Could do with some advice and help

[Robinredbreast]

Hi, I could do with a little help. As many of you know I broke my wrist August 3rd,( smashed it up badly) and two weeks ago ( 16th Sept) the cast was removed. I started to get pain it got worse and worse, the bones have healed well, but I now have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and went to my first Hand Therapy appointment last week, I am on Tramadol, paracetamol and anti sickness tablets, the pain is excruciating at times, it feels like electric shocks or lightening running from my elbow to my finger tips. I scream through the pain and bite on a towel when it is at its worse. Day to day chores and work I'm self employed ,a part -time handy person.. I am finding its so difficult and the shape of my wrist/hand is something from a Sci fi film, it's awful. I will try to upload a photo soon.
People have said' sue the hospital,'; Oh my god what have they done to your hand' and saying I should apply for some help. tbh I don't know what to do or where to start. I have been told it will take months for my arm to get better, also, my thumb is a bit numb as well and I can hardly move it, same with some other fingers. Today is the first real day I actually feel a bit better hardly any nausea and no vomiting.
Best wishes, always RRB x

 

[jack412]

they have done this before and are probably right..I'm only guessing on the internet, but I'd see a hand/neurologist specialist/consultant for nerve induction study, mri of wrist, and stuff, it doesn't sound right to me, it sounds more like a nerve being trapped and aggravated by movement, I'd seek a second opinion

 

[Robinredbreast]

Thanks jack, unfortunately I cannot move wrist, it is locked in the same position it was plastered in (curved over), will make another appointment to see my GP and go from there. A couple said I should apply for disability ? but, I'm hoping it wont always be like this.?

 

[jack412]

it could be adhesions and scar tissue from the injury when the bone broke? like a frozen shoulder ?

 

[Robinredbreast]

Possibly Jack, The break was a Comminuted distal radial fracture ( multi fragmented break) but consultant said it has healed remarkably well, feel disabled though

 

[jack412]

with the cast on ..no pain
take cast off..electric like pain and frozen wrist
it still sounds like a pressure on a nerve ..as far as I can tell from Australia

 

[Robinredbreast]

Images of hand/wrist taken today.

 

[poohtiggy]

This may seem like a silly question but are there signs of dark hairs or change of colour in your hand? I ask because I too broke my wrist several years ago and was a while in plaster my hand was fine until the plaster came off and I raised the roof of the hospital with the pain, it was swollen and misshaped like yours but also very dark hairs and colouring.Fortunately I was in an Orthopedic only hospital and they knew what the problem was. After treatment I was speaking to my GP and he had never heard of MD which in the arthritis catergory and can occur after a limb has been in plaster I'm not a doctor but from my experience I think you should definitely get it checked out

 

[noblehead]

Your hand still looks incredibly swollen, all was not well from the start when you first broke as it never looked right from your early photo's, I do wonder if they put the plaster on too soon before the swelling in your hand had a chance to go down, I had this with my broken ankle 20+years ago and I had to go back in and have the cast removed and re-plastered.

As for advice, the best people to ask is the Citizens Advice, if they can't help they will point you in the right direction. Good luck RRB.

 

[poohtiggy]

Thanks Jack

 

[Robinredbreast]

This may seem like a silly question but are there signs of dark hairs or change of colour in your hand? I ask because I too broke my wrist several years ago and was a while in plaster my hand was fine until the plaster came off and I raised the roof of the hospital with the pain, it was swollen and misshaped like yours but also very dark hairs and colouring.Fortunately I was in an Orthopedic only hospital and they knew what the problem was. After treatment I was speaking to my GP and he had never heard of MD which in the arthritis catergory and can occur after a limb has been in plaster I'm not a doctor but from my experience I think you should definitely get it checked out

Thanks poohtiggy, Yes my hand was a darker colour than the other and looked different to other people with broken wrists. Also I had pain whilst the 2nd cast was fitted, it was painful and I had tears in my eyes so plasterer went and got the consultant to come in, she said the A & E plaster was rubbish and found a thumb print indention in the first cast. I have had pain throughout the 6 weeks and kept asking why I had pain, no real answers from anyone. My hand is now getting a mottled affect, and has always been swollen, large % of thumb is numb and nail on thumb is concaved and the nails are growing much longer very quickly. The condition, CRPS is being dealt with at the Hand Therapy clinic, I will see how it goes, but I don't hold up much hope with the hospital because of the way I feel I have been treated, everyone I met has made comments about my hand/wrist and I have never been so sick and unwell in my life.
Can I ask what MD is and the treatment you received ? How long did it all take to get back to normality ?
Thanks again RRB

 

[Robinredbreast]

Your hand still looks incredibly swollen, all was not well from the start when you first broke as it never looked right from your early photo's, I do wonder if they put the plaster on too soon before the swelling in your hand had a chance to go down, I had this with my broken ankle 20+years ago and I had to go back in and have the cast removed and re-plastered.

As for advice, the best people to ask is the Citizens Advice, if they can't help they will point you in the right direction. Good luck RRB.

