| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/9/2008 9:41:36 AM | Hey looking for some advice,
I broke my wrist on my dominate hand during a tri. The doctor said basically my summer is gone as I had broke my wrist in 7 different pieces. I have pins in it right now and i know i have a couple of months. I'm worried my physical condition is going to go down as i am pretty much inactive. Cant do my fav activities (cycling, running, swimming). Weights i guess are out. Any ideas on what are any other acts. i can do? I think stationary bike and light runs on the tread are fine but i'm not really sure... Sorry if the grammar and spelling is off hard to type with one good hand ;( | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/9/2008 10:23:36 AM | | Why can't you run? Are you in a sling? You could probably do an eliptical. It's more cardio based. Inline skating too, although if you don't know how I couldn't recommend learning with a broken wrist.... haha | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/9/2008 11:51:35 AM | | I had asked my doc about that one..He didn't think it would be wise having it moving around all over the place. The treadmill seems to be fine though as long as I don't over exert. Never thought about the elliptical. Inline skating is out.. Don't think the hospital would be impress with even more broken bones. | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/9/2008 12:44:53 PM | | I am not advising you to run, but I have to say, if it were me, I would still run. Running will maintain your aerobic base, and general fitness, and it shouldn't cause any problems for you wrist. | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/9/2008 1:41:10 PM | | You can still exercise the other arm, in addition to your legs and other body parts. There will be some chemical spillover effect which will help improve the condition of the injured hand. Don't give up on that. | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/10/2008 2:05:13 AM | I wouldn't run if I were you.
Back in a PE lesson at school once I fractured a bone in my wrist. Didn't realise it at the time, but when we went for a run around the field it HURT LIKE HELL. Decided I needed to get it checked out at the hospital immediately after that.
So I would think that even if it's partially healed, all the jarring and moving about you will get from running will be extremely bad for it. If you're going to exercise, it needs to be zero-impact activities like the exercise bike, or perhaps the cross trainer. I would probably avoid the treadmill too, to be safe.
For a serious bone injury like this, if it doesn't heal properly that will affect you for the rest of your life - it may even do that to some extent anyway. Healing properly is far more important than keeping your fitness level up for the next few months.
You can get fit any time in your life, but you only get one chance to heal that wrist properly. | |
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4rum
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Joined: 5/10/2008
Msg: 7 | |
| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/10/2008 5:58:27 AM | What SlyKnight said ^^^
The lower and middle phalanx of my index finger was flattened in a gym accident requiring pins and a lot of physiotherapy.
But, I was so hooked on training that all I could think about was that I'd lose my fitness and strength.
Weight training and swimming were definitely out.
Any movement involving any part of my body leaving the ground was so so painful. Jarring hurt so much I vomitted once. My body screamed pain and I told it I'm not getting fat because of a stupid finger. Stupid me!
I should have focused on giving my body it's time to heal. If I had it might've healed properly instead of fusing in a way it wouldn't bend and needing a second operation. Time elapsed between accident and second operation= 2 years.
Mend well. | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/10/2008 6:19:39 AM | I would need to know more about the break. Is it at the end of your radius or ulna or are the breaks in the floating bones of the wrist? The pins would suggest one of the long bones, but it would help knowing more specifics.
Why can't you do running? I'm confused, although I understand cycling.
Just think how much more exciting bowling just became, now that you'll use your other hand ~ Lol.
You're right it is going to take all of the summer and most of the fall to heal properly. | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/10/2008 9:18:29 AM | Guess I was way wrong doing a Trail Marathon with a broken collarbone 2 years ago. Guess it all depends on how important your running is to you..  | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/10/2008 12:30:14 PM | The first thought and probably what I feel right now is exactly the same as 4rum. I am so worried about the loss of my fitness and training. In the past three years I lost over 40lbs and 4 inches off the waist. I just felt so good with the training and my accomplishment that I'm worried about the slide being on the sidelines. That and the need to do something...
As for the break...I don't have the specifics. I was in a bit of a daze when I was talking to the orthopedic surgeon. Though from what I recall is that was more of the two long bones than anything else. Running was said to be out as it would be jarring of the movement of the arm when running.
I just don't like the idea of sitting around for 3 months. | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/10/2008 12:48:09 PM | sitting on your ass will do nothing to increase circulation. This is why athletes who get injured learn to work around their injuy even if it means training the upper body while having a knee injury and vice versa.
Anytime you decrease circulation, you will not speed up healing. Exercise, but do so within your limits until your injury heals.
Its better to do something than nothing!!!!!!!!!!! | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/12/2008 11:31:06 AM | Have you thought about maybe taking up simple yoga? Moves that don't require you to put pressure on your wrist? Sounds like from your description you had an open reduction and internal fixation of the wrist; I would really advise you do not do anything that stresses the fractures lest you end up misaligning the bones as they heal which could cause permanent defects in functioning.
