Broken hand - Cast/Bandage worries
Discussion
Long stort short, I've broken my hand (5th Metacarpal) and was put in half a cast for a week. Fun times.
After a trip to the hospital/fracture clinic today, I've had my cast removed and then essentially gave something that could probably pick up in a Tescos. Kind of link a gauntlet type thing, with 4 velcro straps, with my 4th and 5th fingers bound together.
The fact i'm concerned is that I only had the cast on a week, my hand is still very much broken and this gauntlet type thing (Don't know the official name, sorry) isn't really supporting the break. I've put my own bandage on underneath it, and it feels much more secure.
Am I being paranoid, or is this pretty normal to be in a cast for only a week?
Also, if I push gently on the side of my hand, I swear I can feel the fracture move slightly - surely i'm not supposed to be able to do this?
After a trip to the hospital/fracture clinic today, I've had my cast removed and then essentially gave something that could probably pick up in a Tescos. Kind of link a gauntlet type thing, with 4 velcro straps, with my 4th and 5th fingers bound together.
The fact i'm concerned is that I only had the cast on a week, my hand is still very much broken and this gauntlet type thing (Don't know the official name, sorry) isn't really supporting the break. I've put my own bandage on underneath it, and it feels much more secure.
Am I being paranoid, or is this pretty normal to be in a cast for only a week?
Also, if I push gently on the side of my hand, I swear I can feel the fracture move slightly - surely i'm not supposed to be able to do this?
IANAD, but I understand its more common to go for something less restrictive to overall joint movement these days.
You get muscle wastage and loss of grip strength surprisingly quickly - make sure you get some physio when it's healed up.
If you're that concerned give fracture clinic a call and ask to discuss with consultant / registrar
You get muscle wastage and loss of grip strength surprisingly quickly - make sure you get some physio when it's healed up.
If you're that concerned give fracture clinic a call and ask to discuss with consultant / registrar
Hrimfaxi said:
Long stort short, I've broken my hand (5th Metacarpal) and was put in half a cast for a week. Fun times.
After a trip to the hospital/fracture clinic today, I've had my cast removed and then essentially gave something that could probably pick up in a Tescos. Kind of link a gauntlet type thing, with 4 velcro straps, with my 4th and 5th fingers bound together.
The fact i'm concerned is that I only had the cast on a week, my hand is still very much broken and this gauntlet type thing (Don't know the official name, sorry) isn't really supporting the break. I've put my own bandage on underneath it, and it feels much more secure.
Am I being paranoid, or is this pretty normal to be in a cast for only a week?
Also, if I push gently on the side of my hand, I swear I can feel the fracture move slightly - surely i'm not supposed to be able to do this?
You saw a specialist, he/she set a management plan in place. I am not going to comment on it, and nor should any one else without seeing you, examining you, looking at your Xrays and going through a discussion.After a trip to the hospital/fracture clinic today, I've had my cast removed and then essentially gave something that could probably pick up in a Tescos. Kind of link a gauntlet type thing, with 4 velcro straps, with my 4th and 5th fingers bound together.
The fact i'm concerned is that I only had the cast on a week, my hand is still very much broken and this gauntlet type thing (Don't know the official name, sorry) isn't really supporting the break. I've put my own bandage on underneath it, and it feels much more secure.
Am I being paranoid, or is this pretty normal to be in a cast for only a week?
Also, if I push gently on the side of my hand, I swear I can feel the fracture move slightly - surely i'm not supposed to be able to do this?
If you need more information, or are having problems, you need to get back in front of your Fracture Clinic team. Not Pistonheads. We are supportive and knowledgeable (the fracture bone PH people), but you need facts not guesswork.
The_Doc said:
You saw a specialist, he/she set a management plan in place. I am not going to comment on it, and nor should any one else without seeing you, examining you, looking at your Xrays and going through a discussion.
If you need more information, or are having problems, you need to get back in front of your Fracture Clinic team. Not Pistonheads. We are supportive and knowledgeable (the fracture bone PH people), but you need facts not guesswork.
Sometimes patients just need a bit of comfort from someone with shared experiences. You know "yes I had the same thing" can help a lot.If you need more information, or are having problems, you need to get back in front of your Fracture Clinic team. Not Pistonheads. We are supportive and knowledgeable (the fracture bone PH people), but you need facts not guesswork.
I've got a lump on the 5th metacarpal of my right hand where I broke it and it was never treated. The bone, when my hand is flat, is higher than the knuckle due to the pronounced "hump" in it. Caused when I threw a punch that would have been pretty sweet if it had connected with my opponent's face, but he ducked his head and the blow glanced off his skull. It was treated as bruising/soft tissue damage, and never X-rayed at the time (late 1980s). It doesn't really bother me that much, but when i'm distracted I often find myself putting my left thumb into the palm of my right hand, in the void under the "hump", and rubbing the top of the hump with my fingers. I didn't box much after that, so it doesn't cause any issues, really. So long as it mends, and it almost certainly will, the exact alignment of it won't matter that much.
