It’s been quite a year… In April as I was walking my dog, I fell and landed on my right wrist, smashing it into many pieces. I will write more about that experience at some point, but today, I want to talk about how long it takes to heal…
Obviously, as an energy worker and body worker I was out of work! How long to take off? Until my hand was totally back to normal? That seemed absurd, the first month I felt like my whole right arm was off-line. It not only couldn’t do anything, it didn’t even want to try. I remember the day, about 5 weeks in, that – without thinking about it – I reached for a glass and picked it up with my right hand. I stared in amazement. My right hand had just spontaneously picked something up! It felt like that whole part of my body woke up that day and I found myself flipping light switches, reaching for the toothbrush, picking up a fork with my right hand again. So as soon as I felt that I could minimally function with both hands I thought that was enough healing time. I was ready to go back to work.
I decided to go back to work after six weeks not because I was actually physically ready for it, but because intellectually that seemed like long enough. So over the next few months I did what I could with my right hand and compensated by doing much more with my left. I was strong, tough, and enough was enough… I wanted to get back to my normal life, I felt like I should be able to work and so I did.
When I gradually began developing tendonitis and carpal tunnel problems in my left hand and arm from all the overuse I was dismayed. I tried to compensate, juggling back and forth between the two. I will never forget the night I came back from a conference and walked through the airport parking lot pulling my suitcase and having to stop every minute to switch hands, when each side became too painful. What was I thinking? When was I going to accept my limitations and let my body take the time it needed to heal?
This November I had a second surgery to remove the plate and screws that had put my wrist back together. Somehow, I came up with the idea that I could take just two weeks off after the surgery and go back to work. By the second week, when I was just getting the stitches out and the cast off I realized how ridiculous that notion was!
And as I finally stopped listening to my head and started listening to my body I really, profoundly got the truth that I have told so many clients over the years. And at a very deep level I accepted that my healing will take as long as it takes. And that I had to give that to myself. As I have said so many times, “every problem has a gift for you in it’s hands...” No arbitrary back to work dates, no theoretical recovery period. I finally had to stop pushing myself and rushing the process. My job was just to stop and rest, and let my body heal from the repeated and ongoing traumas of the injuries and surgeries. Heal from all the stresses and changes of my life over the last few years. Heal from whatever it needed to heal from…
The healing will take as long as it takes. My apologies to my clients who I’m not able to care for now. And my apologies to my body that I was not able to fully listen until now. So when will I go back to work? That is up to my hands. One day they will let me know that they are ready to shift from their own internal healing process to assisting other people in their healing process. One day soon, they will reach for that proverbial glass and I will know…
Yours in Peace, Healing, and Patience, Carol
I have much empathy for you. In early October I fell off a ladder and broke (more like pulverized/shattered) my radius bone about an inch from the wrist end on my dominant right hand. Had surgery 2 days later to install a t-shaped metal brace to repair it. Also looked and felt like I severely sprained my wrist and all 5 fingers. Like you I was surprised how slowly the healing process was–constant pain for 5-6 weeks, really couldn’t do anything with the hand, mentally tired due to pain and had to take a nap every day due to poor sleep at night, etc. Started physical therapy to start getting some range of motion back and eventually to start restrengthening everything. Little milestones regularly come–can use my toothbrush, hold my coffee cup, turned my car ignition on (about wk. 7). Still a bit of discomfort all the time and the swelling is not all gone and am getting stronger and with a bit of extra mobility week by week. frustrating how slow it is, but like you I realized it will heal at its own pace and all I can do is be diligent with my daily PT exercises. Might not ever get the full range of motion, but hopefully will get enough ROM and strength so I can once again do all the bodyweight exercising I used to do and wield all my gardening tools, etc. Humbling process overall but also lets me have deep gratitude that I still have my hand and basic health unlike so many.
Dear Carol,
When I read the words describing what you’ve experienced and how you’ve come through to acceptance and peace I’m truly inspired. I feel your loss and great strength.
This has been a challenging couple of years for me and mine as well. And take heart in the renewal of the New Year.
Happy New Year Carol.
I just read your post. I would like yo hear from you on how the process has been since 2013 to now. I broke my right wrist on Decemer 17,2014, falling on ice at work. I had surgery on December 23, 2014. Have not driven since surgery, as my hand therapist said I really need to be able to do a tight fist before driving. I know for many they have started driving right away or within the first month. My concern, if I can drive then I will be considered ready to go to work as I am a courtesy driver for an auto dealership. As a courtesy driver who gives clients rides, my concern is the liability when I am limited in my use of my hand, actually probably can’t turn the key, or shift the gears well if at all either…it was just 1 month Friday since surgery. I was out of the cast after 6 days, and into a brace that I remove and do hand exercises 4 x per day, plus have hand therapy 2x per week… Again, I want to heR. Your progress from 2013 to 2015 and if you don’t mind has age been a factor?
Thanks for writing. Every body is different, every injury is different. One month after surgery I was not driving; not because I absolutely couldn’t drive with one hand, but because in an emergency, I know my right hand would have grabbed for the wheel and that would have been painful and stressful to the delicate healing tissues. It is really worth it to give your body the time it needs, so that your healing is complete. You will be much less likely to have residual problems if you let it totally heal. And yes, age is certainly a factor in healing. At 60, I know my body needed longer than it did at 30.
