Broken elbow (Update, I need an op!)

Eeek you poor thing, that sounds horrid.

I would imagine so, although I have to say I didn't know about fracture clinics. It doesn't sound as if your current support is adequete though!

That sounds pretty much the norm, my friend broke the top of her arm (that fixes arm to shoulder) and she's been in the same foamy sling since January and they keep saying they can't do anything about it.

She does have a structured blue sling but that's only for when it's really painful or in bed.

Thanks Hyacinth, I do hope so!

It probably sounds odd but I would much prefer to have a break a bit further down my arm so it could have been platered for protection (and I could have sported a pink cast! ?). I think if some poor person knocks it in Tesco, they won't live long enough to bump into someone else. ?

Ow, that sounds painful. Surely, they would provide more support (although I really don't know)

Hope it heals very soon.

Ouch, your poor friend, I do sympathise!

I thought I had seen people in a blue sling, I'm glad I didn't imagine it! That's was the kind of thing I was thinking about. I'm having to wear the foam one in bed as I usually hold onto my bed rail when I'm asleep, like a toddler. ?

Oooh MrsM that sounds painful! How did you break your elbow? I'd definitley point out that you aren't getting adequate support from the foam sling at your appointment tomorrow and hopefully they'll give you another. ?

Thanks Gigi! I'm due you a mail btw, I'm sorry, I'll try to do it later!

KB3, I had a spectacular fall on Friday night and now have broken my left elbow (right handed thankfully), two grazed knees and a twisted ankle to show for it. Saturday and Sunday were agony but thankfully it has subsided a bit now so I think I'll live. ? I've never known pain like it. It was in a car park and I missed a little rain gutter in the middle of it. I was only using one crutch in my right hand, which meant I must have automatically put my elbow out to protect my head and it took the full brunt of the fall. I thought I had broken one of the bones between elbow and wrist, not elbow so was really surprised. I still can't move it at all really which is not great really but I do have a bit of feeling back into my fingers now. I'm gutted I've gone through all this and haven't got a pink cast to show for it!! ? So, so glad it's my left hand but I'm still not meant to move it for 6 weeks so no driving etc. No knitting ether, boo.

Sorry cant help but sounds horrible. Hope you feel better soon.

Oooh I just winced at that description! I hope it heals quickly for you.

When MrKB fractured his ankle some years ago, I begged and pleaded with him to choose a pink cast. He went with blue in the end, Chicken! ?

Brilliant. ?

Thanks ladies xx

Oh no sorry to hear that you've been in the wars Mrs M, hope that they fix up with something to provide better support tomorrow and that you're on the mend very very soon. ?

Thanks Dooby. ?

I'm fine really, just getting a bit frustrated at the things I can't do. So far, the list includes:

Getting loo paper without having to use my chin

Open a can with or without ring pull

Wash my right arm pit ?

Get toothpaste onto brush without it having to lie it down

File my nails on my right hand

Use a pepper mill

Open bottles

?

Ouch! You poor thing, it's a nasty injury isn't it? I had a similar car park related injury in August last year. I was in Italy watching an outdoor concert. Whilst walking out, I turned my head to check H was still with me in the crowd and tripped over the only roadhump in the car park ?. Like you, I put my hand out to stop myself and ended up with bloody knees, grazed palms and a broken arm. I did this on the Saturday evening and was in agony for 2 days, with H (who is a Paramedic) saying "I'm sure it's only a bad sprain". On the way back from the airport to home on the Monday, I asked H to drop me off at our local hospital for a check up. I called him an hour later to say, come and get me please, and btw, my arm is broken! He was mortified and couldn't do enough for the next week or so (including doing and un-doing bra straps!

Mine was broken at the top of the long bone which connects to the elbow, they gave me a silly pink sponge support which didn't seem to help much but definately eased the discomfort for a while. Hopefully, when the fracture clinic knows about your mobility issues, they will be able to provide you with something a bit more roughty toughty!

Hope you feel better soon, xx

Poor Madge - I am so sorry I have been meaning to FB you since I saw about your accident, but have severe brainfudge at the moment.

I think you have been a very brave soldier! It sounds a bit scary to me to be wandering around with just a foam sling for protection, but it seems like they try to avoid casts as much as possible these days, I assume the recovery must be better without one? My dad broke his elbow years ago (made a really good job of it too - all sorts of pins etc to put it back together) and he still automatically moves away if anyone gets too close to that arm!

I was given the blue one when I went back to the fracture clinic, but after 2 days of my family rolling around watching me trying to fasten all the ruddy velcro I went back to the foam one. I had broke my right elbow and I am right handed. Really pleased to hear it's a bit less painful xx

I couldn't imagine having a break open to the elements like that..sounds terrible you must be on tenderhooks all day!

I have fractured my wrist a fair few times so i feel your pain but at least it got a cast so always felt secure xx

Ouch. That sounds so painful Mrs M. I know when I broke my arm and collar bone many years ago, they debated about putting it in a cast as they were worried that the weight of the cast - plaster in those days - would leave my collar bone all out of sorts...I wonder if this is their thinking with your elbow too?

