Wrist update
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive July 2007:
Wrist update
Well i had my doc appt yesterday. I am waiting for a call now to schedule and mri. The doc was confindent that I have torn a ligament (tvcc). If it is torn, we will cast the right hand, it is worse for 6 weeks..ugh.
However I feel a lot better today, so I am hopeful it isn't really torn.
He told me to do whatever I want until we know, I couldn't damage it further.
I'm glad it feels better today. 
Well, *if* it's torn, I really hope it heals on its own. I tore a tendon and the collateral ligaments by my middle finger last September and had to have surgery to repair it. I don't envy you. Wearing a cast is a bummer. You may need physical therapy after the cast comes off, your wrist is apt to be very stiff. I hope you get good results!!!!!!!!!!
Karen he did say after 6 weeks in a cast and it wasn't better they would do surgery. But most people could heal with just the cast.
The real kicker, they will do one hand at a time. He will put me for the left hand and see where it is. So after the right one is okay, he will mri the left and see where we go from there. The left is so much better though, so hopefully it won't come to that.
Does he think you've torn ligaments in BOTH wrists?? OUCH!
Initially, when I fell and injured my hand last year, it was casted, and I was told they would check it in four weeks to see if it had healed, and if not, I'd need surgery then. There were vacation schedules to consider, not to mention the healing period, and time missed from work for that.
I actually got a 2nd opinion and was told it wasn't going to heal *on its own*. So after less than a week in the cast, I scheduled surgery. Once the doc got in there (he initially thought it was just a torn tendon; during surgery he discovered the collateral ligaments were torn as well), he told me later there's no way it would have healed without surgical repair, so I'm glad I went ahead with it.
What I wasn't prepared for was how stiff my entire hand and wrist were after being in casts for a total of 7-8 weeks and I had to have physical therapy to regain range of motion and strength.
I REALLY hope yours will heal up without surgery!!!! Sending positive vibes your way.
Believe me, if you can get the fiberglass cast (for which you may have to pay extra as most insurance won't cover it) it is well worth it, especially in the summer. It breathes, and I believe you can even shower with it.
And Karen is right, you will almost certainly need PT after coming out of the cast. Any time a part of the body is held motionless for a lengthy period of time you need special exercises to get that body part back in shape without doing damage.
I am so sorry. You must feel very frustrated, along with aching.
Ginny, most casts are of fiberglass now rather than plaster. The fact that you can pick the color you want is the only *cool* thing about them. LOL It's the difference in the lining/padding underneath the fiberglass that makes it waterproof. The waterproof padding cost me $100 extra - not covered by insurance. And it is HOT! It makes you sweat, has a weird smell, and is not as thick as the other padding, so the cast was more uncomfortable. The next 2 casts I got had the regular padding and they were more comfortable, if there IS such a thing as a comfortable cast.
The waterproof ones are hard to dry out too. If the cast is tight, you almost never get it completely dry. You have to blow dry under the cast. I felt like my hand/arm was constantly wet with that one. HATED it.
The other thing I hated about fiberglass was the fact that the edges *frayed* and scraped my skin. I actually had to start peeling them back a bit so it wouldn't scratch me.
I guess the bottom line is, it's NO FUN to be in a cast, period! LOL
Gosh...that really bites ;<( I'm glad your feeling better though...How long does it take to get and mri??
Well my MRI is scheduled for next thursday, but I won't get my consult with the doc until two mondays out.
Karen, yes he thinks they are torn in both wrists. The left one has full range of motion with minor pain. The right one is much much worse.
I know about the PT, my hubby broke his wrist (roller skating), he didn't do pt, but ended up working on a project and was given one of those stress balls, after 6 months he could golf again..LOL. I am pretty concerned what this might do to my tennis, but I am trying not to get ahead of myself. I am already going through withdrawls, I haven't played in 3 weeks, and I am used to playing 3 times a week.
And, I have never had a MRI. I don't really think I am claustriphobic, but I am a little stressed out. If the mri is roomy and short I will be fine, but if part of me touches the machine (i am not skinny!), then it might not be okay...sigh!
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