Five More Days!
Trying so hard not to whine about this dang cast. For the most part, I’ve achieved that goal, letting the occasional whine out on Twitter or Facebook. (My website is where I “update” you about my condition, not whine. Never whine. LOL)
But let’s face it, folks. I’m so done with this damn thing. Sleeping has become a chore; I’m not sure if it’s due to being uncomfortable, or being irritated that only a few positions are “comfortable”, although “comfort” and “cast” are oxymorons. I have “good” days and “bad” days (and days I “overuse” the “quotes”), but mostly bad days. I’ve had to up my pills (Ibuprofen and Tylenol), and I take them more often these days.
I can feel a tightness in my wrist when I flex my fingers. Almost like things are swollen. Feels like there’s something IN there. Sometimes, I can still feel the instability when just pressing my fingers together, like when you snap or do the okay sign. Things aren’t right in there. But this stupid treatment must finish before we can move on, and therefore I have five more days in this prison sentence. That’s what it feels like to me at times. (Okay, so I do whine on my website.)
But you see, this conservative treatment “needs” to be done first. Even though every other story I read online is about the surgery. Why aren’t there any other stories of casting before surgery out there if this is the normal treatment? I don’t know. I’m getting jaded. I’m getting pissy.
Makes me wonder, though, if there’s more red tape after I get my cast off? Do I have to go through X amount of physical therapy before they’ll decide something more needs to be done? Depending on what my doc says on the 9th, I might look for a dang hand surgeon myself and get a second opinion.
Things. Aren’t. Right. It’s not getting better. And I’m pissed because this is wasting time! But if I call my doc, they’ll just tell me to come in on Tuesday. At this point, I might as well go the distance. I’m a wuss when it comes to confrontation, but if my doc tells me X amount of weeks need to pass with PT before anything more can be done, I’ll ask him about that hand surgeon he knows.
Not that I’m against PT, or that I’m jonesin’ for the surgery, but lets be honest and call a spade a spade. I know when my body’s got issues. And right about now, I’m hoping my wrist IS swollen when they take off this cast if only to prove I’m not a whiny little bitch. Doc.
LOL
Okay, so maybe I am, but I got REASONS!!
~~Becka
Currently in a cast as well because I opted out of surgery because I thought it was a bit too radical to just jump in and do. I have been in the cast 2 weeks now and like you it’s driving me crazy and really uncomfortable! I feel like something isn’t right either but I feel stupid calling the doctor and complaining because everyone tells me all casts are uncomfortable and just deal with. I finally bought a cast shower cover which as really helped but the pain and discomfort are still there. How are you feeling? Feel free to email me and vent.
David, thanks for commenting! Nice to know someone else is going through this. I have another friend with a TFCC tear in a cast, but he had the surgery. Yeah I probably wouldn’t have had the surgery out the gate either. I’m the same way with regards to calling the doctor about the swelling I feel in there. I went to the doc after having my cast for one week (my arm had shrunk-the cast was loose) and the doc clearly said he cannot send me to the hand surgeon until it’s proven the 4 weeks in the cast didn’t work.
Which means to me, boo hoo, suck it up and do the time, since any less time in the cast won’t “heal” anything.
I guess what they’re trying to ferret out is whether your “tear” is merely a “bad sprain” that will go away with rest/immobilization, or if it really IS a tear in the cartilage that can pretty much only be healed properly with surgery.
I’m not a doctor, but I’ve done a lot of research on this subject, and it would seem the TFCC doesn’t have a good blood supply, so when you get a tear (of significant size), it won’t heal on it’s own.
As far as how I’m feeling, nothing has improved. The only reason I have any kind of relief, really, is because my wrist can’t move in the cast. When I think, hey, I’m getting better! I’m reminded a couple of hours later – nope, that was just the meds talkin’.
I do want to clarify — I got a second, more snug cast, I’m not suffering in my loose one — realized my post above kind of sounded like I was. lol If your cast is loose, you should definitely go in to change it.
Hey Becks,
I’m just back from the doc today reviewing my MRI scan – I’ve got a Palmer 2C TFCC perforation. his only suggestion is ulnar shortening surgery, but I’m hesitant. He told me how to modify my behaviour to reduce the pain, but frankly I’d rather have got a cast. My wrist feels so unprotected.
John
Gack! Now that’s something I don’t want done. Deliberately breaking your bone and resetting it… Although I gotta say, a broken bone seems to heal a lot faster that the freakin’ ligaments.
Question for you, John. Does the little bump on you ulna near your wrist (ulnar styloid) feel weird to you? Mine has felt weird this entire time, like sticking up higher than it should. When I saw my x-ray, I noticed my ulna is somewhat curved. I broke it as a kid and I wonder if it healed wrong and now needs to be shortened.
