So... my cast comes off my arm on Tuesday...

[Max Preload]

after 6 weeks total in casts after breaking my wrist. My ring finger was also knocked about a fair bit and has been swollen and painful.

When I mentioned that at the last orthopedic consult 4 weeks ago and asked what was to be done about the fact it was so swollen, painful and unable to be fully straightened I was told "We'll just wait and see." Even with no improvement in it, I'll mention it again but I'm expecting the same reply.

Oh, the marvels of modern medicine! It's good to see they're putting that 7+ years of medical school to good use.

And they wonder why men so often just don't bother going to Doctors. We don't want to just be listened to - we want solutions and action!

[3umph]

auction your cast... see if you can get as much as John Keys one

[Max Preload]

auction your cast... see if you can get as much as John Keys one

It's the same colour.

Actually, that brings me to another point. He broke his arm in 2 places a week after me and had his cast off two weeks before. What gives?

I've never had a cast before. Last time (and only other time, ironically almost exactly 9 years earlier to the day!) I broke anything, I got bolted back together. It's just my luck that this happened when it did so I was in a cast through the hottest time of the year.

[Number One]

Peeeeeeeeuuuuuwwwww Your arm will be stinky and scaley and gross. Pick up some exfoliant for that freaky looking thing

Oh and enjoy a shower or bath minus the plastic bag

[Max Preload]

Peeeeeeeeuuuuuwwwww Your arm will be stinky and scaley and gross. Pick up some exfoliant for that freaky looking thing

Nah, got that covered. Regular application of industrial alcohol hand sanitiser applied with a 300mm stainless steel rule has kept that to a minimum!

I expect it'll be pretty damn skinny though! I remember when the radial nerve in my other arm was bruised from the broken humerus - I had no ability to operate the muscles that lift my left hand for 5 months. By the time it finally came back, it was so damned skinny and weak!

[GurlRacer]

Urgh... I remember breaking my wrist on the ice. It was horrible to walk through snow with that thing on! Even managed to fall on it again... stupid ice *grumbles*

It's such a nice feeling to get it off though... I forgot that I could actually use it for the next couple of days

[Warr]

You seriously NEED to do something about about the swelling.
Swelling is the making of scar tissue... believe me...
Sleep with it elevated, anything.
Another rule of thumb with injuries that require immobilizing to mend.. for every 1 day they are immobile it takes 2 days to re-mobilize.
Its your hand & your future. Are you going to get hand therapy ??

[Nagash]

Hah, when I broke my wrist a couple of years ago I was waiting for the day to get the cast off so I could go for a ride!

Didn't quite realise that my arm had grown somewhat dependent on the cast..

Couldn't even twist the throttle for atleast a week.

[Max Preload]

You seriously NEED to do something about about the swelling.
Swelling is the making of scar tissue... believe me...
Sleep with it elevated, anything.
Another rule of thumb with injuries that require immobilizing to mend.. for every 1 day they are immobile it takes 2 days to re-mobilize.
Its your hand & your future. Are you going to get hand therapy ??

Rule of thumb? What about fingers?

I do sleep with it elevated, mainly because it's not comfortable to do otherwise.

I take your point regarding scar tissue. A precursory Google seems to confirm that line of reasoning is sound. It's time to be a bit more hard nosed about them taking some proper action.

It was mentioned at the first clinic cast replacement 10 days post injury that I would be doing hand therapy. I'll certainly follow that up.

Thanks for your advice.