Much more recently I broke my Tib & Fib and had an ORIF (Open Reduction, Internal Fixation) done. Basically they cut me open and plated and screwed it all together. Well, they plated the Tibia, anyway. The fibula was left to heal by itself, and again, that wasn't exactly lined up when it healed so it took a good while longer than it might have. I had to wait while the fresh bone tissue formed and filled the gaps at the join.
Everything works as it should, though, and there's not a great deal of other important organs/vessels around the metacarpal to cause complications, as far as I'm aware. I'm sure you'll be fine, OP, just so long as you follow the sawbones' advice while it all repairs itself, as nature has designed it to...
ETA: Here's an example of NHS advice for the injury type... https://yeovilhospital.co.uk/your-hand-5th-metacar... ...Individual hospitals, and patients, may differ from this "norm" but as far as I can see the advice you are getting is in line with the standard printed advice handed out to patients elsewhere in the NHS.
Much more recently I broke my Tib & Fib and had an ORIF (Open Reduction, Internal Fixation) done. Basically they cut me open and plated and screwed it all together. Well, they plated the Tibia, anyway. The fibula was left to heal by itself, and again, that wasn't exactly lined up when it healed so it took a good while longer than it might have. I had to wait while the fresh bone tissue formed and filled the gaps at the join.
Everything works as it should, though, and there's not a great deal of other important organs/vessels around the metacarpal to cause complications, as far as I'm aware. I'm sure you'll be fine, OP, just so long as you follow the sawbones' advice while it all repairs itself, as nature has designed it to...
ETA: Here's an example of NHS advice for the injury type... https://yeovilhospital.co.uk/your-hand-5th-metacar... ...Individual hospitals, and patients, may differ from this "norm" but as far as I can see the advice you are getting is in line with the standard printed advice handed out to patients elsewhere in the NHS.
Edited by yellowjack on Wednesday 4th March 12:18
Mr Pointy said:
The_Doc said:
You saw a specialist, he/she set a management plan in place. I am not going to comment on it, and nor should any one else without seeing you, examining you, looking at your Xrays and going through a discussion.
If you need more information, or are having problems, you need to get back in front of your Fracture Clinic team. Not Pistonheads. We are supportive and knowledgeable (the fracture bone PH people), but you need facts not guesswork.
Sometimes patients just need a bit of comfort from someone with shared experiences. You know "yes I had the same thing" can help a lot.If you need more information, or are having problems, you need to get back in front of your Fracture Clinic team. Not Pistonheads. We are supportive and knowledgeable (the fracture bone PH people), but you need facts not guesswork.
sorry i was a bit shouty
Thanks for the replies.
The_Doc - Please don't mistake the fact that was looking for medical advice on here, my post was more to see if anyone else was in, or had been through the same situation. For the record, I have phoned the fracture clinic back and will speak with a consultant soon.
I was told about the potential for a small bump/reduced knuckle and small finger and the need to exercise my fingers. Was actually quite surprised at how weak my hand/wrist felt when the cast was cut off.
Yellowjack - That sounds painful! I didn't actually go to A&E until 4 days after i'd done mine. I bandaged it up, but had no idea it was broken, even though it became swollen initially. Manage to shut my thumb in my car door last year, and that was much more painful than this ever was.
The_Doc - Please don't mistake the fact that was looking for medical advice on here, my post was more to see if anyone else was in, or had been through the same situation. For the record, I have phoned the fracture clinic back and will speak with a consultant soon.
I was told about the potential for a small bump/reduced knuckle and small finger and the need to exercise my fingers. Was actually quite surprised at how weak my hand/wrist felt when the cast was cut off.
Yellowjack - That sounds painful! I didn't actually go to A&E until 4 days after i'd done mine. I bandaged it up, but had no idea it was broken, even though it became swollen initially. Manage to shut my thumb in my car door last year, and that was much more painful than this ever was.
Hrimfaxi said:
Thanks for the replies.
The_Doc - Please don't mistake the fact that was looking for medical advice on here, my post was more to see if anyone else was in, or had been through the same situation. For the record, I have phoned the fracture clinic back and will speak with a consultant soon.
I was told about the potential for a small bump/reduced knuckle and small finger and the need to exercise my fingers. Was actually quite surprised at how weak my hand/wrist felt when the cast was cut off.
Yellowjack - That sounds painful! I didn't actually go to A&E until 4 days after i'd done mine. I bandaged it up, but had no idea it was broken, even though it became swollen initially. Manage to shut my thumb in my car door last year, and that was much more painful than this ever was.
My metacarpal thing? That was when I was boxing for my regiment when I first joined the army. Initially I went to the Medical Centre, and was shooed away with some Brufen and Tubigrip. By the time the swelling eased it was a bit late to be re-setting it, and so it was left as it was and I was put on light duties for a while. The_Doc - Please don't mistake the fact that was looking for medical advice on here, my post was more to see if anyone else was in, or had been through the same situation. For the record, I have phoned the fracture clinic back and will speak with a consultant soon.
I was told about the potential for a small bump/reduced knuckle and small finger and the need to exercise my fingers. Was actually quite surprised at how weak my hand/wrist felt when the cast was cut off.
