Comments for The Daily Nugget

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by Doreen

Doreen — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:37:19 +0000

I broke my wrist on January 10th. Surgery and 3 pins which were removed end of February. PT once a week (too expensive to do more) for about 8 weeks. Also have been taking Mobic for 3 months since cast was removed. I really think maybe the cast was too tight and when I got it off I had a lot of swelling especially in the knuckles and fingers. I now have about 85% back in the wrist. Ring and little finger can not be straighten and the doctor said today they will probably always be that way. He called it Fibrosis. He said though the wrist will continue to improve for a year. I have never broke a bone before and don’t plan on ever doing it again. Thank goodness it was my right hand and I am left handed.

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by linda

linda — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:56:14 +0000

ashley- i wanted to comment to you too. although i have no advice as to what to do. just hope your knee heals, and it doesn’t continue to hurt your wrist using crutches..sending healing vibes to you. heck we all need healing vibes! prayers! GOD BLESS US ALL…

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by linda

linda — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:32:00 +0000

cheryl–thanks for that info. We are so inundated w/ bills that i cringe at the thought of paying for PT on top of it. hubby really pushes me to stretch out every night. i also lost a dog a week ago, more bills more sadness. anyway thanks for the heads up on things getting better. I sure hope both your wrists heal, how horrible to break both!

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by Cheryl

Cheryl — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:10:31 +0000

linda – the physical thereapy I did I could have done at home. Most of the exercises you can find on the internet. One of the reasons I kept going was because if I didn’t go I knew I would not do them on my own because they are uncomfortable but they did get most of my range of motion back. Swelling is almost gone – which makes it easier to bend my arem. Swelling prevented it from bending. I was where you are now at 9 wks and now I have almost full use of my hand and getting stronger every day. Still have stiffness, tingling and some uncofortablilty but not like before. I still do my exercises daily expecially the squeeze putty. I’m on my fourth month since surgery and the pain is minimal now.

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by linda

linda — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:03:47 +0000

I have to wear a wrap everyday to get any housework done. then I find once I take the wrap off I am stiff…time to soak, then hubby helps me stretch it out. It is VERY frustrating that the healing process is so SLOW. But I think you all know that. Shayna like the kiddy leg warmer idea. I need a smaller (shorter) wrap.

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by Shayna

Shayna — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:40:47 +0000

I live in a warmer climate (San Diego) but have still found that keeping my arm/wrist/pins warm helps reduce the amount of pain. The arm brace I wear is super ugly so I went to the 99¢ store and bought kids’ leg warmers — perfect fit for my arm!
I used ice packs once at physical therapy. It felt nice — I could tell it was helping with the swelling — but ooh when that plate gets cold! Talk about discomfort.
Also, give your arm enough time to heal. I thought my arm was ready to carry groceries and do some painting within the first month, and I paid for it.
Next, and I don’t know how much this really helps, but I’ve started using bio-oil on my scar to help reduce redness. I apply it twice a day and I feel like I’ve gotten more comfortable with my plate and screws. I can feel some bumps under the skin (the not-so-pointy pointy ends of the screws), and I’m able to identify tender spots more precisely.
Lastly, I went in the jacuzzi a couple nights ago and I held my arm in front of one of the jets. The hot water alone felt great, and I was able to get some pretty good ROM in the water.

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:19:56 +0000

I had pins in last October . I still have pain at times. But I just had major knee surgery. So with the crutches its even worse…any tips?

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by Cheryl

Cheryl — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:56:53 +0000

Broke BOTH my wrists 12/27/11. Surgery was done 12/30/11. Plate and screws put in right wrist. It has taken a lot longer than I ever anticipated healing and getting some normalcy back. Reading this site has given me hope that I am not the only one that has these questions about the length of healing time. My doctor said 2 mo – then 3-6 months – now up to a year. My problem is the numbness and tingling in my thumb, thumb pad and ring finger. Has anyone else had this problem and how long does it take to go away?

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by Shayna

Shayna — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:59:04 +0000

Linda — yes I’m on fb, look me up =) My last name is Rians, and my picture is a black and white photo.
As far as physical therapy goes, it’s all been very gentle stuff. We normally warm my arm and wrist up first with hot packs. One of the things we’re working on improving is, with my elbow at my side, being able to turn my hand palm up and palm down, as flat as possible each way. If one way is particularly tight, we’ll lay it in the tighter position underneath the hot pack. Then hanging my wrist over the edge or the table and work on relaxing it and letting it dangle, then bending it up, then flipping it over and dangling it backward. There’s another thing with clothes pins that are clipped into a horizontal metal bar, and I have to unclip them and turn my wrist to place them on a vertical metal bar. I’ve found that just trying to perform everyday activities with my surgery wrist/arm has helped. Sometimes it’s too hard (like lifting the milk jug, so I just use my other hand), but there’s some days when it just aches too bad to even try.
I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow, where I’ll probably have an X-ray done and we’ll see if I need to use a bone growth stimulator.
Anyway, I hope to connect with you on fb. It’s been hard trying to talk to my husband about my pain/recovery because he just can’t relate.

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by linda

linda — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:13:55 +0000

Shayna– is the physical therapy painful? is it helping? I have been doing it on my own w/ hubbies help, as we can’t afford PT right now. I may do it down the road tho.
I also have no decent pain meds left, I have tramadol, which seems like a placebo to me– I don’t feel it helps the pain/discomfort at all.
btw are you on fb? maybe we could connect on there to chat easier..this is fine too tho.