Power walking is a good idea, since there's not much jarring.
Water aerobics could also work as you're in the shallow end of the pool. They're actually really difficulty and quite the work out :) | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/12/2008 3:18:17 PM | Thanks Halo,
I tried about two or three minutes on the treadmill and I was in too much pain to try it. Looks like it will be the stationary bike and brisk walk for me now.
Can't really go into the pool now with the current cast. I will see in two weeks when the docs remove the pins and hopefully transfer me to a fibreglass cast. | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/13/2008 9:44:58 AM | OP - I feel your pain. I am in recovery from second surgery on a distal radius fracture. 1st surgery was in October and as the tip had exploded, hardware of course was necessary. Second surgery to remove hardware revealed TFCC tear which was repaired.
To your question - I would stick with low impact exercise and use the pain in your wrist as your barometer. Don't exercise to the point of pain in your wrist. Depending on what your surgeon has given you the OK on, if you are able - keep your fingers moving. Doesn't have to involve resistance - just move them. I was stunned at how much atrophy was in all the tendons and muscles once PT/OT was started the first time. I was further shocked to learn how many tiny little bones, tendons etc there are in the wrist and hand alone.
There are many low impact strengthening exercises for the inner core (abs and such), legs and so forth that don't involve putting stress on your wrists and further don't involve any special equipment. If you are still in a sling, be sure to rotate that shoulder periodically to retain it's flexibility and also the elbow. I don't know how far post-op you are, but if you are still experiencing inflammation - ice packs are your friend and inflammation is your foe. Elevate your wrist above the heart as well periodically to help keep the inflammation down. Inflammation = more pain.
Walking is also a good exercise - easier in recovery post-op if you do wear a sling while walking. Ankle weights work good for walking.
I hope these suggestions are helpful. Fractures in or near the wrist are very complex injuries to heal from and if you push too much too soon, you risk a potential poor outcome. H*ll being down a hand, isn't it?
Good luck! It is a long recovery time. For my fracture - 6 months per surgery. Not fun - but it does get better!
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/13/2008 4:55:09 PM | | You certainly can do weights. Do all the weight exercises or machines that don't involve your broken wrist. Working around the injured area will help speed its recovery by promoting circulation. Working the uninjured arm can have a chemical spillover effect on the muscles of the injured arm, so you can get it back up to strength soon once the wrist has healed. Inactivity is to be avoided. | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/16/2008 1:18:41 PM | Thanks for the advice. I've gone on a day hike which wasn't too bad. Walking outside for about two hours has done me some good (Also alleviated me from going stir crazy). I think leaving my wrist as a barometer was a good idea. Let's me know my limits.
Started weights with my legs and some core exercises. I'm thinking that I won't do any arms yet. I'm worried about the strength disbalance once I'm out of this cast.
Things I've learned:
Driving sucks with one hand (only had to learn that once and for 10 minutes)
Eating chopsticks also sucks
I will have to swallow my pride and ask for help (ie asking for fork for sushi)
Logitech makes a great hand neutral dominate mouse | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 6/16/2008 6:57:58 PM | Msg.17 - you're still in cast and worrying about this? Yikes! When your surgeon releases you for PT or OT - (out of cast), you'll likely be starting with passive ROM which is still not weight-bearing and certainly not strengthening.
Use your teeth to get the chopsticks in the right place in your usable hand. Practice - it'll work (might look strange but might as well have some fun with it). Besides, nothing wrong with asking for help if you need it so swallow that pride that historically precipitates eating "crow". I don't think crow is on the sushi menu either.
As for the rest of your concerns (strength balance), once you are recovered enough to get back to your usual program - you'll make up what you lost in record time.
Driving does suck one-handed but you'll never take for granted two-handed driving again. Or eating sushi with chopsticks either.
Meanwhile, walk a LOT and be patient. Takes a lot longer to heal from that degree of wrist fracture than it took to break it in the first place. Coming out of cast doesn't mean you can do everything you did before all of a sudden either. Healing is a process, not an event. | |
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| Broke my wrist on my dominate hand
Posted: 7/8/2008 12:47:54 PM | | The cast and pins came off today and I can not be so happy. A bit sore from the muscle loss but I have physio starting next week. I know I have a long ways to go but to have the cast off is something in itself. I am giving my self a week before I try a slow ride on my bike. Doctor says I should be good on the road but I should lay off on the mountain bike for a while. My family thinks I'm nuts to get back on the bike again after what all has happened, for me there's nothing better than being on a bike again.. Guess I will never learn. | |
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