How long does a broken wrist take to heal?

[ajandjjmum]

DM is 86 and broke her wrist about 6 weeks ago. At first the pain was dreadful, but it is now much easier - she hasn't take painkillers for about a month - and she is due to have the cast removed next Wednesday. She is finding that her wrist hurts when she moves it slightly - although it is still in plaster so pretty immobile. Anyone got any idea how long it will be until the pain goes completely?

Thank you

DS3 broke both his wrists last year. He had the casts on for 6 weeks but the pain and weakness in his wrists lasted for quite a long time afterwards.

The hospital gave him exercises to do every day while he had the casts on which he had to continue with after the came off. Things like clenching his fingers and circling his wrists. That helped to minimise muscle loss etc.

He broke his in JUly and it was almost Christmas before he felt that they had completely recovered. Sorry to be the bearer of doom and gloom. Your mum is much older then DS, who was 14, so I would think that it might take a long time for things to return to normal for her.

Thanks stressed - it's actually quite comforting, as she's stressing because it still hurts, and the doctor mentioned surgery if it didn't set properly, which she couldn't have because of her heart!

Nightmare!!!

But if it took a healthy 14 year old so long to recover, no wonder she can still feel pain. Thanks for the reassurance.

Make sure (I'm sure they will) they X-ray it after.
I broke my hand and wrist whilst pregnant and it took 6 weeks. I wasn't too bad after but I had been exercising my hand whilst in plaster (probably stupid but I could help
Myself). I used to squeeze a stress ball.

Has your mum got any conditions such as osteoporosis?

Broken wrists should take around 6-8 weeks to heal. They will X ray it again at her appointment, possibly after removing the cast. Even if it has healed it will be pretty stiff and sore. If it hasn't and surgery is suggested, she can have a local anaesthetic where the forearm is numb and she remains awake

Took my 72 year old mum 8 weeks of pain killers while the plaster was on and the a couple of months of physio

Mine was broken and had to be pinned back together, I had 3 children under the age of 5 to look after at the time so it was a bit of a tricky time. Took approx 6 weeks until cast came off. I was dreading it as my wrist felt so wrong.

They took the cast off and my arm and hand just lay there looking limp and not really belonging to me. I had a quick operation to have the pins removed.

Afterwards, I remember thinking that my wrist was a joke - I would never be able to use it again - it had no strength in it and I felt unable to carry anything heavier than a pencil. However, a week later after doing plenty of excersises - it was back to normal.