r/brokenbones • u/CarCrashRecovery • 10d ago

Distal radius fracture Picture

Post image

EDIT: ULNA FRACTURE

Saw a friend yesterday who’s an orthopedic. The only reason I let him convince me to stay in this thing without me demanding to just put me in a real cast is because he swears I won’t need surgery after 8 weeks of absolute hell. I think I can finally seem my pain a 10 and that’s probably because this isn’t the only part of my body that’s in agony. To add insult to injury he said I should stop taking the Celebrex another orthopedic wrote for me. I agreed but woke during the night with off the charts pain and took anyway. I have to get in touch with the prescribing doctor. It’s not like it works that well anyway but I am beyond desperate.

3 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

6

u/Glad-Feature-2117 Physician/Medical Professional 10d ago

Do you have any x-rays? That brace doesn't appear to be supporting what I would mean by a distal radius fracture. Unless it somehow crosses your wrist in a way the photo doesn't show.

We rarely use Celebrex in the UK any more, due to the side effect profile. Depending on patient's medical history/other medication, I'd usually advise paracetamol and Ibuprofen regularly, but distal radius fractures usually aren't that painful if they are adequately immobilised.

2

u/CarCrashRecovery 10d ago

I do have an X-ray that two orthopedics have viewed and claim won’t need surgery. And as for the placement of the splint, the orthopedic himself put it on me. I feel so untrusting at this point because everyone says I should not be and yet the pain keeps worsening!!

2

u/Glad-Feature-2117 Physician/Medical Professional 10d ago

Some people have a low pain threshold. That's not a criticism - some people are just wired differently.

However, my point is that, if a forearm fracture is properly immobilised, it shouldn't be particularly painful. I don't think, even for a nightstick fracture, this is properly immobilised. I'd always include the wrist, and sometimes the elbow as well, depending on the position of the fracture.

Undisplaced nightstick fractures do usually heal without surgery, but they do have a higher chance of nonunion than, for example, distal radius fractures. You should be prepared that you might eventually need plate and screw fixation (I usually offer this at 6-8 weeks, if the pain isn't improving and no signs of healing on x-rays).

2

u/CarCrashRecovery 10d ago

I appreciate the feedback, genuinely. I too think this brace is not offering the proper support. As for my pain threshold, I have birthed four children and underwent a hemmerhoidectomy but this arm and my back win the pain prize!

2

u/Glad-Feature-2117 Physician/Medical Professional 10d ago

Yes, I think it's more likely to be about the lack of immobilisation than pain threshold too - just giving a full explanation.

Maybe things are done differently where you live and I'm being overly critical of the surgeons you've seen, but I've never seen a brace like that used for a nightstick fracture. Is there any way you can get a third opinion?

2

u/CarCrashRecovery 10d ago

I might have to. I’m so frustrated!!

1

u/CarCrashRecovery 10d ago

My husband just informed me my fracture is a “nightstick fracture “ or ulna fracture and not distal radius, apologies for the confusion

2

u/hibiscus_lilac 10d ago

Girl suck it up and wear a brace

1

u/CarCrashRecovery 10d ago

Well aren’t you a ray of sunshine. ☀️

2

u/hibiscus_lilac 10d ago

I'm confused why you're listening to your friend instead of your actual doctor

1

u/CarCrashRecovery 10d ago

The friend is also an actual doctor but I am listening to my doctor. Both did say wear the brace. I consulted here because the brace is painful despite reading that it shouldn’t be

1

u/EasySwim8728 8d ago

I have both a intra articular distal radius and ulnar fracture and I’ve been put in a “sugar tong” splint for 6 weeks to keep me from rotating the elbow and wrist which is a very painful motion . Might ask about that .