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Common Sense and then some
    
Location: So. California | Late February I fractured my left arm in multiple places. All up high, around the humerus head, both horizontal and vertical. I'm really struggling with the slow healing process and the resulting pain associated with the bone healing, muscles pain/tightness, tendons, etc...
Ice packs, heat packs, pain pills, Advil have been my life for the last 5 weeks. I'm in PT which makes me so sore for 24-48+ hours after, I want to cry. I've only managed to sleep in my bed for a few hours at a time, basically I'm sleeping in my recliner for a whooping 6 hours at most. I should mention that fortunately, surgery wasn't needed, I've been using a sling to stablize the arm. Yes, I'm under the care of Ortho doctor.
I thought I would be much better by now, but this is a slow slow process and I'm discouraged.
Anyone on here deal with arm fractures, surrounding the humerus head? All the associated soft tissue issues, etc. Looking for advice, dealing with the emotional bs and time frame of healing.. doc just told me 3 months, I'll be a screaming idiot by then.  |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | I don't have advice but I can sure send you prayers and positive thoughts for healing.  |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | I had my mare kick my arm but lower part and broke it. it took 6 months before I could use it. its painful and inconvinient.. I had a hard cast though and was able to to do horse things to a certain extent.. a hard cast helps alot because its stablilized.. yours is in a much more difficult place.. same with leg and foot but that took up to 12 months .. if not more for foot.. it kept refracturing.. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 915
Location: SE KS | I was bucked off the end of September, landed on my right side, "hip", shoulder & elbow all hurt. I was sleeping in the recliner too!! Turns out I shifted my pelvis, so every 3 days for the next 4 wks I was at the Chiropractors office, on crutches. Arm hurt too, but walking was more important at the time, so finally get done with Chiro & start on arm. It looked like on the MRI that I had a crack in the Humerous up near the top of the shoulder with a small tear at the top of the shoulder. Ortho sent me to PT for 6 wks, shoulder hurt to move, and like you say PT hurt more than it helped. After 6 wks of PT had Ortho appt. Dr was mad bc I was only better in 2 out of 3 categories. So gave me a cortizone shot. This was the 2nd of January. After the shot Dr sent me back to PT. I went once, bc I had the ability to move the shoulder full range with no pain.
So keep at it, it will FEEL like it takes FOREVER to heal, but it will, although you might need a little cortizone to help when it gets to that time!!!! 
But it took me til Feb before I felt good enough to ride!! (also I'm a fair weather rider!!!)
Needless to say that horse no longer resides in our zip code!!!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| I broke my arm/elbow when I was 16 and even being young it took a good year for it to be normal. I was in a cast and then once the cast was off had to do pt to get my arm straight again. Tears! But I was determined to have it as normal as possible so I hauled lots of 5 gallon water buckets. 10+ years later it still bothers me if I sleep on it or bump it too hard. It's a slow process, but do rest it and allow it to heal! I'll keep you in my prayers! I know how frustrating/helpless/angry you can feel!! |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| I fractured my shoulder and did not require surgery. My arm was totally immobilized then i went to PT and they tried to kill me. The doctor told me that if I did not follow instructions I would have to have surgery and it would not be fun. I did exactly as he said and it probably took 6 months before I had pretty good use. I think about a year later I had pretty good use of it. It will not happen fast. |
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 Regular
Posts: 73
| A few years ago I was running barrels on my roping horse. Coming around the third barrel, I stood up to bring him home and he stopped. I went right over the front end and landed on my head. My neck was fine but I fractured and dislocated my humeral head to the point where it traveled down my arm when I stood up. I had to get pins in my shoulder which greatly impacted my ROM. I decided to get them removed, which wasn't necessary or recommended but they prevented me from getting my hands forward on my horse's neck which wasn't going to work for me. After I got them out, I had full ROM thanks to pain killers and lots of PT. I opted out of having an actual physical therapist and relied on google and resistance bands. Still three months before doctors said I could ride again but we settled on two. I still wished that I got back on sooner because the horse I came off of suffered a fatal aneurysm the second time I rode him after the accident. Advice: Be patient, don't do anything that hurts, even if PT says to, and find a show on Netflix that will keep you glued to the couch. Good luck. |
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Common Sense and then some
Location: So. California | Thanks everyone!!! You gave me hope and a BIG reminder to remain patient and let things heal. I absolutely dread PT and the resulting soreness, what a mess! I'll have to look into the cortizone shots down the road.
