broke my wrist

[tree md]

Get well soon Tom!

I climbed with a guy when I was in my 20's who worked at the same place I did and he got paralyzed from only a 10' fall. He was free climbing up a spar because it was too big to get his lanyard around. He was 22. I used to free climb but I have always set a line after that.

 

[Treetom]

Get well soon Tom!

I climbed with a guy when I was in my 20's who worked at the same place I did and he got paralyzed from only a 10' fall. He was free climbing up a spar because it was too big to get his lanyard around. He was 22. I used to free climb but I have always set a line after that.

thanks, tree md. i'm one of lucky ones.

pdql, i'm not sure of the reasoning behind the steel plate. (you're lucky to have a foot.)

 

[Mikecutstrees]

Get well soon.... glad you have some good painkillers!

 

[outofmytree]

Did the doctors say anything about immobilizing your wrist by pinning or screwing the radius to the ulna? They pull the pin/screws out later. That is what they did to my ankle to make sure that all the damaged ligaments could knit together again without any movement.

If it is as simple as plating the cracked up bone back together, it sounds like you didn't tear up the wrist joint itself. That would be a good thing.

:jawdrop: They pinned your wrist to your ankle to help you?? What would they do to hurt you!?!

 

[pdqdl]

:jawdrop: They pinned your wrist to your ankle to help you?? What would they do to hurt you!?!

That's good. I needed a morning chuckle.

Each of our four limbs has two long bones in the second section away from our body. One of those bones is mostly load bearing, and the other rotates around the other bone so that we can twist our hand or foot.

In the forearm that is the ulna and radius, in the lower leg that is the tibia and fibula. There are circular ligaments that hold those two bones together, so that the bones in your wrist and ankle have something to ride on. If they are torn, the two bones separate from each other, and you have no support for your wrist or ankle.

The doctors might fix those ligaments by nailing the two bones together (replacing the function of the ligaments) until it all heals; no rotation of foot or ankle is possible for a while. Then they take out the screw, rotation is restored.

Presto chango! You are as good as new! Well...not really. But as good as can be expected.

 

[outofmytree]

That's good. I needed a morning chuckle.

Glad to be of srvice..

 

[Treetom]

always tie in. even a short fall can be costly.

 

[pdqdl]

That looks pretty bad.

Did the doctors mention any need to bind the radius to the ulna or keep the wrist wrapped tight? That looks like a large gap between the two bones in the second view. See how the ulna sort of sticks out to the left of the other wrist bones?

My ankle was like that too, only much worse. The small triangular wedges knocked off the ends of the radius suggest a massive force to the end of the bone, when all the points in contact with your carpel bones got the worst part of your landing. Came down on your hand, eh?

Unless I am mistaken, that suggests a lot of torn ligaments and a VERY sore wrist. You had better hope that wrists heal better than ankles do, 'cause I don't get much benefit out of my ankle anymore.

Follow the therapy guidelines pretty closely!

BTW: I used to work in the radiology department at the local hospital as a film librarian. I never got any training in radiology, but I sure picked up a lot of knowledge on the topic.

 

[Treetom]

pdql, thanks for the interpretation of the xrays. you're quite knowledgable. yes, i came down on my hand. i see the ulna gap you pointed out. the doc mentioned an initial displacement in that area but is pleased with the re-alignment. it must have been way out of place before. my arm and hand are wrapped in a cast for 3 more weeks. cannot bend at the wrist, yet. thanks for your advice on therapy. and work safe.

 

[tree md]

Consider yourself lucky my friend. I had to bail at less than 20' onetime and fractured my heel. Couldn't walk for a year without the aid of a cane. I learned a lesson on that one.

 

[Treetom]

:agree2: thanks, bro'. i do consider myself lucky.

 

[Toddppm]

Thanks for the reminder to tie in first!

 

[Treetom]

Thanks for the reminder to tie in first!

toddppm, my pain is your gain. work safe. btw,
wut does the ppm stand for?

 

[Toddppm]

That stands for my company name Professional Property Maintenance.

 

[Treetom]

that has a nice ring to it. happy fourth of july. enjoy your weekend, todd.