Post op pain (fractured humerus)

[Spidey66]

So just over 2 weeks ago I fell off my bike and broke my humerus, near the shoulder, dominant right arm.

At a&e they discharged me on dihydrocodeine paracetamol and brufen. They gave me a collar and cuff and a referral made to the virtual fracture clinic for planning. The next day the virtual clinic rang and asked me to use the sling for a week, then come in for a f2f and further xrays to decide whether to carry on with this or operate.

I was struggling with the sling, I have arthritis in the back of my neck which was worse also I find it claustrophobic, and was convinced I was tonight suffocate at night. The fracture wasn't responding anyway so it was decided I'd have the op. It was supposed to be last Monday, was cancelled and happened Thursday. I was in hospital overnight for iv antibiotics. During the op I had a general anaesthetic and also a local, like an epidural so for the first 24 hours the pain was ok as it was numb. But since thenbits been agony. On friday i was given morphine orally on the ward plus dihdydracodeine paracetamol and brufen at home but it didn't help, I was awake till about5am in agony.

It did then ease a bit and I thought things were going tii get better but it seems I'm still getting a lot of spikes of pain. Im even getting pain in my boob!

Ok I get there's muscles, wounds, bones and metal but please please tell me this will get better. I'm taking so much meds I'm rattling but I seem to be countihg the hours till I can take more. I'm not sleeping well, my appetites down ( not worried too much as I'm overweight but u need to eat a bit to recover and protect my gut from the meds). I'm using ice packs with some effect

If you've had this how long does it last?

Sorry for typos, due to typin g wrong hand

Ps due to the arthritis pain and my high levels of anxiety, th at said I can take the sling off at night as long as the arm is propped up with a pillow.

I've bought some calcium and vitamin d supplements as I am concerned maybe it's the start of osteoporosis as I'm 55, in think I'll push for a bone density scan when I'm recoverec

I can't offer much insight but when I broke my nose v badly (bone came through the skin) and had the operation to fix it, it was so so painful, worse than the actual break itself.

I can't remember how long it lasted - maybe 5 days? I imagine your arthritis might be making the pain worse

I also get cast claustrophobia - it is a thing! Did you tell the doctors/nurses that you get that as they can sometimes give you different bandages/slings that feel less restrictive.

They are aware, the anxiety is mainly at night, well most of the time but is tolerable it's at night it's intolerable. That's why they compromised on propping it during the night. I'm glad I'm not weird though.