume it can't be that serious - they didn't have to set it or anything.)
Like: can I type? Wiggle my fingers? Presumably I shouldn't play football - what other activities should I avoid? If my arm swells up on the plane should I remove the splint? (They did say I could take it off to shower.) Should I put it in a sling? What can I do to make it more comfortable? How can I avoid screwing it up further?
Basically: what did your doctor tell you when you broke your wrist? (I would just ask the doctor, but it was a weird urgent care place that doesn't seem to have a phone.) I understand that all wrist fractures are different; I would like to err on the side of behaving conservatively.
This morning I broke my wrist. The doctor took an x-ray but did not give me very much information other than that it's broken. Because I am flying tomorrow, they put my arm in a removable splint – the velcro kind you buy at Walgreens – and I made an appointment to (probably, they said) get a cast on January 9th. However, they didn't give me information about how to care for my wrist (rules I need to follow or steps I need to take) in the interim, which I'd sort of like, especially since I will be traveling overseas. I was pretty out of it at the time, so I didn't think to ask. I do not know anything about the type of fracture I have, only that it is "not TOO broken." (I assume it can't be that serious - they didn't have to set it or anything.)
Like: can I type? Wiggle my fingers? Presumably I shouldn't play football - what other activities should I avoid? If my arm swells up on the plane should I remove the splint? (They did say I could take it off to shower.) Should I put it in a sling? What can I do to make it more comfortable? How can I avoid screwing it up further?
Basically: what did your doctor tell you when you broke your wrist? (I would just ask the doctor, but it was a weird urgent care place that doesn't seem to have a phone.) I understand that all wrist fractures are different; I would like to err on the side of behaving conservatively.
Best answer: (I have had both major and minor wrist fractures, and have two plates and a dozen screws in one). Basically , if it really hurts don't do it. Don't totally immobilize it either- the degeneration from inactivity can have more of an impact, long-term, than the fracture itself. Keep moving your fingers and hand, at the least, and also to some extent your wrist. Don't use a sling, that means your shoulders start to degenerate too. Obviously avoid impact or the chance of impact if possible.
posted by rockindata at 6:46 PM on December 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by rockindata at 6:46 PM on December 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
You should call in the morning and ask. It really depends on what type of fracture you have.
posted by fshgrl at 7:35 PM on December 27, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by fshgrl at 7:35 PM on December 27, 2016 [6 favorites]
If your fingers get numb, blue or cool loosen the splint. I'm a big fan of a cloth bag of dried beans heated in a microwave applied to the afflicted area for 20 minutes then a hour without, to help combat pain and increase blood flow to the injury.
Edit: don't break the splint. Sorry, seen it happen way more than once.<
posted by ridgerunner at 7:56 PM on December 27, 2016
Edit: don't break the splint. Sorry, seen it happen way more than once.<
posted by ridgerunner at 7:56 PM on December 27, 2016
My husband had a wrist fracture that sounds similar. The doctor told him to avoid anything that hurt or moved the wrist sideways, but moving the hand back and forth was fine (though this might depend on your fracture). No bike riding (too much force on the wrist), and he couldn't drive for awhile (automatic transmission) because he lacked the grip strength to shift.
posted by third word on a random page at 8:28 PM on December 27, 2016
posted by third word on a random page at 8:28 PM on December 27, 2016
Best answer: Usually the splint is placed such that the area with the fracture is immobilized.
Most "wrist fractures" are distal radius or ulna fractures, meaning that no bone in the hand is broken, although I can't speak to your fracture specifically. Did you not get any written record of your diagnosis? If they don't answer the phone, go there and ask for a copy of your records.
For the aforementioned majority of wrist fractures, the usual splint placed is a volar splint, which makes it so that you cannot bend your wrist. In these cases, there's no problem doing things with your fingers, it's just your wrist that you're meant to keep still.
Don't do anything that has a chance of further injuring the wrist - i.e. any kind of contact sports or other activities where you are likely to fall or get hit by something. Don't bear weight with that hand/forearm.
Keep your arm elevated above the level of your heart by laying it on pillows when you are resting. This will help to minimize swelling and pain. If it starts getting so swollen that the splint is uncomfortable, just rewrap the ACE bandage, but keep the splint on, and work more on keeping it elevated. Compression by the ACE wrap is part of what will help with swelling.
You can definitely put it in a sling, just take your arm out of the sling several times a day and put it through a range of motion so that your shoulder and elbow don't sit in the same position overly long.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 11:16 PM on December 27, 2016 [5 favorites]
Most "wrist fractures" are distal radius or ulna fractures, meaning that no bone in the hand is broken, although I can't speak to your fracture specifically. Did you not get any written record of your diagnosis? If they don't answer the phone, go there and ask for a copy of your records.
For the aforementioned majority of wrist fractures, the usual splint placed is a volar splint, which makes it so that you cannot bend your wrist. In these cases, there's no problem doing things with your fingers, it's just your wrist that you're meant to keep still.
Don't do anything that has a chance of further injuring the wrist - i.e. any kind of contact sports or other activities where you are likely to fall or get hit by something. Don't bear weight with that hand/forearm.
