Radial head fracture of the elbow

[Kaylasmum49]

Hi, while I was on holiday almost three weeks ago I tripped and fell, all my weight went on my left arm. The pain was excruciating and I felt extremely sick and dizzy. We were in Turkey and I didn't know where to go to check it out, I also have a hospital phobia so I just kept taking painkillers for the rest of the holiday and was unable to use my left hand for holding, weight bearing etc.

As soon as we got home I went to a+e in the early hours. They x-rayed my arm and told me it had a fracture at the elbow but because it had happened 10 days previously there was nothing to be done. They seemed quite annoyed with me and I left with a leaflet and embarrassment of wasting everyone's time. Anyway, i'm still in considerable pain, can't turn my hand round to palm up and can't straighten my arm, I still can't lift with that hand or weight bear without shocking pain. I was signed off my work as a checkout operator as there can be a considerable amount of heavy lifting and lots of movement involved in my job. I'm really unhappy about not being at work as my attendance is 100% normally. I'm due back next Monday but really worried that I won't be able to go back then. I wasn't given any exercises to do, just told to keep moving my arm which i'm trying to do but the pain is awful with certain movements.

Has anyone else had a fracture like this and if so how long was the healing process

Thanks.

Ds(15) broke his elbow (olecranon, without displacement) last year and had a back slab (1/2 plaster) for 6 weeks and after that he still had stiffness, mild pain and didn't have full extension in the joint for another 2-3 weeks (I remember as it was the full 7 weeks summer holidays ☹️and he has to sit out some PE the first couple of weeks back). We were told it healed quickly due to his young age.

Every break and every person will heal at different rates, don't think you can plan ahead really, need to take it as it comes. 3 weeks seems very early days still. Would your work let you do light duties for a few weeks (maning the selfscan maybe)?

Unfortunatly, with radial head fractures they do just need time and diligently doing your exercises. As you didn't get it checked out for 10 days, then probably you were keeping it still all that time so the stiffness and movement restriction will be worse at this point.

Might be worth a trip to the GP to see what they think, and maybe to get to see a physio as well to see if they can help you get movement back faster

I did this about 7 weeks ago. Couldn't extend or rotate my arm without extreme pain. Went to A&E who confirmed the fracture following x-rays but said they no longer plaster (changed recommendations 2 months previously) and to keep moving it and if it hurt stop!

I googled stretching and strengthening exercises and it's now OK from the movent perspective but it's only been 2 weeks since I've been able to use it to open a door. Now starting very slowly on the strengthening exercises

I did this a couple of years ago. Also no plaster and was signed off work for three weeks. I paid for private physio once a week which really helped. I had an urgent physio referral from the hospital but that appointment didn’t come through for 8 weeks by which time it was almost better. It took about 6 weeks or so before I could twist my arm or straighten it properly.

Thank you for the replies,
I will go back to my gp. I've also been getting random tingling and jerking in my thumb. It's my left arm and i'm left handed so it's even more difficult. I can't even cut up my food and i've had a couple of occasions where i've been unable to pull my trousers down quick enough when going to the toilet. For such a small fracture it's having a huge impact on my life. I had thought that self scan would maybe be ok for me at work but we have to remove security tags and replace till rolls etc, i'm also worried about people bumping into me when it's very busy.

I was supposed to sit my driving test 2 days ago but obviously had to cancel, totally gutted. I have been trying gentle exercises but I really am limited to how much I can move my arm.

I did this on my holiday last year and didn't get it checked out till i was at home. Took about 6 weeks to be able to pick moderately heavy things up and a little bit of pain after that but nothing that got in way of life. Except i couldn't cycle for a couple of months