Don't Want to Rub the Wrong Way
August 18, 2010 7:47 AM Subscribe
Is it normal for the skin above a fracture to remain sensitive three weeks after a cast is removed?
You're not my doctor but I hope you might save me a visit to one if this is typical. The area of sensitivity used to be larger, another reason for thinking it normal. I still have a 2x4-inch area right above the fractures that's extremely sensitive. I feel it even when I use the trackpad on my lappy, as it rubs against my t-shirt and gets very uncomfortable.
Doc. said the breaks healed extremely well, I even made new bone in an area where they usually see just a cartilage "cap." The ligament is still a bother but that, too, gets better every day. I don't want to avoid seeing someone if I must, but I'd rather not waste the time and money (mine and theirs) if this is the norm.
You're not my doctor but I hope you might save me a visit to one if this is typical. The area of sensitivity used to be larger, another reason for thinking it normal. I still have a 2x4-inch area right above the fractures that's extremely sensitive. I feel it even when I use the trackpad on my lappy, as it rubs against my t-shirt and gets very uncomfortable.
Doc. said the breaks healed extremely well, I even made new bone in an area where they usually see just a cartilage "cap." The ligament is still a bother but that, too, gets better every day. I don't want to avoid seeing someone if I must, but I'd rather not waste the time and money (mine and theirs) if this is the norm.
I'm not sure if I understand the question exactly. To me- if a part of the body causes pain simply by rubbing against fabric, that means there is still an extreme problem. But you say "sensitivity", not pain. So I'm having trouble with this. It would seem if something has a minor sensitivity, it wouldn't be affected by slight touches.
Can you clarify what it feels like? When it rubs against your shirt, is it a shooting pain the makes you want to say "ouch!", or does it feel like a softer tender area like a bruise? And are you talking about a wrist or arm fracture?
I had a fractured wrist that set badly and eventually resulted in surgery to add a pin. For a long time afterwards, it seemed swollen and not quite right, but definitely not the same pain as before it was fixed. I have also had random sprains and a fracture in my foot that was set in a cast- when that cast was off, the shooting pain I had before it was set was totally gone.
posted by Eicats at 8:38 AM on August 18, 2010
Can you clarify what it feels like? When it rubs against your shirt, is it a shooting pain the makes you want to say "ouch!", or does it feel like a softer tender area like a bruise? And are you talking about a wrist or arm fracture?
I had a fractured wrist that set badly and eventually resulted in surgery to add a pin. For a long time afterwards, it seemed swollen and not quite right, but definitely not the same pain as before it was fixed. I have also had random sprains and a fracture in my foot that was set in a cast- when that cast was off, the shooting pain I had before it was set was totally gone.
posted by Eicats at 8:38 AM on August 18, 2010
...I guess I would say that if it feels like a bruise pain, that's probably normal. If it's a sharper, shooting, or throbbing type of pain, that might be a problem.
posted by Eicats at 8:41 AM on August 18, 2010
posted by Eicats at 8:41 AM on August 18, 2010
Best answer: I remember seeing people in physical therapy with me had this kind of problem. They had to rub paper towels on the affected area to desensitize them to the pain. some of these people and cry. Mind you this was in a soldier's clinic. The physiotherapy techs said it had something to do with the nerves and it happened some of the time. I have a tendon injury in my wrist and sometimes it does the same thing.
posted by chinabound at 9:10 AM on August 18, 2010
posted by chinabound at 9:10 AM on August 18, 2010
Response by poster: Eicats, it's exactly as if the first layer of skin were gone. I had a bad abrasion once on the other wrist and it's like that. The "pain" is cumulative from sensitivity ignored (continuing to use the mouse on that hand).
posted by Mertonian at 9:24 AM on August 18, 2010
posted by Mertonian at 9:24 AM on August 18, 2010
Response by poster: Chinabound this helps a lot. I have nerve sensitivity so your idea makes perfect sense.
posted by Mertonian at 9:25 AM on August 18, 2010
posted by Mertonian at 9:25 AM on August 18, 2010
Best answer: I've had deep cuts become extremely sensitive (not painful, but deeply & unpleasantly reactive to slight touches), long after they heal (month or so). It occurs sporadically: one day fine, then POW, then only itchy...