Keep your arm elevated above the level of your heart by laying it on pillows when you are resting. This will help to minimize swelling and pain. If it starts getting so swollen that the splint is uncomfortable, just rewrap the ACE bandage, but keep the splint on, and work more on keeping it elevated. Compression by the ACE wrap is part of what will help with swelling.
You can definitely put it in a sling, just take your arm out of the sling several times a day and put it through a range of motion so that your shoulder and elbow don't sit in the same position overly long.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 11:16 PM on December 27, 2016 [5 favorites]
I should add, you'll want to get a copy of your records to the doctor you're following up with anyway, so that that person will know what's wrong with you, so you might as well get it sooner than later.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 11:17 PM on December 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by treehorn+bunny at 11:17 PM on December 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Wear a sling in the airport and on the plane, whether you need one or not: it will serve as visual notice to others that they shouldn't bump into your arm.
posted by mgar at 7:42 AM on December 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mgar at 7:42 AM on December 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ice it a lot - do not use heat - you want to reduce swelling and increase blood flow to the injury to pull swelling out of the tissue. Icing will help with that and reduce your pain. But yeah I would call and ask about how immobile you need to be. When I broke my wrist it was too swollen to cast for about a week. Soft cast, ice, pain meds as you need them and avoid bumping it! Flying injured is a nuisance.
posted by leslies at 12:28 PM on December 28, 2016
posted by leslies at 12:28 PM on December 28, 2016
"We spoke to Dr. Sameer Dixit, MD, primary care sports medicine physician at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine for some advice...
When to Use Ice
“Very generally, for acute injuries within the first 48-72 hours, we recommend ice,” said Dr. Dixit. “Ice can help with swelling in these situations.” ...“Ice tends to constrict blood vessels thus decreasing swelling,” says Dixit....
it's recommended that you don't apply ice directly to the skin, and that you not use it for more than ten minutes at a time without taking a break.
When to Use Heat
“Heat is generally more helpful for issues that have occurred over time,” says Dr. Dixit. In other words, it's more likely to be helpful for chronic, reoccurring injuries, and “tightness if it is not related to swelling.” While ice constricts the blood vessels, heat tends to dilate them, increasing blood flow."
Some what different than advice given to patents injured on the job sites and returning to work the same day. I.E. ice the first 24-48 hrs. then heat.
posted by ridgerunner at 4:23 PM on December 28, 2016
When to Use Ice
“Very generally, for acute injuries within the first 48-72 hours, we recommend ice,” said Dr. Dixit. “Ice can help with swelling in these situations.” ...“Ice tends to constrict blood vessels thus decreasing swelling,” says Dixit....
it's recommended that you don't apply ice directly to the skin, and that you not use it for more than ten minutes at a time without taking a break.
When to Use Heat
“Heat is generally more helpful for issues that have occurred over time,” says Dr. Dixit. In other words, it's more likely to be helpful for chronic, reoccurring injuries, and “tightness if it is not related to swelling.” While ice constricts the blood vessels, heat tends to dilate them, increasing blood flow."
Some what different than advice given to patents injured on the job sites and returning to work the same day. I.E. ice the first 24-48 hrs. then heat.
posted by ridgerunner at 4:23 PM on December 28, 2016
I had a wrist fracture, possibly a little more serious, but I would definitely recommend immobilising your wrist as much as possible and resist the temptation to use it. I wouldn't worry too much about it weakening, you can do simple physio once it's healed. If you have swelling that involves pain or feeling pins and needles, loosen your wrist support.
posted by askmeaboutboardgames at 4:40 PM on December 28, 2016
posted by askmeaboutboardgames at 4:40 PM on December 28, 2016
Best answer: I flew last year with a damaged wrist that was in a splint. I had to take it off on the plane because of swelling, but I often had to remove it in my sleep for the same. In the long run the doctor did not (in fact) find a visible fracture but I had some interesting tissue damage and I understand that's pretty common with breaks and stuff too, so expect pressure changes, cold and excessive movement to hurt potentially. I didn't use a sling and was encouraged to move my fingers. The PT person who made the splint even went to great trouble to make sure I had use of fingers as immobilizing them can cause long term issues. But yeah, don't move the wrist if you can avoid it, and don't bear weight on it, hold a coffee cup or try to lift stuff even if it feels like you might be able to. And go see a hand specialist when you can, because wrists are weird and sometimes don't heal well. All those tiny bones with minimal blood flow, you know! And the Ulna is a bitch, too.
Oh, and if you can find it -- fingerless gloves, the kind that don't have half fingers but just two slots for finger and thumb, are brilliant for the discomfort of the splint. Way better than the little stockinette thing they give you at the doc's.
posted by palindromeisnotapalindrome at 6:59 PM on December 30, 2016
Oh, and if you can find it -- fingerless gloves, the kind that don't have half fingers but just two slots for finger and thumb, are brilliant for the discomfort of the splint. Way better than the little stockinette thing they give you at the doc's.
posted by palindromeisnotapalindrome at 6:59 PM on December 30, 2016
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posted by goodbyewaffles at 6:13 PM on December 27, 2016