Humerus fracture recovery

I know it's not saying much, but the best thing is to check with your doctor.  You want to make sure nothing else is going on that you are not aware of.

I broke my humerus (spiral fracture) on april 10th of '08 and it has been about 6 weeks now.  I was suppose to have plate put in my arm but with some luck my bone started healing properly by itself.  Doc told me It will take some time before I will be able to move my arm more than just few inches (from my side to my stomach).  I took his advice and I dont move my arm much but I had no real problems lifing my arm in any direction (except for a little stiffness).  I dont know if I should start doing some controlled movements with my arm or to just keep it in one place.  By the way here is the link to the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK0hKDIRtv8 
Another question is, since I cannot do much with my upper body, should I focus on my legs?  Would it be safe?  I dont see any problems other than watching out so I dont bump my arm or something.  I am gettin bored at home without gym.

I say all the time - but "too much" rest is NEVER going to be bad for you if you have injury.
 
I think you will find that its very difficult to do any leg exercises (machine or free weights) without using your arms in some way, shape or form. I know its boring, but what you are potentially risking by hitting the gym again before your arm is 100% healed is a lifetime of pain, suffering and limited use of your shoulder - its a risk just not worth taking.
 
Listen to your doctor, stay away from the gym until you are completely medically cleared. You will thank yourself later. Trust me.

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Is this normal? What is hurting? It feels like the muscle but why does that hurt so much from a small fracture at the top of my humerous? Any help would be appreciated.

Did you seek medical attention yet? Paul is right nonetheless, but i was just curious at your complaint. Usu nerves are irritated farther downstream, when it was my fracture, my back forearm (hairy side) was stinging on a specific strip (this is a region of the radial n, the most likely nerve in a mid arm fx), but i felt pain afterwards, just some numbness to this day. Please share what ur doc has said, it may help others.

hi all. I am a 38 year old male, slim in build and generally fit.
I have been reading the forum for the last 6 weeks and 4 days since my accident. i fell off a quad bike and fractured my humerus in half, it was a clean break straight through 90 degrees across the length of the bone... to be honest there wasn't much pain, but i did have morphine which was interesting, anyway A&E put a U type cast on my arm which dragged everything down inc. my shoulder and in fact within a matter of days the two ends of the humerus had nearly aligned, there was still a gap of about 1/2 centimeter apart, but much improved since the day of the accident. luckily my wife is a homeopath so put me on arnica straight away. arnica helps the body deal with trauma, this helps my body then transition into the healing stages.. anyway, after week 1 my wife put me on 'ruta' which is good for bone alignment and also tissue salts to help strengthen the bones... i went to see the surgeon on week 3 and finally agreed to have a plate fitted, so my date was booked... i was apprehensive to say the least, the day came and i went for the operation, the surgeon checked me and asked me to have another x-ray, so i did... anyway, the news came back that i was actually healing and new bone was forming, so the decision was made not to operate... relief!!!!! so now 6 weeks and 4 days gone, or 3 since i went for the operation that luckily never was, and although i am wearing a humerus brace and at times a sling, all seems to be going well... i am able to curl about 1KG and can see movement in my biceps, my arm is able to hang nearly straight (170 degrees). i am in no way fixed but making great progress. i have physiotherapy nearly everyday and am trying to use my arm as much as possible. of course my muscles have deteriorated as has the movement in my shoulder, but both will come back soon. i am seeing the surgeon again in 2 days time and will update you all then... but as far as i am concerned, to recover quickly and efficiently , you should allow your body to heal itself, have a healthy diet, be positive, don't smoke or drink alcohol during your recovery and see a homeopath. i reckon within the next 2 weeks i will be about 75% back to normal. email me if you want to chat about anything because i know i wanted to speak to anyone who also had the same injury..

a 7 week update.. i visited my surgeon yesterday and i was thinking, great, all will be very much healed and i'll be told to to start building my strength up.... anyway, that was not to be. the scans showed that although i have good callus formation and new bone forming i am still at the risk of a fibrous union, so i must continue to be as careful as i was 7 weeks ago - I am healing but not healed. i guess i must not be impatient. i will continue with physio to ensure i have ROM in my shoulder and elbow but beyond that i wont do much more until i see my surgeon again in a couple of weeks. i have 2 scans, one from week 3 and one from yesterday - not the best quality, but you can see the fracture and the new bone forming..