Now, over a year since the last surgery I am able to do most things that I want to do but am still careful and mindful of how I use my hands. My work uses my hands, so that subjects them to very different strains than other people. I have discovered that I cannot weed my garden for very long, and don’t know if I ever will again. I would never try to wash windows (no great loss!) and this winter I don’t shovel much snow. Will this change in another year? I can only listen to my body and find out.
I wish you speedy and complete healing. You are at the beginning of the process, give yourself a year to allow the healing process to unfold. Regardless of the timetable they give you, my best advice is to listen to your body and honor it, even if you don’t like what it says.
I broke my left wrist 9 weeks ago. I slipped on ice at work. I had surgery 10 days after the fall. Had 9 screws and a plate put in my wrist. I’ve had 9, therapy sessions. At night my wrist hurts and swells up. I stopped taking the Meds 2 weeks after surgery cause they made me sick. I wake up in the middle of the night, in pain. Therapy seems to be helping, little by little. I have another appointment with the doctor in 3 weeks. Been out of work for the 9 weeks. Does anyone know when will I be able to work again, I work in a cafe. Just wondering how long it will take to at least have less pain. My joints and knuckles are swollen. I still can’t close my hand all the way.
I broke my right wrist and damaged my tendon in December 2014. Thinking I had a bad sprain I did not get it xrayed for 3 months. I finally had surgery on it shortly thereafter and have pins and a metal plate in it. It is now September 2015 and I still have swelling and pain. Sometimes it hurts a lot and other times not so much. I am planning on having surgery to remove the pins and plate but dr. wants to wait until December this year. I can’t believe this process is taking so long, but the dr. is happy with how well the bone is healing.Considering I am 61 and have osteoporosis I should not be so impatient.
Having broken my right wrist on 16.1.16 and feeling frustrated by the slow recovery period, your wise words help me to accept my limitations we are a similar age. My story is on http://www.emptynestereflections.wordpress.com
Hi, I just read your post and I too and concerned with my right wrist. I also slipped and fell on the ice on January 20th, 2015. Tomorrow it will be 7 weeks. It was a week later (01-26) that I had surgery which involved a plate and 7 screws. I do therapy 2 times a week. I seen the doctor this morning and he is giving me another 3 weeks before I see him again, and then maybe 2 more weeks until I go back to work. I believe my work disability is going to fight this and want me to go back to work on light duty. I am so worried about this because as of now I am on a 1 pound weight restriction. Can they really do this to me? I never knew how bad a shattered wrist could be.
Did anyone have trouble turning wrist over or numbness in plam and down there wrist
I broke my wrist in Oct.my hand surgeon splinted it and at 6. Weeks,cast off .I had a crooked wrist and pain .I was going back in Jan only to learn my dr has abandon his pts and practice to move to the state medical university orthopedic clinic. I had to find another surgeon.thanjfully I did and he admitted Surgery should of been done earlier!the bone break was drifting and at same time beginning to disrupt tendons in my hand.
Two plates,several screws and total of 12 weeks in a cast I am slowly beginning to get to functioning normally.
Time and pain will only add to healing.Pain is a warning to back off.s
only 2 weeks in cast of the right wrist and your words sound very wise to follow..last few days i am in an unusual need of sleep and rest and am allowing myself in doing so.
our body is smart more than we think…
good luck to everybody!
milica
Goodness this has been hell. I had to have a plate put in my foot for a correction. After a few weeks on being on a knee roller I flew over the handlebars in a crevice in a parking lot and shattered both bones in my wrist/ Ulna and Radius. Surgery for that three days later and now its three weeks and still in a lot of pain and Im no baby. My Ulna is still completely broken off after looking at X-rays. lt hurts like the devil. Put a bracket and six screws in the radius. Actually that doesn’t feel too bad just have some limited finger movement but I am in a cast. But that Ulna. I can feel the bones inside shifting. This sucks. 🙁
Hi Carol. These stories keep me focused on allowing my wrist its own story.
On May 4th, I was about to enjoy my first roller skate (with a special guy friend), and had just seconds prior laced the boots when, seeking a supporting wall, my left skate zipped back & sent all 189 lb of me flying onto my left hand. “That.. doesn’t look right.” My poor companion gaped in confusion while I, in shock before the pain hit, simply nodded to his horrified “did you break it?”
Today is my return to work as a security officer. I have the brace on to both keep it steady *and* to remind myself, as well as my co-worker, to go easy.
My wrist still feels weird: as if it’s not mine. I can’t make a fist or bend my palm-down hand up, and getting dressed is still a struggle.
All I really have to do on rounds is make sure doors are locked, etc .. the typing can be done by my colleague.
I keep thanking the Lord this wasn’t my dominant hand, my legs, back or head, and that nobody else was hurt (the rink was strobe-lit) ..
Thanks for sharing your experience. God bless.
I am 65yo female. Broke my wrist November 2020. Surgery screws and plates. Six was postsurgery still have stiff fingers can lift a metal fork. Drive with left hand is dangerous. Unable to work due to I input data using many keystrokes. This injury is humbling to say the least. Thought I could go back to work sooner, however my right hand rules! It’s says no stay home rest heal and listen to your body. I am on my own timeline because your recovery is just that. I don’t feel guilty anymore and plan to be off maybe 6 months? My recovery is slow