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Original poster

Broken mid shaft humerus - how to cope please

50 replies

rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 15:08

My 12 year old fell off a horse yesterday morning and broke her humerus. The pain is awful, any advice please....

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Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 15:13

Bump

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Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 15:19

Bump

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Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 15:26

Please

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Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 15:30

Upper arm

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Buda · 29/06/2008 15:32

Sorry to hear this.

No real advice unfortunately - presumably she is in a cast? Did the hosp give painkillers? Just make sure she keeps taking them regularly I would imagine.

Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 15:32

Anyone?

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Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 15:34

No cast, just collar and cuff, paracetamol, nurofen and now codiene because I went back and moaned. Poor thing couldn't sleep and kept feeling sick it was so sore. She's now slightly woozy with codiene thank goodness.

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Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 15:50

What I need is a bit of advice about what to expect, how long will it be really sore? When can she go to school, sports, riding again(!)?

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Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 20:31

Bump for the evening.....

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missorinoco · 29/06/2008 20:33

don't know what to expect, but would recommend paracetamol and codeine reg for next 48hrs, with codeine also if needed.

hth.

moondog · 29/06/2008 20:34

I did this at age of 14 falling off a trmapoline. It was pretty grim for a few weeks as obviously not possible to cast it.
Much sympathy.

Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 20:36

Thanks, not convinced about that we can't have any support for it. Obviously I've googled it and there are splints, but are they too expensive for our NHS?

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Eelpie · 29/06/2008 20:36

No advice but lots of sympathy for your DD. Hope she has a decent night on the codine.

Just keep an eye on her so she does not get constipated - painkillers are a bugger for that.

Otherwise BUMP.

Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 20:37

sorry about incoherance, we didn't get much sleep last night, she was feeling sick with the pain.

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Slubberdegullion · 29/06/2008 20:38

Probably will take 4-6 weeks to heal. Collar and cuff plus analgesia plus rest (from activities likely to move the fracture site) is the treatment.

You might want to ask the fracture clinic if your dd can see a physio (one of the ward orthopaedic physios could be bleeped) to be shown some passive exercises for her shoulder, so it doesn't stiffen up.

sympathies for yor dd

Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 20:40

on a practical note... how long might she need off school (work issues)?

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Slubberdegullion · 29/06/2008 20:47

hmm well she can't go until her pain is well controlled, and if it is only conrtolled with coedine use, which makes her woosey, then she can't go....sorry not terribly helpful.

Maybe a couple of weeks off. Ring the fracture clinic tomorrow and ask. They will want you to avoid any activities that are likely to cause the # site to move until you get a good callous formation (new bone being laid down in and around #), so that takes a couple of weeks iirc.

oh yes and get cracking with the prunes as the coedine bungs one up

Slubberdegullion · 29/06/2008 20:47

sorry doing short hand here, # = fracture

herbietea · 29/06/2008 20:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Piffle · 29/06/2008 20:56

they will cast her after swelling goes...
ds1 did this aged 12 as well
paracetamol, codeine and nurofen in strict order/ regimen.
this may be needed for 3 days.
is she due back at fracture clinic soon?
sorry I rode horses and broke40 bones over the years... Tis agony

Piffle · 29/06/2008 20:59

school was impossible for ds1 the cast comes from mid forearm immobilizing elbow and up to shoulder.
he could not toilet himself so school was no go.
he broke his left arm he is left handed which made it v hard to bear.
he had a special light dynacast

Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 20:59

Will put my plug in heat pad on it? She had a bath last night with collar and cuff off and her arm straight down by her side which she said felt better, but tell me if that's a bad idea this early in the healing process?

She felt sick before the codeine, I think it was the intensity of thr pain. She was brave when it happened and at the hosp. She cried when she realised she wouldn't be able to surf or ride for ages!

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thetoothlessfairy · 29/06/2008 21:00

I broke both my humeruses (humuri??) a couple of years ago, and it really is the most horrendous pain - the plastering people told me it is the most painful bone to break. So, much much much sympathy. I'm surprised the hospital didn't give her a splint or plaster to set the bones in place. Re pain relief, codeine probably is making her feel woozy, it does me and I'm a grown woman. IME, there was a certain position to get the arm in and that would help with the pain, but beyond that can't think of anything. Not much help really, sorry

Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 21:01

thank you this is great to now what to expect. Lil is right handed and it's her right arm, she put it out to catch herself as she fell off the horse after a three foot jump

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Original poster
rachaelsara · 29/06/2008 21:02

Both how awful

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