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by Shayna

Shayna — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:00:45 +0000

I’m 4 months post-op and my ROM is still not back to what it was. When I bend my wrist backwards, there’s about 20-degrees difference. When bending inward though… they’re pretty much the same! I’ve had I think 6 physical therapy sessions, but it still aches and hurts pretty regularly. I think everyone is different and there’s no normal or abnormal rate of healing. One of the girls that I see at physical therapy just had a TFCC repair and she still isn’t back to normal and it’s been 6 months. Also, I’ve never been much for pain killers, but I find not taking them allows me to describe the aches and pains I’m having more accurately. Good luck everyone.

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by linda

linda — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:40 +0000

well i am almost 9 weeks post op– and still have very little strength or ROM in my wrist/hand. i was hoping to be much better by now. i am also wondering if i will need the plate removed–my arm around the incision always feels tight and weird feeling. any words of advice or encouragement would be appreciated.

Comment on Stockton Sucks! by Patti

Patti — Sat, 05 May 2012 03:12:29 +0000

If you have never been to Stockton, you really can’t judge it. What you would discover is there is no way this is the most miserable city in America. I grew up here, too, and my friends and family who live here ARE NOT MISERABLE. There are some very nice places in this city. Like most cities, there are bad areas, and like most cities this size, there is crime, but it does not make this a miserable place to live.

Comment on Ronald Reagan: The Bad and the Ugly by Nicki

Nicki — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:19:26 +0000

Randy, in your case, you fit your quote to a “t”. You should learn to read and research before you react. He did in fact close mental hospitals just as he did, in fact grant amnesty to more than 3 million illegals. In the amnesty bill, he also eliminated the strict sanctions placed on employers who hire illegals.

However, you are a fine example of the “far right” voters. Facts mean nothing, you just care to bash liberals, but liberals never voted for amnesty during his presidency and liberals did not close mental hospitals.

Comment on Sweet Dolores Park Video by Jeremy Breningstall

Jeremy Breningstall — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 06:48:13 +0000

Very atmospheric.

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by linda

linda — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:51:22 +0000

Tip 2. is correct. Here is the proof.

Epsom Salt Bath Recipes: (Read Precautions)

For soaking: Add two cups of Epsom Salt to warm water in a standard-sized bathtub. Double the Epsom Salt for an oversized garden tub. For the added benefit of moisturizing your skin, add one-half cup olive oil or baby oil. Bathe three times weekly, soaking for at least 12 minutes. Popular for easing muscle pain and fading bruises.
Do not use soap as it will interfere with the action of the salts.
Try to rest for about two hours afterwards.
If you have arthritic joints move them as much as possible after an Epsom salts bath to prevent congestion in the joints, which will only aggravate the pain.

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by linda

linda — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:27:45 +0000

Ty Star and Shayna. I kinda poofed yesterday. The following are some tips I found on the net, so thought I’d share.

1. Keep up the exercises and here is a hint that might help you. Always do whatever exercise movement that they have given you with the uninjured wrist first. Do 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps per set with a 1 minute rest period between sets. When you have done the uninjured side then do the same movements with the injured side. There is a reflex in the body that transfers strength from the stronger muscle to the weaker. This should help you.

2. Soak your hand in hot water with salt everyday..the hottest you can stand to help reduce swelling. (never heard of this before..so unsure)

3.It will be a couple of months after the cast is removed before you feel like you are your old self.
Physical therapy shouldn’t hurt but if done right it is not abnormal to have some minor swelling after and some discomfort. You are trying to get full movement back into your wrist and strengthen your forearm muscles that have become weakened from being in a cast.

4. Symptoms of post operative surgery will take a while to settle down. Worst thing you can do is immobilize your wrist. You must move it a little at a time day by day and not to over do it. Things will seem abnormal at the moment, until any swelling has gone and the wrist joint becomes a lot stronger. You will gain full mobility with time. Each person is different. Generally 3 months is a guide. To help heal a good supplement of Glucosamine Sulphate from your local health shop would be of benefit.

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by Shayna

Shayna — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:05:49 +0000

Linda -
Is your doctor expecting you to have more range of motion already?
I’ve never had surgery before this one, so I didn’t know what to expect. I still have swelling (it’s going down slowly — about 2/10 of a centimeter each week), and I think that’s part I what’s limiting my range of motion. I also think being immobilized in a cast for 7 weeks caused my muscles to shrink up. It’s not like I can’t bend my wrist with some assistance — it just WON’T move hardly at all.

Can you check around and see if there’s a different doctor you could see? I have a really good doctor, but I’m in San Diego — not sure where you are.

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by Star

Star — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 21:04:56 +0000

HI Linda, i too am about 3 weeks post op i had titanium pin with 2 screws holding my radius bone together. i went back to hospital yesterday bc of multiple reasons and quite a few questions. my doctor said i was behind on my pt which was discouraging but they didn’t schedule me for my first pt apt until next week, 4 weeks after surgery so i had nothing to go by other than resaearch. they did tell me i need to push harder and keep up with it all day, so this is my advise to you. I know for me it is very painful when I push hard but the doctors say it’s important. I did at the advise of my massage therapist/friend to get a parafin unit which has been helping tremendously. good luck and keep up with your pt!!

Comment on Wrist Surgery Recovery by linda

linda — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:48:31 +0000

Shayna – yes I have a plate w/ 3 screws. Then 6 little pins above the plate.
What scares me is the Dr’s expectations..I don’t really care for him anyway, but at the rate I’m going, I’m afraid he is going to make me feel worse.
And I agree with you 100% that 3 weeks isn’t that long.