Casts On and Off….
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It’s been 9 weeks since I broke my wrist…. and got my first cast, a back slab on…
Two weeks later I got a real one put on:
This whole journey has been quite an experience! I discovered that a full cast helps with the pain a lot…. and gives a bit more support than the back slab did.
The latter was on only until the swelling went down, although the new cast, which was made from fiberglass, was cut down the side because I happened to be going on a plane trip the next day (more on that in a post of its own!).
I was given a great sling from the emergency department… and found it was very useful for putting things in:
… like letters and eggs… and holding my phone while I was taking Syvlie out for a walk:
(yeah, the chooks like to join us on our walks!)
After having the full cast on for 5 weeks I was back at the specialist… another x-ray to see if the breaks were healing (I broke it in two places):
And then the cast came off, leaving me with a very sore hand and arm, not to mention dropping skin everywhere I went:
I have never seen such dry skin! I’ve been putting loads of cream on it since then and it is looking much better…
After the cast came off, I had to see a hand therapist… she sent me home armed with a bunch of exercises to do for the next two weeks:
Tomorrow I go back to see how much my movement has improved.. and I think she is going to give me some strength training exercises. So far I am only allowed to lift a cup of tea…
I am not back at my main work yet.. but I am back to teaching quilting because that is just me basically bossing my students around 🙂 I have been doing some unpicking for them, however, which last week made my hand really sore.. so I realized I still need to be careful…
My breaks are healing nicely, but since my hand was immobile for 5 weeks, my muscles have a bit of atrophy so that is what is causing the most pain.
However, I can now use my right hand without too much pain to:
- drink my tea
- brush my hair
- spread butter and jam on my bread/toast
- type for a little while…
Brushing my teeth still hurts, as does things like using the rotary cutter (ahem) and iron (cough, cough) – don’t tell the hand therapist that I used both of them last week, will you?!
Thank you all for the emails, comments, and well wishes since I broke my wrist! I haven’t replied to all of them yet, but I will! Slowly!
I am hoping I can get back to blogging now – I do have a lot to tell you. I will try to write the posts in stages because right now my wrist is starting to ache again…. so I shall sign off! Talk again soon,
Thank you so much for the update. glad to hear you are healing, even though it seems to take so long. Let it! That way you’ll be able to use your -um – rotary cutter (I won’t tell) and other things!
Blessings!
Wow! That has to be getting old. But, thank goodness, you can still have your tea. 🙂 Hoping it heals completely soon.
Joy you have been a champ! Well done, and I know it seems a long time, but it looks like you are on the road to normalcy. Hope your pain goes away quickly. Thanks for the update!
I’m glad you are healing well, Joy. Just don’t overdo it with that rotary cutter!! Take good care of yourself!
Oh my! I’ve never had a cast, but I have heard of others who complained about the itching. Now I know why. You have had quite a time of it. Just keep doing what they tell you and you will be back in no time at all. Thanks for sharing.
The last cast (and only one) I had was at age 15 or 16….the dry skin and intense itching made it worse. That was a pain, but doable. With a left leg in a full cast, then a walking cast it wasn’t easy getting around. I can’t even imagine having one now (I’m 68). The break you had requires serious healing time, especially since we use our hands and arms so much and we don’t heal as well when we are older. Good for you to be doing the exercises and taking it easy! Tea & a good book, or a good movie to watch are limiting, but time will pass quickly. Taking walks is good for morale, too, especially to get out of the house and enjoy the outside. Here it’s still 100+ most days (it’s been a record number of those days this summer and we hate it!), so our walking is on a treadmill at the gym. At least we have the other machines to work on, too. Thankful for health coverage that includes full membership in a gym….
Hi Joy–so glad to hear you are healing nicely–miss you –bet you will be happy to be back at quilty things soon–what is going on with our friend Alice–I’ve sent emails and cards–but haven’t heard back in a very long time–????
hugs, to you-diane
bonne réeducation!
So glad that the cast has been removed and now you can get on with the next step in the healing process. Just don’t overdo it and give yourself a setback. Take care of you!
I am so glad to hear from you!!! Yes, it is slow going after a break–don’t skimp on the hand exercises; they will help a LOT! I still do mine! The ‘cheating’ is very tempting but try hard to go easy so you don’t hurt something you shouldn’t!
Hope this comment comes up & I;m not Anonymous. Been going to ring, but chaotic here at the moment too, mainly due to wind, power outages, having to cope with little brother etc. I’m hoping the arm/hand improves more & you can get back to normal. Take care & hugs. Susan.
So glad your wrist is healing well. Hang in there with the physical therapy.
Glad to hear you are mending Joy, sounds like a fair bit of damage done…. take care
Hugz