ORIF metalwork removal

[BoneyP]

Hi

I fractured my wrist in Italy 3 months ago and had an ORIF operation to insert plate and scresw to fix. However, on my return to UK had it checked at local Fracture Clinic who werent' happy with it as some screws were impinging,on wrist joint, so scheduled an operation to remove. I had the operation yesterday and consultant wasn't happy with the metalwork at all so advised, to prevent problems later on to have all metalwork removed, which he did.

However, I am slightly apprehensive how the wrist will heal and will I get enough strength in the bones to go back to my yoga and pilates classes which obviously puts a lot of pressure on wrists. I will see consultantant in 2 weeks so just taking easy until then.

Anyone with experience of this and the outcome or tips would be gratefully received! 👍

[Fruitandnutcase]

I broke both bones in my right wrist back in 2020. It was stretched back into shape and out in plaster. I say plaster - overall I had several plasters. I developed CRPS afterwards - basically the plaster was too tight and also they said to keep it elevated which I did however although I did my physio religiously I think I held it up for too long as well, I was very comfortable with the wrist draped up over my shoulder. I should have let it down by my side. In fact to get out of the habit of placing it up on my shoulder I ended up putting that hand in my pocket!

Anyway, I ended up paying for private physiotherapy from a physio who specialises in hands an arms as soon as places opened up after lockdown. At one point I said I thought it would have been so much better if I had had a plate put in and the physio said Definitely not’, that it was much better to be able to do without plates and screws if at all possible as it avoided scar tissue problems.

I went back to Pilates as soon as my plaster came off - my Pilates teacher is a very good physiotherapist and I’ve been with her for about fifteen years - the day I went along for a one to one practice session to see if she thought I could go back to class she looked at my poor, shaky little arm which was lying on a table between us and asked if I had seen a hand therapist because she had never seen anything like it! Inspiring coming from an experienced physiotherapist. That was when I found my hand therapist.

My physio group consists of six ladies of my age and older - I’m 75 at the moment - all of us have something wrong with us and our teacher adapts everything to suit us. A few people have wrist problems and we either do exercises on all fours when they are not in class or we support our weight on our forearms which works. I also managed to fracture my sacrum the following year which meant more adaptations to my routines but I find Pilates is what keeps me moving.

I imagine you know your teacher and she knows you, she should be able to adapt everything to suit whatever stage you are at.

We have one very important rule in class - if anything causes you pain, even if it is something you have done before and even if I have told you to do it - don’t do it!

See what your consultant says, or if you see a physiotherapist what they have to say and lastly see if your teacher is happy for you to join in and is prepared to work with you and adapt your moves.

Sorry that’s all a bit long winded 😉

[BoneyP in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Hi thats very helpful to know perhaps it was good to get the metalwork out! i will wait to see what consultant says but will definately get a hand physio to work with , she also does classes specifically for those with osteo before I go back to normal gym,. Many thanks and stay safe!

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to BoneyP]

Sounds very good, hope it all goes well for you.

[Morforwyn]

Hello. I broke my wrist last summer and had ORIF to put in a plate. It took me at least three months before I could start to put any weight on my wrist in yoga and pilates, and even then I had to build up slowly from doing things on all fours. There is loads of helpful advice and excercises online. My advice:

1. Do the physio religiously

2. Google PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) stretching. This is what helped me get my range of motion back.

3. Try to grip the floor with your hand rather than just passively put weight onto it in positions like plank. This activates all the muscles in your forearm and reduced any pain in the wrist.

4. Buy a pair of 'yoga jellies'. These are soft silicone pads that reduce the angle of your wrist in downward dog, plank etc. The really helped me get back into both yoga and pilates.

5. Give it time! I am almost back where I was before after 14 month, but have stopped doing the headstand after my osteoporosis diagnosis.

[BoneyP in reply to Morforwyn]

Hi, thanks for respose - very helpful and know that its ging to take time as long as i eventually get back to normal. Will check for the PNF exercises as I have never heard of those! The 'jellies' ar very helpful as i have some arthritus in thumbs and make downwars dog etc much easier in the wrists. I am just worried as I had all the metalwork removed if the bones will still be weak but sure consultant may allay my fears 👍

Thanks for your reply and good luck for future!