Don’t know of anyone else who’s styloid feels like it sticks out too much and was wondering if it’s one of your symptoms.
Hey there, thanks for replying. I think it’s kind of stupid because chances are with all this pain it’s a tear but I think they are hopeful that with the cast and no movement for 6 weeks will allow it to heal. I am going for an MRI next week, finally got the authorization from the insurance company. The cast is loose and I called and have an appointment for tomorrow, does it hurt when they change the cast? I am going crazy with it though, the discomfort and how many things I can’t do with it,pain aside. I am thinking about going for a second opinion though after my MRI because I want to know exactly what the issue is before I have surgery. Where are you from? I am from New York. As for the limited blood supply you are right, my doctor said the same thing about the scaphoid as well and thats why the MRI is needed.
It doesn’t hurt when the cast comes off–the saw they have only vibrates, so if it hits your skin it doesn’t hurt. Word of advice: if you’re familiar with wrist braces, you’ll notice they have a small piece of metal holding the palm slightly elevated–that’s the normal palm resting position, not straight. So when your new cast is drying, imagine your hand is holding a roll of gauze to keep that incline. I did it for my second cast and SO COMFY.
I’m in Oregon.
And six weeks? Ugh. Only 4 weeks here. well, 4 weeks of the long-arm cast. Who knows what’s next. 
Good luck!
Hey again, back from the doctor and thank you for the heads up. You were right about the saw, it didn’t hurt but felt hot. You were very right about the wrist position and its sooo much better, I would hug you if you were a bit closer. Now that it’s snug it’s a little better but it’s throbbing now and back on pain meds. Is it very cold there? I know, 6 weeks really does suck, I am not sure how I will survive! I am almost 30 and just feel so old and cranky,lol. Thank you by the way and good luck to you as well. How are you feeling?
Lemme tell ya, once you pass 30, it don’t get any better. LOL As for your pain, do you have a sling? My doc, masochist that he is, didn’t give me one when I got my full arm cast, and the weight of the cast tugged on my wrist, to the point I was crying one day. Who knew your wrist would work to hold up your cast?
Get thee to a Rite-Aid and buy yourself the Ultimate Arm Sling (it’s real name) and one of those soft fuzzy things for a car’s seatbelt (to save your neck). If you haven’t done this, DO IT! A sling is pretty much imperative for a full-arm cast.
Here in Oregon, its been rainy, but today was a good day, sun out, moderate temperature. As for how I’m feeling, still in pain and concerned about the amount of Ibuprofen I’ve been taking. So I called the doc’s office and finagled my appt. to get my cast off a day sooner, Monday instead of Tuesday. Could have gone in today–if my doc actually, you know, WORKED on Fridays. Crap happens on Fridays, too, doc!!
~~Becka
HAHA, I am looking for good news here! I don’t have a sling and I find myself resting it wherever I am, desk, on pillows in bed. I will go out to rite aid and look for it, not like I can use my arm anyway so it might as well be in a sling and comfortable!
I am glad the weather is better, we got hit with snow so I haven’t been out much but going to a superbowl party tomorrow. By the way have you bought a cast cover for the shower? i got mine and it’s amazing, really seals it tight and no water got in.
HAHA, how right you are! They work one day a week and you ask the receptionist what they do the other 5 days and she says oh he has another office, surgery and all this other crap! If I didn’t have a connection I would have waited weeks to see this hand surgeon!
No, never got the cast cover for the shower, I’m still trash bagging it. But I get my cast off on Monday, so I’m not too worried about it. If I have to have surgery and *another* cast, I’ll probably buy one. They do indeed seem awesome.
Yeah you got hit with lots of snow! Wow, hope all is well and the power stays on for the game. (whoo!) Stay safe!
Ha, trash bagging it is rough! Wow, that is exciting! I hope all goes well and you are pain free. Yes, they are awesome and if needed it’s worth the money.
Yes we did and the power better stay on! I am so frustrated with the cast and the discomfort and not being able to pick my kids up or do much of anything! Sorry, I had to vent a little my wife is sick of me complaining to her,lol.
Heh, I here ya, when I first got this cast on, my hubby made a comment about whining all the time and I said, “Wait, YOU know YOU would be much worse if our rolls were reversed, mister!”
I’m spoiled, though, my kids are old enough to help around the house and do the odd job in the kitchen, so I’ve been putting them to work. And every now and again, the hubby has pity on me.
As for being pain free, not even remotely. The only reason I took less pain meds today was because I don’t want to fry my kidneys. Or my liver. Or my stomach… Pretty much every major organ that’s vital to LIVING. lol
I can feel swelling in my wrist inside the cast, like there’s a thick rubber band in there making everything tight. So doc and I will have a nice chat on Monday. Like the fact that he better give me a brace to wear, unlike the sling he failed to provide.