Thank you Nigel, after the A&E plaster and after manipulating the break, it was incredibly swollen and I had a feeling things weren't right with it and it never looked 'normal'. 2nd appointment with Hand Therapy is on Thursday afternoon. RRB

 

[smartlady]

My friend broke her wrist old years eve. very similar story to yours. Swollen, painful, numb. Went back after 2 wks & they re~did her plaster but totally in wrong position again. After 6 wks in 2nd plaster her hand looked like yours. Sorry to tell you but she ended up having an op, bone graft & in plaster again. Now suing Dr & hosp. Please go & see someone asap. Your wrist does not look right.

Hopefully you will soon be pain free

Smartie xx

 

[Robinredbreast]

Thanks smartie, I will get in touch with PALS at the hospital, The last 2 months have been a nightmare to say the least, but I have been diagnosed with CRPS.

RRB

 

[douglas99]

Thanks smartie, I will get in touch with PALS at the hospital, The last 2 months have been a nightmare to say the least, but I have been dianosed with CRPS.

RRB

I was thinking the same.
Get in touch with PALS, and raise a complaint.
If you haven't been treated as well as you could have been, at least they with take better remedial action.

 

[poohtiggy]

Thanks poohtiggy, Yes my hand was a darker colour than the other and looked different to other people with broken wrists. Also I had pain whilst the 2nd cast was fitted, it was painful and I had tears in my eyes so plasterer went and got the consultant to come in, she said the A & E plaster was rubbish and found a thumb print indention in the first cast. I have had pain throughout the 6 weeks and kept asking why I had pain, no real answers from anyone. My hand is now getting a mottled affect, and has always been swollen, large % of thumb is numb and nail on thumb is concaved and the nails are growing much longer very quickly. The condition, CRPS is being dealt with at the Hand Therapy clinic, I will see how it goes, but I don't hold up much hope with the hospital because of the way I feel I have been treated, everyone I met has made comments about my hand/wrist and I have never been so sick and unwell in my life.
Can I ask what MD is and the treatment you received ? How long did it all take to get back to normality ?
Thanks again RRB

Sorry been off line for a while, I think you really need to get this checked, as I said I can only go off my experience and it really sounds like you may have a condition called Reactive Surgical Dystrophy (sorry got the wrong initials earlier) it can happen in any limb which has been plastered for a while, it's extremely painful and the skin becomes sensitive and mottled and that was the clue, the mottled appearance! I did I not want to give you that clue! Try to keep your fingers moving, if only slightly and massage your hand using E45 cream. In my experience general doctors do not know much about (mine had never heard of it) but a good hand physiotherapist will. Don't like to go into too much detail as I could be wrong but it still needs urgent attention. Please let me know what happens

 

[Enclave]

O dear, my wife broke her wrist over 16 years ago for the 4th time .. He wrist cannot turn like the normal one and if it starts to turn will have her screaming in pain .. The pain will last for days .. It is fixed in the same shape as yours looks .. She was offered another operation on the wrist .. But was in hospital for three days when they set it the first time .. So has learned to live with it .. And as long as she is careful not to let it twist she's fine. She can bend it backwards and forwards without to much discomfort.
Now when the horse fell on her foot the wrist problem seem not so bad .. She still has a problem walking .. But to use crutches was very painful all round. Hope you get your wrist sorted out ...

 

[Robinredbreast]

Yes I will keep you all informed and will bring up your condition of RSD. Consultant referred me the Hand Therapy Clinic and is convinced its CRPS. I try to move my fingers in warm water which is more comfortable and I am stroking and touching my hand with different textures and I gently massage as well, I have never broke a bone in my life until August and now I am worried I will end up with a disability. Thank you so much, it is such a help at a difficult time. RRB

 

[poohtiggy]

My friend broke her wrist old years eve. very similar story to yours. Swollen, painful, numb. Went back after 2 wks & they re~did her plaster but totally in wrong position again. After 6 wks in 2nd plaster her hand looked like yours. Sorry to tell you but she ended up having an op, bone graft & in plaster again. Now suing Dr & hosp. Please go & see someone asap. Your wrist does not look right.

Hopefully you will soon be pain free

Smartie xx [

 

[Robinredbreast]

O dear, my wife broke her wrist over 16 years ago for the 4th time .. He wrist cannot turn like the normal one and if it starts to turn will have her screaming in pain .. The pain will last for days .. It is fixed in the same shape as yours looks .. She was offered another operation on the wrist .. But was in hospital for three days when they set it the first time .. So has learned to live with it .. And as long as she is careful not to let it twist she's fine. She can bend it backwards and forwards without to much discomfort.
Now when the horse fell on her foot the wrist problem seem not so bad .. She still has a problem walking .. But to use crutches was very painful all round. Hope you get your wrist sorted out ...

Oh your poor wife, she been through such a lot.

My wrist is stuck in that awful position I cannot move it at all. They said they couldn't plaster it straight in case the bones didn't fuse together properly which seemed odd at the time,( but I am not a medical person) so it was plastered at an angle !!

Many thanks Enclave

RRB.