Humerus fracture recovery

and to add, sorry to hear that after 3 years it must be pissing you off big time, here I am thinking I will be playing football and golf soon, that's a damper, I dont even weight lift I just do it to stay in shape. I am curling right now 10 pounds left arm and 35 right arm. and now that I think about it (maybe its just me) but my tricep on my left arm looks really different than my right arm, obviously it's not as cut as my right arm but looks like its in a different area. my buddies call me The Gimp.

The humerous itself healed crooked..The break was prob 3 to 4 inches above my elbow So its not actually my elbow but my elbow is where i have discomfort its not too bad it just doesnt feel the same slight aching feeling part of my elbow thats closest to my body but what can i expect thats where most of the pressure is going during any pressing movement, and mainly its due to lifting weights im not sure but the doc didnt think I would be harming anything by continuing with weight lifting. But i play golf on a regular basis and have no problem there. If you look at me straight on or from behing you can tell my arm is crooked but most people dont notice it till i tell them cause its just not something you look at.  

And he didnt mention anything bout therapy i went there after i got my softer cast off and i could extend and retract my arm so they said i didnt need to come back.. Is it your elbow that you are implying is off degree wise and if so how did that happen?  And thanks alot for your input 

Weightlifterforlife - so sorry to hear you are still having problems after such a long period but aren't you concerned that surgery might cause more problems? I suspect my break is healing crooked and am scared I will be told that I need surgery. Cutting through your nerve?! I would be scared about losing the use of my arm/hand altogether.
 
At what point did your bone start healing? Have you been advised that further bone tissue will form to strengthen it or is surgery the only other option? Could you lift your arm over your head when you got the soft cast removed? I amazed that you didn't need any physio - your bone must have healed quickly. Did you lose much muscle mass?
 
I would look to see if you can get an opinion from another orthopaedic surgeon before you make a decision 

(Sorry for all the questions - I'm still in the fretting stage!)

Tiny Titan-Ya i agree on the second opinion, ya it did heal quickly, and i dont think more bone will come in there is alot of bone around the fracture already, its just with any pressing movement the pressure on the elbow joint won't be perfectly square opposed to if my arm were straight. It prob started healing 10-14 days out didint feel bones grinding anymore at that point.And ya i could lift my arm over my head after a couple of days, but i was also in a soft cast for awhile before i started therapy. Didnt lose too much mass i kept doing squats on a machine at home, curls and tricep work and did single dumbell rows with my good arm at home with free weights. But the left side of my body bicep, tricep, shoulder,forearm,back looked pretty weak when that cast came off. You could prob get back to where you were at in 2 to 3 months after the doc gives you the ok to lift.  Weight lifting just means alot to me and dont want to give it up, dont want to risk a complication through surgery though either really upsets me. Thanks for the input

Attached images are the one immediately after the break and 3 weeks later. To me there is no difference but the suregeon seems to be pleased as 'sticky stuff' is forming and new bone should start showing on the xray after 8 weeks. The bones have overlapped so I will end up with a hole that will gradually fill in as new bone starts forming
 
Says it is likely to heal crooked but that shouldn't cause a problem and that I should be able to straighten my arm properly though I can't at the moment. Also should be able to build the muscle back up as usual. Though its painful I'm also going to try and build the bicep up with a handgrip to help raising the forearm.
 
He put me in a brace and says I should start exercising the arm with no more than 5kg, lifting it up and down is excrutiating but I'm determined to do it to get my arm back to normal as soon as possible.
 
I asked him why it is such a common injury for arm-wrestlers and he confirmed that it is down to a twisting motion rather than the muscle being unable to take more force.
 
Have to go for another xray in 3 weeks

Attached Image(s)

Ya it looks like the segment that broke off close to your ribs is healing back into place..

Of course takethe advice of your surgeon.

But I had one of the best surgeons in the UK and he recommended surgery as there are so many negatives with conservative treatment such as limited ROM and muscle atrophy.

I have ZERO loss of strength in the arm, NO loss of muscle and full ROM. Any competant surgeon should never get near the radial nerve sothe risk of risk drop is very small.

http://www.spirehealthcare.com/MethleyPark/Our-Facilities-Treatments-and-Consultants/Our-Consultants/Mr-Balachandran-Venkateswaran/

http://www.nuffieldhealth.com/Individuals/Consultants/V/Venkateswaran-B/

Here are his details if any of you are UK based andhave private medical

Weightlifterforlife - the orthopaedic I saw seems to be dead against surgery despite the fact that, like you, my bone will end up misaligned. He reckons it won't cause a problem long term despite there being a big hole in the bone that needs to heal over.
 
