broken humerous questions
(10 discussions)
I fell Thurs and broke my humerus (Impact fracture)I just have sling is this enough?How can I speed healing? will osteoposis make it take longer to heal? dr said 6 weeksIs it true I can’t knit? drive?thankssandy
10 comments
May PT
Hi there…the human body heals at a rate that we can’t really speed up. However, if you smoke, drink alcohol in excess, are overweight and eat badly you can slow that normal healing process down. Yes, it takes 6-8 weeks for a fracture to heal properly. Osteoporosis can impact the healing time, but to what extent you have osteoporosis is impossible for me to know, your doc will take an x-ray in a few weeks to see the progress of healing. Just remember to eat healthy foods, stop smoking if you do. Yes, the sling is good for now. Do not do anything that causes pain. Make sure and keep moving your hand, maybe squeeze a small ball a few times a day…and don’t forget to turn your palm up and then down while in the cast so your other joints don’t lose their motion. Maybe in a couple of weeks, take your arm out of the sling, let your arm rest at your side and try to bend your elbow. If you are having a really tough time, ask your doc if you can have some PT. I’m afraid you will have to put the knitting on hold for now.
sandy
Thanks so much for answering. My arm is not in a cast. Is this normal? This orthopedic doctor who saw me after fall isn’t too into PT. The sports med guy who found my osteoporosis, wouldnt see me after I fell. Not sure if Id be better with him? I will do hand exercises you suggested, don’t smoke etc Is it important to walk and try to do osteoporosis exercises even now?NO driving for 8 weeks? Thanks so muchsandy
May PT
Hi Sandy…yes, it’s very common not to cast those types of fractures. That’s why it’s important to not “make it hurt” so it heals properly. About the driving, ask your doc…can you drive with one hand? When do you see your doc again? Ask him when you can actively move your shoulder. I think if docs were “more into PT” would have much better outcomes in regards to recovery and folks getting back to normal activities much quicker. Best of luck,M. Scott PT
sandy
Thanks so much for your answers. Today I had to seedifferent doctor. (My doc was out). This guy told me to knit but it hurts (sigh). More important, he said he said take off brace,lean over, let arm hang and do circles andhorizontal and vertical moves. It hurts some, does this sound ok? BTW, I Fractured bone last Thurs (4 days ago). Thanks in advance,sandySandy
sandy
Scott,Thank you so much for the exercise URL. That helps so much. I almost quit doing the exercises ’causeI thought it was a “mistake”. I can’t thank you enough. I guess I’ll survive without knitting for a while, actually pain from that is in my wrist. Thanks againHappy ThanksgivingSandy
May PT
Your welcome… I wish I could do more…you have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!!Mary
May PT
Yes, your doc told you to do what are called “Codmen’s exercises”. Check out this sight, it will tell you a little more on how to do them properly.sensored It may be hurting when you do the Codman’s because you are moving your arm too far. Would you be able to knit if you propped a pillow under your arm and try to keep your elbow closer to your body? Can you crochet instead?Have a happy thanksgiving!Kindly,M. Scott PT
sandy
Hi Mary,May I ask one more question? I can’t raise my arm more than a couple inches from/above my body if elbow is not bent even worse than a week ago when I fractured humerous. Is this “normal” or do u think I damaged something else ie rotator cuff?Another concern, I have to be “restriction free”to return to job in 6 weeks (work in hospital and need arm/hand for microscope/type/much more.) Willmovement return as bone heals?BTW I do Codman exercises–ok with gravitythankyou so much in advancesandy’
jenny
What can cause the humerous bone to snap in two? I know an infant who has this injury and we aren’t sure if it may have been a previous injury that happened a few weeks earlier and it just finally finished breaking(there has been a fall from a baby swing) or if it happened at one moment. What kind of pressure would cause such a break? Thanks!!
p ingram
my wife broke her humerous and she has a numb hand is this normal