HAHA, I think I complain more than my wife and I thin if she had the cast she would deal with it better,hmmmmm.
Ah,lucky you I have a 5 and a half year old and a 4 year old so it’s not easy and they don’t understand that I can’t do certain things and the pain I am in.
HAHA, I hear yah! My wife is a nurse and doesn’t let me take to many pain meds either for that reason and she doesn’t want me to get dependent.
YES, I have the same feeling with the swelling and no matter how much I have it elevated it still swells and throbs in the cast! I hope you do get a brace and it’s more comfy than the cast! I got a black cast in the end, I never knew they had so many colors to choose from,lol. I was like a kid in a candy store but black goes with my suits for work, Mr. practical,lol.
I was bummed they didn’t have pink cammo.
CAMMO cammo, sure, but that’s all boring and stuff.
My first cast was pink, second is purple, both got glitter spray! (I’m such a girl.) Of course in my sling, you can’t really see the cast color much, but having the darker purple cast was fun for the kids to draw on with a silver Sharpie.
HAHA,pink cammo? Do they even have cammo?
Yes, I see that! My wife is laughing behind me and now wants to buy glitter spray,see what you have started? Dark purple sounds cool though and nobody signed mine yet, I kind of like it clean. Is that babyish of me? LOL
My doc did have cammo–the green/brown kind. My hubby said to me, “You want pink cammo?!? Where are you trying to hide, the 80’s?” LOL
And no, not babyish of you, especially if you have to go to work with that thing. One of my other posts on this saga has a pic of my purple glory if you want to see it.
And as an aside, how did you injure yourself? I think mine’s degenerative, as I badly broke my wrist when I was a kid and occasionally it would ache with cold weather – but nothing like this before. But I didn’t fall or do anything, other than pushing myself up from the couch a few different times and feeling things snap in there like someone plucking on a guitar string. Didn’t hurt at the time, but began aching shortly thereafter. That’s the only thing I can think of that could have been the cause of all this.
Been aching for two months now, since the beginning of December.
HAHA, I would have told my wife the same! Thank you, I mean my shirt covers most of it but what really irks me is that I can’t button it over the cast or put my cufflink on,ugh! I saw it and I don’t think you can refer to a cast as cute but it is or at least wife thinks so and said she is coming with me next time to pick out the color,see what you started?LOL
Mine is degenerative as well although I had an injury 2 years ago march where I fractured my wrist and scaphoid and the doctor thinks that maybe their was another injury that we didn’t catch or the scaphoid never fully healed and has limited blood supply as well. Wow, that sounds painful and people think it’s so weird that you didn’t injure yourself yet in a cast and they don’t understand the pain!
It’s a long time to ache and it takes time to see a specialist and determine the issue. Did you have an MRI?
It is weird — lots of people don’t realize you can get a cast without breaking anything. But for those of us with torn ligaments, I’d rather have a broken bone to be honest; easier to heal. Faster too.
I broke my wrist when I was 13, fell off my bike and broke my fall with my outstretched left palm. My doc at the time was a “good ol’ boy”, an older man who had zero bedside manner with a kid. Said I’d broken my wrist in three places, the thumb bone inside the hand, my ulna, and a bone in my wrist. Probably because I was a kid, he didn’t tell me which one, so I have no idea.
I also have no idea how this break affected my TFCC at the time. My doc was interested in the bones and that was it. Could be it was torn and no one knew.
People always say children are resilient, and I bounced back to a point, but RIGHT after I got me cast off, doc wanted me to put my wrists together at a ninety degree angle both at the palms and at the backs. Hurt like a MOFO. Of course Zero Bedside Manner M.D. said, “No, no, no, like this.” Grabbed me wrist and made me do it.
Gawd that guy was a douche.
My wrist was tender for awhile after that, but eventually the pain went away. I’ve always had problems, my hand being weaker, etc. Always thought it was the break, ppl say broken bones are never quite the same. But maybe it was the TFCC all this time that was weak and it just decided to tear again because I’m all old now.
The upside — GETTING MY CAST OFF TODAY!! Three more hours!
No, haven’t had an MRI yet — and won’t, unless and until my doc sees fit to send me to a hand surgeon. (Only seeing ortho. surgeon currently).
Hind sight is 20/20. Should have gone to the hand surgeon directly. But I had no idea my problem needed a specialist. Gah!!
Hmmm, thats interesting. My doctor sent me to a hand specialist right away and you should see one. Did you have an appointment today to get the cast off? How are you feeling? I bought the sling by the way and its really so much better, I didn’t realize how heavy the cast is! My shoulder started hurting from the weight i think, anyway much better now, thank you soooo much! Now I need an idea for some type of glove that will over my cast,lol.