Without any prompting he confirmed that surgery would mean cutting open the entire length of my upper arm to put in a plate. Other people's experience seem so different but I guess that is the NHS for you! It makes me wonder whether surgery would be the best option as it sounds like our injurys are similar and I can see myself having the same problems that you've experienced.
 
Whatever you decide, I wish you the best. 

Week 3. Think healings going fine. Still know that the bones are separate althogh the horrible grinding is gone and has been replaced by a more subtle 'click'  when I move my shoulders. Still in the cast. I can clench my fist and lift my arm up by at least 30 degrees from a right angled position. Feel that I am able to do more with the arm as well, turning off switches, opening handle doors. Theres still some slight shar pains when I stess the arm in the right angled position.

Have a medical on Monday. Fingers crossed and there is new bone formation. this cas is getting loose because the swelling on my arm has definitely reduced a lot. Cant wait to get out of it.

on another good note, If i clency my right fist in the 90 degree position I can also move my arm from side to side, although I cant to this when my fist isnt clenched.

Roller coaster of emotions as well! Hang in there all. Will post up with an update after my medical on monday and hopefully get new pictures.. :)

Peace out!

All,

Had my appointment today. The news isn't good! Turns out that the bones have become more displaced in my arm due to my muscles 'pushing and pulling' the different bones. The Doc has suggested that the best thing to do now is to undergo surgery.

Booked into for next Thursday. Mixed feelings going through my head. On one side (with the surgery) theres:
- 100% ROM
- 100% I'll get my arms backk straight
- Potentially quicker healing time
- Less changes of your muscles growing back abnormaly

But also a chance that the radial nerve could get affected in the process.

On the other hand (see the pun here!), which is the Natural healing method:
- possibly 3 - 4 months in a cast
- Bone does not heal 100% straight.
- Scared of rebrakes in the future

****! I've hit a rock here. I think Im going to undergo the surgery. Can't stand the idea of a bone healing at an akward angle in my body. But on the other hand the radial nerve pulls everything else down.

The doc did mention that the changes are very small. Apparently the radial nerve only runs at the back of the humerus. He is inserting the plates from the front and only placing 4 screws and according to him, the chances are verly low in my case. Plus he is a Professor and has numerous years of experience under his belt.........But still...oh man..I dont know....

What do you all think??

Do the surgery

To quote my surgeon, 'if I sever your radial nerve you can sue me' !!

I was BRICKING it before the operation, but I knew thatwith the chance of nerve damage so low, (1-2%) and the massively improved prognosis that surgery provides, I would say be brave and go for it.

If the break is near a joint then this complicates things.......but the radial nerve runs along the radial groove along the back of the humerus.

My incision runs DIRECTLY along the back ofmy arm and my surgeon skillfuly cut through my triceps and avoided the nerve with no problems

wookie-good luck with the surgery. It's been 4 months since my surgery, I have pretty good range of motion and it is getting better all the time. I had a really great occupational therapist after surgery who didnt push me, listened to me and adjusted the therapy on a regular basis to make sure I wasnt hurting myself any further.  

Thanks for the messages guys. I have decided to go for it. How long was it till you guys were able to move about. My surgery is penciled in for the 11th of June but I really need to travel back to India from the UK on the 25th of June. That gives me exactly 2 weeks. My surgens out of the country for now and I really need to know! How long were your revocery time back in to just like feeling normal and not lethargic .i.e. Just fit enough to travel?

Its gonna be fun travelling thro the scanning machines at the airports from now on! Lol!

hello

Hello,
I broke my Humerus on 4/5/09. How? ARM WRESTLING OF COURSE! I was rushed to the ER and than transferred to Kaiser Permanente where they wrapped it up and said it would heal  on its own with gravity. I had a follow up appointment less than a week later which I was placed in a splint and sling. I suffered a spiral fracture pictures will be attached. My elbow,arm, and hand were swolled. The swelling is still in my elbow after 2 months. I couldnt move my forearm for the first month.  Shower was a nightmare but will improve. I was afraid to even take my arm out of the splint in fear that my arm would fall and I would have to see the lifeless arm just dangling again. Its important that you clean your arm everyday and loosen the splint. I had a couple pressure sores but cleared up quickly once I cleaned it everyday. The weird thing is that I never felt any pain from the break. I mean there is discomfort but no extreme pain. My arm is not completley straight yet Im hoping with time it will straighten out. My doc says hes not concerned and everything is going how it should. I cant wait to recover this is soooooo annoying. I misssss work lol I miss clubbing, brushing my teeth normally. ayyyyy well what can you say.

All,

Please refer to this website. www.aofoundation.org . It is absolutely amazing. Provides everything you need for any type of fracture and any type of treatment. Hope it helps.

