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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    67

    Arm refuses to go straight after radial head fracture

    Little over a year out from a pretty nasty radial head fracture, was a little on the fence but doctors recommended going the no surgery route (which I’m kinda regretting now). After many months of multiple pt sessions a week as well as working on it every day myself it still sounds like a cement mixer when I rotate my wrist or bend arm and my arm is a long ways from going straight. Has anyone found any sort of successful PT/mobility exercises/treatment that helped them? I’ve tried flossing with compression bands, regular theragun (converted jigsaw in my case) and rolling out with a ball, heat, band distraction holding my hand on the ground and having the band try to straighten it out as well as stretching by myself and or PT. I couldn’t care less about the sound or pain but not being able to straighten my arm has destroyed the left side of my upper body so getting it straight again is the main priority.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    67
    Forgot to mention also tried dry needling as well

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Posts
    33,440
    If the tightness is muscular binding you might want to try rolfing.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    426
    You could try a Dyansplint to gradually force it straight but, honestly, if over a year out you're struggling, it's likely worth seeing an experienced hand surgeon who treats a lot of elbows (not all hand surgeons do). You may need an operative capsular resection and, based on what the radial head looks like, possibly something to address that if there's a bony block to rotation (the latter may be less likely if they chose non-op).
    Originally Posted by jm2e:
    To be a JONG is no curse in these unfortunate times. 'Tis better that than to be alone.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Not in the PRB
    Posts
    32,785
    Have you gone back to the doctor and said "hey look, this PT thing isn't working"?
    "fuck off you asshat gaper shit for brains fucktard wanker." - Jesus Christ
    "She was tossing her bean salad with the vigor of a Drunken Pop princess so I walked out of the corner and said.... "need a hand?"" - Odin
    "everybody's got their hooks into you, fuck em....forge on motherfuckers, drag all those bitches across the goal line with you." - (not so) ill-advised strategy

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    truckee
    Posts
    23,120
    This one is not for the internet. See your doctor. If she has no answers see another one.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    67
    Thanks for the help everyone, I’ve been told that what I’m having is unfortunately pretty typical for a radial head break but I should go in to have things checked out again

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Montucky
    Posts
    2,004
    I can’t offer much help, but I can add that I also chose to forego surgery. This was a fairly large crack, and I was on the fence about needing hardware.

    At the 6 month mark, I was back in the gym, and by a year my arm was 99% functional and nearly as straight. 1.5 years out, I don’t notice any pain and can do pull-ups and pushups all day long.

    I straightened my arm with weights and massaged the scar tissue every day.

    If your bone is healed and not physically blocking the joint, you should be able to regain the majority of your strength and flexibility.


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