I know I got so frustrated with my broken arm - much more than the broken foot that I got a few weeks ago. Breaking an arm was much more restrictive for me - not being able to do up shoes, difficulty in washing myself/my hair.

I got to chose the colour of my cast for my broken foot, and happily sported a bright pink Barbie colour one for a couple of months. It made me laugh and I was sad to see it go, but I have replaced it with lurid turquoise trainers which look simply fab with my suits at work :-)

Hope you are on the mend soon.

Sorry to hear about your fall Mrs M. Sounds very painful.

Do you know what you have done to your elbow exactly? I can't help but ask ?

Did the x-ray positions hurt? I always find the patients with hurt elbows seem in a lot more pain than other possible fractures.

No idea about fracture clinic, though. It depends what you have done to your elbow to how they want you to recover.

I hope it doesn't take too long to improve.

? ladies. ?

Laura, thank you. ? I promise to be a better PP in the next few weeks. Sadly the booties I was about to start knitting this week are out though!

Copper, thank you! I can't believe you managed to live with it for 2 days! I really and truly haven't felt pain like it, I wanted to curl up and die. I'm so glad your H grovelled!

Titch, that was what I was thinking about. How mean of them to laugh at you!

Scot Terrier, I can't believe you've had several breaks, you poor thing!

MrsTH, the glamorous side of marriage, hey? I just wanted my mum at the weekend, she would have done everything like armpit washing without me having to ask. ? It's so good to know your H started to get better quickly.

Tilly, thank you but so jealous! ? How is you foot doing now?

Vic, I've broken the bone on the outside of my arm (the bottom of the two bones?), I'm sorry I haven't a clue what it's called. ?

The xrays absolutely killed. I have quite a high pain threshold an was doped up on tramadol but it was awful. I had 5 xrays in 3 positions, arm with hand down, arm with hand more sideways and my wrist. The bone has shunted upwards with the fall, meaning it's coming away from the joint. The xrays looked like there was liquid around the fracture, if that makes sense?

Hi

sorry to hear about your fall

i deslocated my elbow and broke the bone at the end about 4 years ago. i was only given half a plaster for support to allow room for swelling. the cast was only on for i think about three weeks i know it wasnt long i was then told to start moving my elbow. I was told they dont leave it plastered for long has it causes the ligaments etc in the elbow to contract and stiffen.

i still have a piece of bone in my arm and never regained full mobility in my left arm however overthe years it does get better i was only offered 3 physio sessions my advice there is take all you can get.

they offered to operate on my elbow to remove bone and try to give me more movement but they said chances were id come out with less.

im surprised they havent supported your elbow more. ask them for a triangle bandage this should help even out the pressure on your arm

hope all goes well tomorrow

I broke my elbow on hols in Spain last year, by falling in much the same way as you did. It bl00dy hurts. I had a foam sling which supported at the wrist which I got through pidgeon english at the chemist and when I braved hospital almost a week later they wanted to do a full arm cast. I refused as I know you need to keep some element of movement to sto the joint seizing. So, basically, I am not sure there is much else they can offer you.

i hope you feel better and inless pain soon

Claire x

Thanks ladies, I'm sorry you have been through it too!

Update...

I need an operation. ?

You know you are in trouble when the doctor asks his senior for a second opinion and he says "oh golly". A part of the bone which fuses to the elbow has broken away and it needs to be replaced. I'm not very good with people touching my bones. [shudder]

Op will be next Thursday and I'll be in for at least one night. I have a CT scan on Friday and an appt with the surgeon on Wednesday but the docs today are almost certain it'll be going ahead.

H absolutely can't get time off work so my mum will be coming down on Wednesday.

On the upside, I have a really good sling support and I feel much happier with it as my whole arm and wrist are supported. I think it's the same as Titch's.

? for all you advice and support!

Oh no poor you ☹️

Still at least it should be sorted out properly then

Oh blimey MrsM what a nightmare! I tell you what, when you do something you do it in style. Trust you to need an op ?

Don't forget to milk it for lots of fuss. An operation is always worth a gift ?

Oh Mrs M that's pants!! I was thinking about you earlier. Good that they can sort you out sooner rather than later. What a PITA ?

Oh Madge, poor you! I'm so sorry to hear about your op. At least you're getting it properly sorted though which I guess is something. I'm just sorry I'm not nearer so I can't finish your tea cosy for you and administer to you with tea and cake.

Glad to hear your Mum's coming, take care Mrs ?

I know. ? I don't do things by halves. ?

I shall certainly be working it!

Thanks everyone. ? You are all very lovely

HS, I posted the unfinished cosy to my mum so she had something and she has finished it herself, bless her.

Oh no how typical. At least they should get it sorted for you. ?

Blimey Mogic, how did I miss this? You poor thing. Hope it gets better soon x

Urgh to having the op Mrs M! But if it needs fixing it's best tio have it done properly. ?

Mrs M - ouch! You have my sympathy ..... a broken toe was more than enough for me LOL! I am glad you have an op slot booked and have everything crossed for you that things go smoothly. Hope you're not in tooooo much pain or discomfort at the moment ....

My goodness you really do a proper job don't you?

Hope the new sling feels better, I found it did once I got it on. You must be in shock, we've all been telling you you'll be fine, good job we're not your doctors?