Please dont forget my requesting about travelling and recovery times post surgery from my previous posts.

May we all heal well!

I just (last week) travelled via airplane and did not set off the security system at either airport in Florida or LA. I have a plate and screws.

Thanks Jaam. did you think you would have been able to travel 2weeks after surgery? Carrying  out PT by yourself etc?

Wookie - weeks should be fine.
 
I had my staples removed after 10 days, (it doesn't hurt!!)
 
Once these are out just keep the wound clean and gradually startflexing and moving the arm and trying to use it as often as possible
 
Funnily enough I have flown twice since the surgery, the plate was picked up once and wasnt once!

Just to add, obviously don't lift anything heavier than 5kg's for 12 weeks and you'll be fine!!

It's what your doctor thinks about how soon you should travel after surgery should be considered. I didnt start pt for several weeks after my surgery. Just take it slow, don't rush yourself and dont lift your own suitcase/travel bag. I didnt have staples, everything was underneath. The surgeon said he did a plastic surgery type stitch and you can hardly see much of my scar and it runs from just below my shoulder to about an inch from my elbow.

Thanks guys. I wont be carrying anything heavy at all. Just my PC and some tshirts + jeans. Probably gonna put it all thro a trolley/carry bag. Not even going to check anything thro cargo!

All,

Thought I'll provide a week 4 update.

Movement from side to side has slowly come back. Not more than about 5-10 degrees though. I feel more confident with opening doors, holding plates/ glasses/ tea cups with the broken arm. Still in a cast though. I can lift my arms from my side (kind of doing a chicken wing movement!)

I will be going in for surgery to get a plate and some screws in my arm on Thursday. As the day comes nearer, just getting more and more nervous! But I just really want to get in there, get the anesthetic and doze off though. Its got its risks but I'm going to take them as I believe I'm in very good hands.

This will probably be the last post with this massive cast!

Will post back after surgery to let you all know how it went.

Good luck with the healing.

Good stuff wookie, at least your progress is decent. I wouldnt worry about the operation, it's only in my country Canada that I would be nervous, hope your not from Canada, kidding... Good luck and keep the board posted.

In my case tomorrow will be week 25 for me. I had my 2nd to last appointment this tuesday and I was finally cleared to golf, really excited its been a long time for me. I didnt get operated on and in a cast for 6 weeks and a robocop arm for 4 long months. For me I am letting you know so you dont get discouraged, it took me so long to heel because I didnt produce a lot of bone so that's why it took so long. so dont worry guys it will come. On my account I am extremely happy that I can finally play golf, no football or hockey but good enough.

Good luck again

All,

Surgery went on fine and thank god no complications. a plate and 7 screws.

First thing I did when I regained consciousness was to check and see if my fingers were responding. But I have to tell you that once the nerve block wore off, the pain was horrible yesterday. I quickly took the meds and it slowly faded away. you can hardly move the arm the first day though. While I was in the cast I made sure that I was able to life my hands up and down etc but all that seems a distant memory.

In saying that, It's all only because the arm is in healing mode now so the most important thing is to ensure that you dont stress it in any way. Its only been about 36 hours since the surgery so its still early days.

Definitely felt better waking up today than when I went to bed last night. I will be changing the dressing on my incision tomorrow and will be checking out the scar for the first time which will be exciting!

Its too early to tell which method is better. Both have their pros and cons. But one thing for sure is that I definitely do not miss that freaking cast! It was such a nuisance and I feel so much more mobile and comfier in the Velcro sling i am in at the moment.

Will keep you all updated on progress. You all take care and stay out of trouble....

Ps: couscous, I'm in the UK - dont think that makes it any better but I was impressed by the surgeon though.

Glad to hear all went well. Keep us posted on how you are doing. 

Glad to hear it went well, Wookie.

The consultant recommended that I should go the natural healing route and I am at just over 4 weeks and it is feeling much more like a normal arm. I still can't straighten it fully but can lift a 5kg dumbbell though I can't curl it.

The pain has lessened to the point where it just feels as though I sprained my arm. I've abandoned the sling and am tentatively using it as normal and can lift it above my head.

Is this along the same lines as what others have experienced when healing naturally?    

Tiny Titan,
Seems like your doing really good. At 4 weeks I was still in the cast and dont think I could have lifted my arm over my head. Take it easy though and dont stress your arm with a heavy load and wear your sling when you in public as people would try to avoid your injured side.

Its now 4.5 days since surgery, i've got a decent ROM but my elbow is swollen like a mofo. Check up w the doc on the Tuesday. Will post back hopefully with some pics then.

Take care you all.