I thought 3 months was a long time, but what i'm reading means it really is 6-12 months plus to have a good idea on ROM. Wow...
Right now I couldn't halter my horse if I tried, I cant lift my arm that high, not even close. I put my mare out to pasture for a few months...
I will say this is the most painful injury I've ever had and wouldn't wish this on anyone. The emotional rollar coaster isn't fun either. I have a whole new level of respect, empathy and compassion for those with injuries and/or chronic pain.
Patience, patience, patience... not my strong suit. LOL 
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Sending you some hugs  |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| i broke or shattered the middle of my humerus about 15 years ago, they put and external pin along side the bone from my rotator cuff to my elbow. hospital 3 days. they went into my rotator cuff. the person at the pt told mr i may never have good movement in my arm, i killed myself and most people would not know it, but i did get 90 percent of my movement back, it just sounds in my shoulder the i have rice crispies in my shoulder. they do things differently.
Edited by daisycake123 2016-04-01 7:15 PM
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | I fractured the head of my left humerous about 8 years ago. I stopped riding for five days. After that, I tied my arm down at my waist so I could still have limited use of my arm from the elbow down and went back to riding. Went to PT for 10 weeks after the initial 6 weeks of healing. PT addressed frozen shoulder syndrome which consisted of them manually breaking loose adhesions, then ultrasound therapy and strength training. I still have a partially torn rotator cuff but won't have surgery until it's totally wrecked. I have normal strength in my arm unless my arm is above my head, then it's weak,
Edited by Liana D 2016-04-01 8:46 PM
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Blessed 
Location: Here | Anniemae - 2016-04-01 12:26 PM Late February I fractured my left arm in multiple places. All up high, around the humerus head, both horizontal and vertical. I'm really struggling with the slow healing process and the resulting pain associated with the bone healing, muscles pain/tightness, tendons, etc...
Ice packs, heat packs, pain pills, Advil have been my life for the last 5 weeks. I'm in PT which makes me so sore for 24-48+ hours after, I want to cry. I've only managed to sleep in my bed for a few hours at a time, basically I'm sleeping in my recliner for a whooping 6 hours at most. I should mention that fortunately, surgery wasn't needed, I've been using a sling to stablize the arm. Yes, I'm under the care of Ortho doctor.
I thought I would be much better by now, but this is a slow slow process and I'm discouraged.
Anyone on here deal with arm fractures, surrounding the humerus head? All the associated soft tissue issues, etc. Looking for advice, dealing with the emotional bs and time frame of healing.. doc just told me 3 months, I'll be a screaming idiot by then.
Is it healing? As in any progress in Bone growing back together? Try Occupational Therapy instead of PT. OT helped my husband arm much more than pt
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Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | My break was in a different spot but I was frustrated with my limited range of motion (& a "catch" in my elbow that hurt like hell). The chiropractor was the best thing I did. It hurt when he adjusted it, but felt 10x better afterward. My range of motion was restored quickly. When you think you can stand it, go see your Chiro. |
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Common Sense and then some
Location: So. California | Yes, it's healing. It's a toss up on the bone pain or soft tissue, depends on how I move it, which direction, speed, etc etc... OT - I'm going to look into that.
My fractures are over the top of the humerus head (about 1/3 of the outside), horizonal below the humerus head - dang near straight across, and then vertical below that, more on the outside of the bone, above the elbow.
Liana - you rode 5 days after? no way in heck could I do that. ANY jarring motion was painful. I brushed my elbow on refrig door handle about a week after and it dang near brought me to my knees. Shooting pain. It's not as bad now, but I still brace for speed bumps and right hand turns in a car. I'm not jogging yet!! lol...
Plus, I struggle with forward/up motion. I physically can't move my arm that far up or forward. I'm still on pain meds, tried to stop those... didn't work out so well. Not recommended.
I can't believe how much it's helped to talk about this and read the responses. It's really helped my outlook and provided some great tips!! Thank you for the prayers and healing vibes, they are appreciated. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 305
| In 99 I was run over by 5 horses. I broke my left humerus and 6 ribs. I had a lot of muscel and nerve damage in my arm. I had it plated. I still have problems with it if I hit it wrong. The best thing I found to relieve some of the pain was acupuncture. I did force myself to stretch it so I got range of motion back. I can straighten my arm out, which is something the drs said I would never do. Never give up. Good luck |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | Yes, I did go back to work. And yes, it was very painful. I did have some pain meds for the first two weeks. I used a lot of ice on it and a cold laser. Keeping my arm tied down helped. I hired someone to clean pens for me since I couldn't drive a wheel barrow.
id rather ride with pain that not ride at all :-)
Edited by Liana D 2016-04-02 7:44 AM
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I'm a Cry Baby
Posts: 3781
Location: n.c. | Yes. 6 months - year healing time. Keep doing your PT. No surgery unless it is the only resort.
