Broken Bones Archives

50 years old and broke my right arm

On 12/22/05 I tripped over a woman who was sitting in a dark hallway and fell on my elbows. My right arm suffered a fracture of the humerous just at the elbow. I was told that it was not dislocated and a clean break at the ER. I am a long haul trucker's wife and we travel together. The ER doc immobilized the arm with a splint and told me it should be fine after four to five weeks. No cast was applied - just told to keep the arm immobile. I have done so and today marks the fourth week. I carefully unwrapped the arm and inspected the area - there is no swelling and just faint almost healed bruises. I have complete use of the hand and virtually no pain unless I try to straighten the arm completely. Then it feels like something is keeping it from straightening out and it aches. Could this be due to the muscle shrinkage from having it in the same position for four weeks or do I need to see another ER and see if things are not healed as hoped? I've never broken anything before so am really not sure what to expect. Being on the road makes this very difficult. Any direction? Thanks for your time - Rosie (feel free to email your comments)

Follow Ups:

• Re: 50 years old and broke my right arm DANGER! Archive. Walt Stoll [93.1889] 07:22:36 1/19/06 (0)
• Re: 50 years old and broke my right arm Raman [120.2421] 20:22:10 1/18/06 (0)
• Re: 50 years old and broke my right arm ANN [1003.516] 17:37:38 1/18/06 (0)
• Re: 50 years old and broke my right arm Jenny [20.452] 16:55:10 1/18/06 (0)
• Re: 50 years old and broke my right arm Zarin [709.350] 16:48:39 1/18/06 (0)

In Reply to: 50 years old and broke my right arm posted by Rose Ross [1817.1351] on January 18, 2006 at 16:19:13:

Hi Rosie,

The bone has probably healed by now, but the muscles and flesh around the area would have sort of bunched up. You need to exercise the arm to get it back into shape. I broke my foot a year back and am still trying to get the muscles to be as flexible as they were before I broke it. I am 53years old, and it does take longer at our age:-)

In Reply to: 50 years old and broke my right arm posted by Rose Ross [1817.1351] on January 18, 2006 at 16:19:13:

HI Rose,

I broke my ankle once and had to wear a cast for 8 weeks. I noticed you said 4 weeks, which I think is short but I'm not a Dr. and I am sure it depends on the type of fracture as well as the location. When I got the cast off, my leg was the size of a toothpick and it was totally still. Took some time to get back the range of motion. Take it slow but if you are still having problems in a week or so, I would head back to the ER.

I found this info for you to take a look at. Hope if gives you some insight:

Often after an injury or surgery, a patient undergoes a period of immobilization to allow the injured area or surgical site to heal properly and to reduce the risk of further damage. Cast immobilization is useful in a variety of situations, however, a number of problems can arise from this form of treatment. In particular, patients often suffer decreased cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and range of motion to the injured limb. Physical therapy counters these adverse effects, reduces recovery time, and allows the patient to return to normal activities quickly and safely.

Loss of Muscle Strength
Another significant problem related to immobilization is muscle atrophy, or loss of muscle strength and size, which often begins around day 10 of immobilization (Fig. 1). To combat atrophy, a physical therapist often prescribes isometric exercises which are done by contracting the muscle against resistance but without moving the joint (Fig 2). Although the muscle does not work through the normal range of motion, the contraction and hold improves muscle strength and slows the results of muscle atrophy.

Regaining Movement
After cast removal, regaining movement is the next step in physical therapy. The immobilized body part is generally stiff and difficult to move depending on the length of immobilization. Typically, 6 to 8 weeks of immobilization are required for adequate healing of bone fractures. During this time, muscle tissue and other connective tissues affected by the immobilization often undergo changes. These tissues not only weaken due to lack of normal use, but they can also shrink, thereby limiting normal motion. With daily use, your motion is usually regained, however, a physical therapist can help you progress faster and more safely through exercise, stretching, and other therapies. The physical therapist helps you regain normal use of the extremity, pushes for a speedier recovery, and decreases the risk of injury to the weakened tissue. For the active or athletic population, this phase of therapy includes higher level exercises such as plyometric (vigorous drills), proprioceptive (receiving stimuli with the muscles and tendons), and sport specific training. These activities ensure a safe return to your desired activity level.

If you require some type of immobilization, physical therapy can speed your return to full activity, improve function, and decrease the risk of future injuries.

Good Luck to you! Also, thanks to you and your hubby for all your hard work. I realize that everything that is in my house got here because of a truck driver driving it so I could buy it. So hats off to you both, I for one am greatly appreciative to all the truck drivers!

Jenny

In Reply to: 50 years old and broke my right arm posted by Rose Ross [1817.1351] on January 18, 2006 at 16:19:13:

most good-sized cities have urgent care clinics (often open 8am to 8 pm) for walk in care- a lot cheaper than an ER, if you should decide you need it checked out.

In Reply to: 50 years old and broke my right arm posted by Rose Ross [1817.1351] on January 18, 2006 at 16:19:13:

I am not a doctor. Sometimes when a limb has been immobilized for a while, the muscles for adhesions with the bone. It appears that you need to simply keep using your arm and the adhesions will break naturally. Sometimes when adhesions break, there is brief short-term pain followed by relief and a pleasant feeling. Streatching and gradual exercise should do the trick. Increasing your strength will inevitably also increase your range of motion. Gentle streatching will speed up getting back your range of motion. It sounds like you are healed and as you move your arm, the pain will go away. Your arm needs to get used to extending again after 4 weeks.

In Reply to: 50 years old and broke my right arm posted by Rose Ross [1817.1351] on January 18, 2006 at 16:19:13:

Rose,

This is a complex and potentially dangerous, fracture! I would get the splint back on for the last 2 weeks since you are VERY lucky it is getting on so well. It takes 6 weeks to heal ANY fracture and the complications for you, IF this one moves because you took off the splint too soon, the complications will be beyond your wildest fears.

You will need at least instructions in physical therapy to get your full function back since the immobility WILL cause you limitations of range of motion without it.

Let us know how you do.

Walt