Yellowjack - That sounds painful! I didn't actually go to A&E until 4 days after i'd done mine. I bandaged it up, but had no idea it was broken, even though it became swollen initially. Manage to shut my thumb in my car door last year, and that was much more painful than this ever was.
Or if you're talking about the Tib & Fib thing? I have a high tolerance for pain. Stitches without anaesthetic? No problem. But the pain I was in after I smashed up my leg? Indescribable. I dug holes in my scalp with my fingernails on the trauma orthopaedic ward when the morphine didn't relieve the pain, and I made so much noise that they moved me to a private room to give the other 5 patients on the ward some peace. It didn't help that I broke it on a weekend, and got bumped from the emergency theatre slot twice when more serious cases came in under blue lights. So i spent two nights with it splinted externally, with some pretty hideous swelling going on. Your hand will mend, I'm sure. Just as mine did, as well as my shoulder blade, and leg when I did them. The body is pretty good at mending itself, even better when assisted by modern medicine. Just make sure you push for physio when it's healed though. And if the NHS doesn't provide what you feel is "enough" physio, pay for some yourself if you can. A good physio can really improve the outcome after the bone mends.
Sorry, the Tib & Fin situation! That sounds absolutely terrifying! Makes me look a right t
t breaking my hand by falling off my mountain bike
Thread update - Been back to the Fracture Clinic, they want me to have as much movement in my hand as comfortably possible and wasn't overkeen on putting my own bandage underneath the support thing. He's let me keep it there, but must to regular exercises.
t breaking my hand by falling off my mountain bike Thread update - Been back to the Fracture Clinic, they want me to have as much movement in my hand as comfortably possible and wasn't overkeen on putting my own bandage underneath the support thing. He's let me keep it there, but must to regular exercises.
Op, if it helps, I am currently undergoing *exactly* the same treatment.
Broke my 5th metatarsal falling down the stairs. Spent the first week in a half cast.
The only difference is that I was booked in for an op to put some kirschner wires in, but due to an anomaly in my ECG the op was cancelled.
Cast was cut off, I’ve now got a fabric/velcro brace thing isolating my 3rd&4th fingers. Been told to wear that for 4-6 weeks and take the brace off periodically to exercise the hand and keep some movement.
My main concern is that I was meant to have the op as my fracture has rotated so I have some ‘scissoring’ of my little finger when I try and make a fist which the op was going to correct. Seems I’ll just have to live with that.
All in all Op seems your treatment is pretty standard. Only thing to bear in mind is my surgeon said if during recovery I wasn’t happy with how it was healing I’m to call and they’ll x-ray it to see what’s occurring.
Good luck!
Broke my 5th metatarsal falling down the stairs. Spent the first week in a half cast.
The only difference is that I was booked in for an op to put some kirschner wires in, but due to an anomaly in my ECG the op was cancelled.
Cast was cut off, I’ve now got a fabric/velcro brace thing isolating my 3rd&4th fingers. Been told to wear that for 4-6 weeks and take the brace off periodically to exercise the hand and keep some movement.
My main concern is that I was meant to have the op as my fracture has rotated so I have some ‘scissoring’ of my little finger when I try and make a fist which the op was going to correct. Seems I’ll just have to live with that.
All in all Op seems your treatment is pretty standard. Only thing to bear in mind is my surgeon said if during recovery I wasn’t happy with how it was healing I’m to call and they’ll x-ray it to see what’s occurring.
Good luck!
Also broke my metacarpal last October. I only went to the hospital a week after I originally broke it - I must have refractured it which prompted the trip to A&E.
I just had tape tieing the little finger to the next one, and the hand brace with velcro + steel bar inside.
Healed remarkably quickly, The consultant said I could stop using the brace 10-14 days after the hospital trip...I ended up using it a bit longer as I was concerned about tripping up and refracturing it.
No long term effects other than if my hand gets very cold I can feel a very dull ache in the general area.
I just had tape tieing the little finger to the next one, and the hand brace with velcro + steel bar inside.
Healed remarkably quickly, The consultant said I could stop using the brace 10-14 days after the hospital trip...I ended up using it a bit longer as I was concerned about tripping up and refracturing it.
No long term effects other than if my hand gets very cold I can feel a very dull ache in the general area.
Edited by gazapc on Monday 9th March 08:41
Wiliferus - That is pretty much identical! Almost down to the point about the fracture being rotated, I've managed to fracture in such a way that it has spiralled around the bone, almost 3/4 of the way. The Doctor warned me about what you described, but thankfully I haven't had to go down the route. Get well soon!
As gazapc describes, that was the bit that was worrying me initially, I didn't feel like the brace was any where near the level of support for the fracture - which led me to keep my own bandage on underneath. Seems I've avoided having to have a steel bar alongside it though.
As gazapc describes, that was the bit that was worrying me initially, I didn't feel like the brace was any where near the level of support for the fracture - which led me to keep my own bandage on underneath. Seems I've avoided having to have a steel bar alongside it though.
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