Broken elbow - still can’t straighten arm

[Polarbearflavour]

I fractured my elbow 5.5 weeks ago, x-rayed and sling for 2 weeks. No follow up at fracture clinic.

Pain has almost gone and can semi use arm. But the elbow won’t straighten? I think I’ll make a GP appointment and I guess I need physio but they’ll be a long waiting list unless I go privately.

@Ton79 me too, I broke mine 3 weeks ago I was just given a sling and just sent on my way with no physio advice or info on healing. I actually didn't realise my arm was broken for a few days so was late going to A&E. since been given the sling iv found my arm has felt worse, more stiff and heavy even more bent, can no where near straighten it out. my arm is starting to feel withered. How are you getting on with your arm? did you receive any follow-up care and can you now straighten your arm?
hope it is better.

Hi I broke my radial head in the middle of June and my arm is now fully back to normal.
They gave me a sling and a leaflet, and that was all, but they did say to use the sling as little as possible. I discarded the sling after a week and used the arm as much as possible, pain permitting. The leaflet said to practice straightening the arm and to rotate the arm so that the palm faced up - I probably did this twenty times a day at least. I found sweeping in the garden good therapy as well - pulling the broom towards you. Good luck I hope your elbow gets better.

thank you @mistymountain I was given no physio advice at all and just sent away with a sling. I have had to take my sling off after only 5 days as I find its making my arm more achey and stiff. I'm trying to use my arm as much as possible, obvs no heavy lifting or pulling which I can't do anyway. I am waiting for a call from the fracture clinic but god knows when that'll be, if they ever call at all. my arm is extremely bent. il start with the exercises like you did and hopefully my arm will return back to normal.
glad yours I back to normal.

Broken elbows seem to be very low on Drs priorities for some reason which is weird consideringack of movement in your elbow can be quite disabling (is that the right word?) I broke my radial head in the middle of lockdown while taking my kids on their daily bike ride. I was reluctantly given a sling and sent home with zero information. I googled exercises and started trying to do them when I felt I could. Ot took a.long time to get it anywhere near straight or my hand to be able to properly grip things. It is over a year now and I can get it about 95% straight, it still clicks sometimes when I move it and occasionally sort of gets stuck if I stay in one position for a long time.

I broke my elbow twenty five years ago and it still won’t go as straight as the other arm. Almost, but not quite.

I was warned that it wasn’t likely to.