Broken shoulder

[Tricialuty]

I broke my shoulder 3 months ago and the actual break is healing OK but my fingers are really swollen and painful should they still be like this after all this time,any information would be welcome 

[belle623]

Hi,

I am so sorry, i can imagine how uncomfortable that is. Yes, this can be normal. First do you have any streaking going up arm? Temp or discharge from wounds? Need to rule out infection.

Second: are you in a sling or cast? Swelling in all probability is due lack of mobility on the arm. It is also very common for recovering shoulder patients to get tight/swollen carpol amd metacarpools. Of you can safely and ok woth doc; move ur wrist and fingers around. Even do some PT exercises for wrist and and hand to help aid recovery.

Hope this helps and feel better

Ash

[Tricialuty in reply to belle623]

Hi, no infection just real stiffness and swelling of my fingers,I can do more with them now but they are still very stiff just hope it's not going to leave me with arthritis as I was very active, 3 dance classes a week before this x

[Hidden]

Hi no u fingers should not be swollen is it just u fingers that are swollen or is u arm as well, u need to go and see u gp as soon as possible and get them to send u to a shoulder specialist 

[Tricialuty in reply to Hidden]

Hi thank you for replying,it's just my fingers and my hand they are also very stiff I'm hoping that once the swelling in my arm has completely gone everything will go back to normal even the Dr says it's unusual I haven't heard of anyone else with this problem 13 weeks after the accident I'll just have to hope it gets better soon x

[katieoxo60]

Hi Tricialuty, sorry to hear about your shoulder. Having broke both shoulders in my life, it is usual to have swelling for some time, but not your fingers. These days it is very rare to be plastered it is usually sling support and physio. Last time I  fell I had bruising for over three months and swelling and underwent  around nine months of physio, I still get twinges with over use but that's from underlying arthritis. I would see the GP or ask for a telephone consultation, for the finger swelling. Hope the info helps and you get good use back of your shoulder soon. Take care and every best wish.

[RibvanRey]

Hello and welcome to the Community. As you haven't included even your Country in your Profile please forgive our assumptions that you are probably in the USA.

As Katie says you should ring your GP urgently. If this is not a sudden onset then your condition should have been picked up on your first outpatient appointment at the fracture clinic. If you cannot get an appointment for the next 48hr my advice would be to ring the Fracture Clinic. If you explain the details and give the name of your Consultant they should be able to add your name to the next clinic list.

You certainly should have this examined as some urgency. It sounds like something is being trapped by the fracture. 

Regards, Rib 

[Tricialuty in reply to RibvanRey]

Sorry I didn't say but I'm actually in England and it was just a sling that I was in for 4 weeks, my fingers are really stiff in the morning I've got a feeling this will leave me with arthritis but I haven't heard of anyone having all this swelling in their fingers after all this time, thank you so much for replying 

[RibvanRey in reply to Tricialuty]

Tricialuty I am glad that you are in the UK, not because I am prejudice but because we hear some terrible tales of people in the USA who have to either go without or pay vast amounts of money to receive treatment. At least I can relax in knowing that you should get your hand looked at.

Regards Rib 

[chairbasedIns1]

Shoulders are a complicated joint and I hope you have got your GP to refer you to physio or in some places you can self refer. When you see the physio ask to be treated by a physio who specialises in shoulder/hand  problems. The more movement you can do in short bursts the better.

i have hand problems and make it part of my daily routine to do the hand exercises I was given by a hand specialist physio.

Tai Chi might also help, but it needs to be Tai Chi Gigong which is a slow medical form. They do talk about the arthritis form,too, but that doesn't mean you have arthritis, though most people get some, as osteo arthritis just means 'wear and tear' of the bones over time.

All the best, keep moving.