Broken wrist

[ljn1650]

My mother is 62 and recently fell over outside, breaking her wrist and damaging her knee. I am concerned about her, and wondered what other peoples' experiences of a broken wrist are re. healing times etc, and if I should be worried that this could be a sign of osteoporosis for her given that she broke a bone from a fall from standing height. This is the first time she has broken a bone in her life.

I broke my wrist previously tripping up stairs and it was fine, no huge issues other than washing hair. It took about 5 weeks to heal and wasn’t painful at all, when the cast come off the first day or so moving is was more painful than the break but she should be ok with normal painkillers and no issues since.

I currently have a broken leg, people have joked I need to drink milk.

I think sprains are much more painful!

Your poor mum. Ask her GP for a bone density scan, it sounds like it's likely to be related to ostoeporosis. Can be improved with prescribed tablets and you don't want her doing anything more serious. I do know that older people's bones take longer to heal anyway but did they not say how long it would take to heal at the hospital?

I broke my wrist aged 63, also from a standing start! It would be worth asking for a bone density scan but it doesn’t necessarily mean osteoporosis - I don’t have it.

My wrist was in plaster for 6 weeks but it was several weeks after that before I felt able to drive again, and probably nearer a year before it was completely back to normal. It’s important to do the exercises they will give her after the plaster comes off.

I hope she’ll make a quick recovery

I slipped on the ice and broke my wrist aged 62 too. I had to have surgery and a plate inserted. However, my wrist has healed really well, you would not know it has been broken, I can do everything I could before, including handstands at yoga.

It is really important to do all exercises given regularly (several times a day). I started by just moving my fingers and also rotating my shoulder joint and moving my elbow every day, to prevent stiffness and loss of movement.

I had a bone density scan and all was well. I was in plaster for about 4 weeks and then I had a special support. I have lots of sympathy for your mother, I found the pain worse than childbirth.....

p.s. this was also the first time I had broken a bone.