Does breaking a bone make you feel ill and tired generally?

[Damnspot]

I've cracked a bone at the top of my arm. It's actually not that painful as long as I keep it in a sling. I'm sleeping OK, quite well actually. But I feel like shite. Tired, grumpy, sad, low. Sick, everything aches. Obviously it's a bit depressing as I can't drive which makes life harder. Just wondered if a fracture can make you feel ill generally?

Yes it can do- your body is taking all its effort to mend the break at the expense of other things. How long ago did it happen? A week or so in and you should be starting to feel better.

Two and a half weeks ago! I felt fine actually until a few days ago.

Yes! It really does. My daughter who is very very fit and healthy broke her leg when she was about 23 and spent her days asleep or dozing on the sofa for a week afterwards. Even after that, she needed a hell of a lot of rest until the break healed.

For the following couple of weeks, after I broke my wrist, I was competing with the dog for space on the sofa most afternoons

Your body heals while you sleep. That is why there used to be a period of convalescence after illness or injury.
Your body is telling you it needs rest.

I actually did walk a lot yesterday so maybe I'm just paying for it today.

Yes!!!

I broke my arm and was in a role in my job where sick leave was almost impossible (I left that organisation first chance I got) and I had to work from home 2 days a week just to cope. My working from home was on the sofa, work interspersed by sleeping over about 12 hours. I was exhausted and even when I was back to the office I had to go straight to bed when I got home each night ( mind you, my job was very full on, and I I usually worked 50-60 hours a week).

I broke my foot and was exhausted. You have to use the rest of your body differently to work around the injury and that makes you ache all over i think. Like i had to hold on to the stair rail more, use my other leg more, twist differently.it dragged me down .

I could have posted this (apart from I've fractured my ankle).

I'm feeling really annoyed all of the time and sooooo tired. I thought it might be the pain killers I'm taking but maybe it's just the healing thing 😕.

I hope you're all healed soon

And you!

I also thought it was the pain killers but I've taken about 5 codeine in total (ovwr 2 weeks) and the rest just paracetamol. Ibuprofen gives me a terrible stomach so I can't take it.

I have problems with ibuprofen too but I'm not having as many problems with the ones that include codeine which I find odd. Paracetamol alone doesn't seem to be helping me.

I've just been for a short walk and made some lunch and now I'm exhausted. Gone ti bed!

I badly broke my ankle in 2020, I had to have surgery to pin it so was laid up for 9 weeks as I wasn't allowed to bear any weight on it. I have never been more exhausted in my life, I was doing nothing but laying down and wiggling my toes but found myself napping throughout the day and going to bed early.

As others have said, your body is doing all it can to heal the break - it takes a lot out of you. See also pregnancy - people often underestimate just how tiring it is creating and growing a human.

Yes, I broke my arm as a then otherwise fit and healthy 18 year old and for a good 3-4 weeks after needed an afternoon nap (admittedly the co-codamol they gave me didn't help as that always makes me sleepy).

I’ve broken 3 bones at different times but felt fine, carried on as normal but had no choice, when I broke a bone in my foot the fracture boot annoyed the hell out of me and walking the dog with that and a crutch was painful. If you have someone who can help I’d definitely take advantage!

I'm 3weeks into recovery after a full knee replacement ( end of thigh and shin chopped off and replaced so not that different to a broken bone) and I feel shattered by mid afternoon and also very " low" I did some research online and found a few studies showing the knee replacement surgery has a side effect in around 50% of patients of depression and exhaustion. It also mentioned that orthopaedic issues like broken bones etc are now being seen as more of an issues causing some mental well-being issues and tiredness etc.
I would say it's your body trying very hard to heal itself and that is exhausting. Eat well and also rest well nap if you can as I've found that really helps. If it's ongoing talk to your GP or practice nurse about the problem.
Sending healing hugs

This. It needs you to sleep so it can get on with fixing you.