broken wrist

i broke my wrist 3 weeks ago, it has been set, and casted. I thought the swelling would only last a few days, and that my wrist would feel better after it was casted. But  3 weeks out, my fingers are still swollen, i have a lot of pain, i cant use my fingers to hold any thing, and if I move the wrong way, i have shooting pains in my wrist.  my fingers are tingly and numb feeling.  Is this all part of the healing process?  Just not sure what to expect, any insight would be great..

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

The application of a cast means that immobilization of the limb is required till the time the cast is removed, to promote healing of the fracture which may take 4-6 weeks. Trying to move the limb unnecessarily may cause fracture displacement and improper healing. Casting does not heal the fracture immediately but just provides support and immobilization required for natural healing. However, if you continue to have swelling and pain, it is advised to consult your orthopedician to rule out complications like osteodystrophy etc.
Hope this was useful.

Take care!

[sara_eagle]

Well, you need to call your Dr.  Also, you need to keep your wrist/hand elevated and you are probably using it too much!  Cut back on the activities, carrying things in your fingers/hand, holding thins in your fingers/hand.  The wrist needs to rest!!!!!  Consider the cast as a brace in order to immobilize the wrist so it can heal.  It's not a foolproof safety net that allows you to do whatever with your hand while you have it on!  Consider it fragile and treat it with lots of care or you may run into problems with nonunion or poor alignment of your fracture!

[saber138]

I'm not a doctor or anything but i know If its swollen you can take NSAIDS (anti-inflammatory drugs) HOWEVER do not overdose because they can cause severe stomach bleeding, chest pain, abnormal heart rate and other bad symptoms. Try using a wrist support, they really help alot. MOST OF ALL, You need to completely stop using your infected hand until it is healed. A fractured joint takes a long time to heal. When you can move your hand a bit more, consider going into physical therapy. That should help you get back on track.

[sara_eagle]

Don't take NSAIDS!  They slow down healing of a fracture!! ( I can't tell you how many lectures I heard patients get about fractures from the orthopedic surgeon I used to work for!)