topic Re: Fractured Humerus in Wellness

Fractured Humerus

marip — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:24:07 GMT

I fractured my upper humerus in January. It's been 3 months an xray shows it is healed. I've gone thru 8 weeks of physical therapy and I still don't have full motion of the arm. Doctor recommends more therapy.

Re: Fractured Humerus

cheriere — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:27:02 GMT

@marip wrote:
I fractured my upper humerus in January. It's been 3 months an xray shows it is healed. I've gone thru 8 weeks of physical therapy and I still don't have full motion of the arm. Doctor recommends more therapy.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I hope it's not still too painful. Maybe if you do more therapy it will help. I'd let them know that maybe some additional massage may also be beneficial during physical therapy.

I wish you all the best and please let us know what happens.💝🌸

Re: Fractured Humerus

Desertdi — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:33:26 GMT

It's been YEARS since they have healed...but I still have shooting pains that feel like they have an electrical charge...in those formerly broken bones.

Re: Fractured Humerus

On It — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:34:22 GMT

I hope you keep improving. I suspect a break that significant will need time especially since your arm was immobile for a while. Perhaps asking the PT to address your concerns would help.

Re: Fractured Humerus

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:45:10 GMT

@marip I had a closed fracture of the humerus in early December. 6 weeks or so after surgery I started PT, mostly 3x per week. My routine visits and xrays also show that my fracture has healed...but I still do not have full range of motion...even after months of therapy.

I see the surgeon again next week and I don't know if he will request more pt or not. I have not have therapy for about 10 days but I do my exercises at home.

It is a bit frustrating that I am not back to 100%, but from what I understand, that probably will not happen. I still have pain in the upper part of the shoulder as well as a heavy feeling from the middle of the upper arm to the top of the shoulder. Doctor might give me a shot for inflamation when I see him.

One of the most painful exercises is putting my arm behind me, palm out...to the middle of my back and hold for 30 seconds....

From what I understand (may not be true) if you have reached your goals, you will be discharged from therapy. My notes indicate that I have not met all the goals but honestly, I don't want to continue therapy...I am still working and it is hard to leave work mid day...as long as I am consistent with my at home exercises I think I will be ok.

Reaching into my kitchen cupboards has gotten easier but the 2nd shelf still causes discomfort....

take care

Re: Fractured Humerus

cantdrive55 — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:02:58 GMT

I suffered an impacted humerus fracture 5 months ago. I have been told repeatedly by doctors & PT's that this is a very difficult injury to come back from, and the recovery can take 6-12 months. All true. It's important to be both patient & proactive.

Did you have surgery? What progress do you see in the monthly evaluations? What do your doctors & PT say about your concerns? Are their expectations in line with your goals?

Soft tissue massage to prevent adhesions & get the fascia moving is very important, @cheriere is absolutely right about that.

Re: Fractured Humerus

SandySparkles — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:05:23 GMT

Awwww.❤ I can imagine how frustrating this must be for you!😐 It sometimes takes awhile to regain full range of motion following bone surgery; particularly when scar tissue around the joint is involved. The most important thing is to adhere to the treatment plan prescribed. I am hoping your next update will be that additional therapy therapy was successful for you.🤞🤞🤗

~~~All we need is LOVE💖

Re: Fractured Humerus

tansy — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:35:24 GMT

I shattered my humerus so badly in a fall that it required a total shoulder replacemen in 2008. The mobility never fully returned and I still have pain with it. I did the recommended PT.

I had another fall 10 years later, with the same results.

Shoulders are difficult for many of us to fully recover from.

Re: Fractured Humerus

Spacrazy — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:25:53 GMT

@marip So sorry you're having to go through this and I hope you have complete in the near future. It is my personal experience that three months is not enough time for total healing. I will tell you what my PCP told me when I was going through orthopedic surgeries ~ "physical therapy is your best friend right now and take as much of it that you can get".
Wishing you good luck on your healing journey ...

Re: Fractured Humerus

Moonlady — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 17:36:05 GMT

@marip wrote:
I fractured my upper humerus in January. It's been 3 months an xray shows it is healed. I've gone thru 8 weeks of physical therapy and I still don't have full motion of the arm. Doctor recommends more therapy.

@marip I'm sorry to hear that. I sustained a very painful shoulder and two humerus fractures after a nasty fall about 2½ years ago. I refused surgery, had 6 weeks of PT (which I started "early" because my healing progress was so good), was religious about doing prescribed exercises at home (even adding more), and was lucky enough to regain full range of motion, and I've remained pain-free.

There are many reasons for different outcomes, but I would definitely continue with the PT. Good luck!

Re: Fractured Humerus

cantdrive55 — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 18:11:09 GMT

P.S. if anyone is reading this thread with a new humerus fracture, I found a series of rehab exercise programs for the first 12 weeks of rehab by Adam Fields, DC on YouTube that were very helpful, in addition to my PT program.

Re: Fractured Humerus

Desertdi — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 19:27:08 GMT

Re: Fractured Humerus

Nightowlz — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 20:50:24 GMT

I'm sure that will take a lot longer to heal than 3 months. I hope your therapy gives you fill motion with your arm.

I know it's no fun.

I blacked out about 8 months ago. It messed up my lower back & hips. The doctor didn't ask me about my back even after telling him it hurt. He was more concerned about me blacking out.

I have been using a near red with infrared therapy pad on hips, lower back daily.

Re: Fractured Humerus

wagirl — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 20:52:54 GMT

@marip ---so sorry!! I broke my left wrist a few years ago--went to pt and worked my fanny off to do as much at home as I could to get back full function. As much as I hate p/t you have to do it ---then in 2022 I broke my right ankle---son of a biscuit--that was horrible, but had p/t come to my apt for 2x weekly sessions. again--you have to work at it as much as you can with them as well as at home. 8 weeks isn't enough time to get it working right again. It took a solid year for both things I broke.

Re: Fractured Humerus

AuntG — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 21:14:00 GMT

That's a rough one. Give it time.

Re: Fractured Humerus

marip — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:51:23 GMT

I got my arm x-ray test results and it says loss of ongoing healing of fractured arm.

What does this mean? My doctor did not say anything about this when I was in his office. Next month I'm suppose to get another xray

Re: Fractured Humerus

juanitalinda — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:38:27 GMT

@marip

I don't know what 'loss of ongoing healing' means .... but I would probably send a note to the doctor.

Re: Fractured Humerus

marip — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:49:20 GMT

Loss ongoing healing of the fracture means failed or delayed healing. I looked it up online. My doctor said I may or may not get full range of motion back. I'm going to continue doing therapy.

Re: Fractured Humerus

marip — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 09:07:25 GMT

I get pain in the arm during the night. Anyone here have pain during the night but not so much during the day. Very uncomfortable.

Re: Fractured Humerus

shy bobcat — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 15:24:02 GMT

@marip I hope you're doing and feeling better.

I was sad to read that so many ladies have suffered fractures. I hope and pray all will feel better as time goes on. I have only experienced rib fractures and healing was a painful process, but by eight weeks my fractures had healed.

@Desertdi @Mom2Dogs @cantdrive55 @tansy