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Hi everyone, I'm a 28 yr old female, also broke my humerus (spiral fracture) arm wrestling.  That was 14 months ago.  I had surgery the day after the break, and now I have 2 plates and 15 screws in my arm.   I got my ROM and most of my strength back within ~5 months, but I am still experiencing pain with any activity that puts impact on my arm, or involves any sudden twisting movement with it.  For instance, throwing a frisbee and playing tennis are both quite painful, actually pretty much impossible.  The pain occurs in my elbow and shoudler, simultaneously.

Have any of you experienced this?  Any thoughts on what it might be? 

Hi everyone,
 
   I've been reading this thread for over a year now and decided it's time to finally post my story. I had been lifting weights pretty hard and gained about 55 pounds in 4 months. So when I went to the bar for a friend's birthday party one day I was challenged by another friend to an arm wrestle. I beat him the first time, but of course he insisted on a rematch and that's when my lower humerus of my left arm snapped. Fast foward - my doctors said the alignment of the bone was still good so surgery would just be "overkill." I did not have health insurance so I never did physical therapy because I couldn't afford it. I was in a full arm cast for 10 weeks and it took several months for me to get most of my range of motion back. Today I have about 95% range of motion back and my broken arm is about half as strong as my good arm. I want to ask those of you who did not get surgery: Are you able to fold your broken arm in as far as your good arm? For example: make a fist and try to touch your shoulders with the tips of your knuckles. I find that my broken arm cannot come as close to touching my shoulder as the good arm can. Also I think my broken arm elbow may be slightly inverted at a more inward angle than the good arm. Do any of you notice this on your arm also? I've attached my x-rays from a couple days after it broke and then 10 weeks later when the cast came off. I can't understand why in the "after" x-rays my bone looks perfectly straight at one angle )forearm turned inward) but then completely displaced at another angle (forearm turned outward). I'd appreciate any feedback from those who have the same circumstances as my situation (no surgery, no PT, range-of-motion issues). Thanks!


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Here are my AFTER photos (when the cast came off after 10 weeks). About Range-of-Motion: Do any of you who did not get surgery notice that when bending your elbows at 90-degree angles (like in the arm wrestling position) you can't rotate the forearm of your broken arm outward as far as you can your good arm? That must have something to do with the displaced position that the bone healed in, right?

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Hi everyone.

hey guys, i feel ya. i just broke my right humerus bone exactly a week ago wakeboarding. it was a clean break so they dont think i will need sergery. uh im 16, weighed 210 lbs, benched 225lbs and worked out at least 4 times a week. do you think ill be back to normal? at all?

Hi guys, I feel soo stupid to broke my humerus arm wrestling. Left one!

26 years, 80kg, 185cm, male, benched 70kg, worked out 2 times a week

It wasnt very painfull in place of fracture. It was 3 weeks ago, we were drunk and it was friday night. As soon as was possible I was in hospital, after Xrays doctor said I need to go to surgery. Surgery was made on monday morning. Interestingly, more painfull was forearm, because of gypsum. So few nights nurse had to give me painkiller. I was released in friday - they remade gypsum 2x until it didnt put big pressure to my forearm, so its ok now, no pain.

Oh and that surgery - I have 2 long nails through whole humerus bone (inside!), so no plate or screws or scar. They all did their work through little opening in elbow.

Will tell you more in next week or two. Maybe even photos.

Recovery to all!

Hi,

I am a 24 year old male. I had a spiral humerus fracture(left arm) during weight training on May 13th. So its been 3 1/2 months. I was operated immediately, and now I ve 8 screws and a plate. Flexibility is nearly 100% but can`t say anything about strength since I scared to lift any weight.

My concern is about getting the plate removed. The doctor has the decision to me. Can you people please tell me the pros and cons of removing the plate? When is the earliest I can get it removed?

Thanks and wish everyone a speedy recovery.