I'd guess it is related to the healing & regrowth of nerves, working out their "calibrations" with the brain.
posted by IAmBroom at 9:34 AM on August 18, 2010
I'd guess it is related to the healing & regrowth of nerves, working out their "calibrations" with the brain.
posted by IAmBroom at 9:34 AM on August 18, 2010
Best answer: glad it helps and happy to get my first best answer. to expound upon this I actually think there might be two types: the kind after a traumatic injury that will go away and the more chronic type that returns with agitation.
When I mentioned earlier in the physical therapy room was obviously the more acute and short-lived version.
I had both my knees and a shoulder rebuilt, and have a permanent wrist injury from a damaged tendon. I definitely had the first type after one of the surgeries (left knee), but it was a mild case.
unfortunately, the sensitivity on the knees (the top but not necessarily the skin) has persisted for years. I'd rather get kicked in the balls than even slightly twinge a knee against the corner of my desk--not exaggerating. the left one is really bad and once it is agitated from something like riding my bicycle, the skin itself seems to come back to being very sensitive. of course, it can be pretty difficult to tell what is the skin and what is the top of the knee. Light pressure sensitive to off.
Same thing with the wrist but even to a greater extent. It seems to get worse if I agitate it - (like right now when my voice-recognition is acting up); even slight rubbing of the skin is not just uncomfortable but painful. and in this case I am positive it is the skin. For the longest I thought maybe it was some weird psychosomatic thing (despite seeing it early on), but it doesn't happen to the other affected areas where I have had surgery, like my shoulder, throat or abdomen. it kind of makes sense because my wrist started with a partial tear and attended which then was kind of unraveling + chronic tendinitis/ something else itis. So it wasn't something that could really be healed completely. This kind of validates IAmBroom's theory I think.
I think at some point the body tries to send signals that says "hey, this part still is damaged, stop pissing me off!!"
at least that's my two cents. I hope you can heal completely.
posted by chinabound at 11:56 AM on August 18, 2010
When I mentioned earlier in the physical therapy room was obviously the more acute and short-lived version.
I had both my knees and a shoulder rebuilt, and have a permanent wrist injury from a damaged tendon. I definitely had the first type after one of the surgeries (left knee), but it was a mild case.
unfortunately, the sensitivity on the knees (the top but not necessarily the skin) has persisted for years. I'd rather get kicked in the balls than even slightly twinge a knee against the corner of my desk--not exaggerating. the left one is really bad and once it is agitated from something like riding my bicycle, the skin itself seems to come back to being very sensitive. of course, it can be pretty difficult to tell what is the skin and what is the top of the knee. Light pressure sensitive to off.
Same thing with the wrist but even to a greater extent. It seems to get worse if I agitate it - (like right now when my voice-recognition is acting up); even slight rubbing of the skin is not just uncomfortable but painful. and in this case I am positive it is the skin. For the longest I thought maybe it was some weird psychosomatic thing (despite seeing it early on), but it doesn't happen to the other affected areas where I have had surgery, like my shoulder, throat or abdomen. it kind of makes sense because my wrist started with a partial tear and attended which then was kind of unraveling + chronic tendinitis/ something else itis. So it wasn't something that could really be healed completely. This kind of validates IAmBroom's theory I think.
I think at some point the body tries to send signals that says "hey, this part still is damaged, stop pissing me off!!"
at least that's my two cents. I hope you can heal completely.
posted by chinabound at 11:56 AM on August 18, 2010
Response by poster: Chinabound do you think I should tell the doc who treated my fracture?
posted by Mertonian at 2:27 PM on August 18, 2010
posted by Mertonian at 2:27 PM on August 18, 2010
Of course! At worst, you'll be a little embarrassed and he'll say it's nothing. Can't hurt to ask.
posted by chinabound at 8:18 PM on August 18, 2010
posted by chinabound at 8:18 PM on August 18, 2010
Response by poster: You're right. The nurse said it's not abnormal and made a note in my record. Thanks again. I'm so glad you answered this one!
posted by Mertonian at 3:37 PM on August 19, 2010
posted by Mertonian at 3:37 PM on August 19, 2010
Your description of the pain really does sound like a sensitive nerve thing. Hope the desensitizing works and you feel better soon!
posted by Eicats at 8:23 AM on August 20, 2010
posted by Eicats at 8:23 AM on August 20, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Remember that its still healing and can take a few weeks or more after the cast comes off to be 100% again.
posted by anti social order at 8:07 AM on August 18, 2010