I broke mine right at the shoulder joint. I would have been better off if I hadn't gone to the quack dr.
Have some rotator cuff damage, but I use it. I refused the surgery and walked out and did my PT on
my own. Can use and lift and saddle my horse. I can live with it. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I had a filly buck me off and shatter my humerus. I got a plate and 13 screws. I was off riding for a YEAR. My surgeon didn't let me get back on for a full 12 months (and quite frankly I had NO desire with all the pain I had anyway). That was 4 years ago and while I recovered fully. I can darned sure predict the weather with my bad arm. PT did WONDERS once I could finally go - it really helped with the range of motion. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 333
Location: Who knows... :) | If you can find an OT that specializes in upper extremity/Ortho you'll be set. I don't recommend cortisone unless absolutely last resort. It is very short acting usually & causes further breakdown. I worked heavily with rotator cuff and upper extremity fractures (OT) .. It takes time, healing, and precise therapy. Find a good OT & follow your doctors orders. Because the long term effects (10,20,30 years down the road) aren't worth taking short cuts. Best wishes :) |
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Member
Posts: 17
| I had a horse fall on me last spring resulting in my humerous being broken into three different pieces. I live in a small town so getting into the orthopod took a while and the temporary brace the e.r. put on didn't help me much. After I did finally get my brace (not a cast) put on I had major amounts of swelling and tons of pain. Two hours at work would result in a six hour nap afterwards. When I finally made it to PT after 3 months of my arm hanging limp at my side I thought I was going to die! I had and still have major problems with my shoulder due to the brace and my shoulder starting to freeze on me, but finally got it to moving. I also still have problems with nerve damage in my elbow, but I can live with that. Have lots of patients and do exactly what your therapist and doctor tells you. Don't be afraid to tell them what is going on and if you have concerns. I made them take x-rays of my shoulder half way through therapy because it bugged me so much. Not sure if you have ever had kids, but Lamaze works for everything. Focus on your breathing and not the pain. Good luck! I know where you are coming from and it may seem like a long road, but you will eventually find the light at the end of the tunnel. |
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 Schnoodle Lover
Posts: 2987
Location: **Cactus Country down in South Texas*** | My mother in law fractured her shoulder & we used some "runners relief" on her and it help the healing process so much faster. I am currently using it my self, I fractured my knee about a month ago. |
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Common Sense and then some
Location: So. California | Update: 10 weeks post injury. I have increased ROM quite a bit, 50-70% of normal. The last set of xrays (2 weeks ago) showed the fractures were 80% healed - yeah!! I've brought back the muscle in my upper arm and finally feel human again! 
Still have swelling in my left hand, have no idea what is causing that, I just soak it a lot and use a squeeze ball. Cannot fully straighten by elbow (which I find weird) it may just be muscle/tendon tightness. And those bunched muscles have finally let go and relaxed. What a relief!
I've started taking Turmeric supplement and that seems to be helping with some swelling and shoulder blade pain from the darn PT exercises. Still in PT and boy o' boy are they stretching those musles and working the socket, OMG PAINFUL! The ROM keeps getting better every week, slowly but surely, and I can't wait until I can use the arm/shoulder normal again. It'll be weeks/months before that happens, but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel. 
I will say, that I cannot believe how painful this type of break/injury is. I'm over 50 and there were days/nights were I just wanted to chop the darn arm off. I've cried more tears than I want to admit, and the emotional roller coaster was unbelievable. I have a new appreciation, understanding and empathy for those with major injuries or chronic pain. God saw this as an opportunity to teach me a few lessons and he got my full attention.
I want to thank everyone who responded and shared their experience and prayers. I read this post many times when I was feeling down in dumps, and I always came away with something new, inspiring and a bucket load of hope. You pulled me through some very bleak moments and I sincerely appreciate all your caring, words of advice and wisdom you expressed. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!!  |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | So happy things are finally moving along in a positive direction!!!! You will get there...keep your chin up:) |
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Dealing with human upper arm fractures