Distal Radial Fracture of Right Arm: Christine Talbot, SRN, MLD, DLT
Christine Talbot reports a fall-related right arm distal radial fracture, initially evaluated as a sprain....
22/05/24
Slipped on carpet and was thrown off balance as I hit my shoulder on the wall causing me to fall awkwardly landing sideways, hitting the right side of my face and nose with my right arm forced under me. I did hear a slight crack but thought that was my nose hitting the floor.
23/05/24
Persuaded to visit my local cottage hospital for a medical opinion. I was seen by a Triage Nurse who examined my hand, she didn’t think it was broken as there was good mobility and at this point although swollen and very bruised it was not nearly as painful in comparison to my shoulder which was extremely painful but not examined. The nurse considered the injury to be a bad sprain so no x-ray required.
Sprain Management
- Lymphoedema bandaging to reduce swelling
- Splint ordered from Amazon to support the wrist
- Deep Oscillation
- Quantum Wave Laser therapy
- Magcell
- Castor Oil. (The Oil That Heals)
- Lower Kg limited weight work to sustain muscle mass.
At this point I was relieved it was only a sprain as I had all my plants to pot out, my grand children visiting and patients requiring their lymphoedema treatment. I did cancel some of the more involved full body treatments, breasts I could work left handed with the addition of the deep oscillation applicator head.
After twelve days following a muscular injury I would have expected a significant improvement but despite a reduction in swelling the limb remained bruised, movement was increasingly painful at a deeper level which I suspected was bone pain and therefore returned to the hospital for evaluation.
It was thought to be a scaphoid fracture but the x-ray revealed a fracture of the right distal radius, it was shown to be in alignment and healing well. Having had all the ‘specialist’ sprain management attention and worked as a mere muscular injury I was amused they were impressed with the rapid healing process. No further investigations or treatment protocols were required, I was emailed an attachment of physiotherapy exercises which I did not bother to open having surpassed the basics on day one.
Eight weeks post trauma the lower arm and wrist movement was near normal, however the pain under the scapular, deep into the shoulder capsule and down the upper arm was intensifying causing upward, forward and lateral raises to be most challenging with severe spasmodic radiating pains through the whole arm causing me to cry out. I considered whether I had ripped the long head of biceps or fractured the upper arm, a lump appeared in the middle of the humerus so my suspicions advanced to a sarcoma!
However a strange, large circular lumpy rash appeared just below the humeral head and back towards the scapula. Having been blueberry picking the previous day I thought it could be prickly heat, not something I’d had for years. The rash progressed copiously forming collective patches in some areas and smaller singular outbursts along the arm, the skin was extremely sore to touch with shooting and consistent pain. I realised the mysterious outbreak was Shingles. I had had shingles fourteen years previously but then there was a magic oily potion from France from Forces of Nature called, ‘Shingles No More’. The application of this oil immediately took the pain away, alas it is no longer available from Europe but can be acquired from the USA.
Other than obtaining antivirals within forty eight hours, treatment is conservative, my onset was protracted as before, thus it was a matter of waiting for the virus to work its way through, it has progressed downwards through all aspects of my arm into my fingers. Four weeks on the intense symptoms are diminishing in severity and the rash has scabbed and is fading though a little sore. Calamine lotion was suggested but I found this far too drying and painful, so applied Castor Oil and Noxzema, an eucalyptus based cream which is soothing and cooling. Gradually I am re-introducing upper body fitness equipment starting with light weight work and walking with Nordic Poles. Alas, muscle mass is very quick to go but takes a concerted time and effort to re-build, hopefully long term neuro-muscular cellular memory will kick back in.