I'm Donny, the new dork from across the street
 

Broke my Arm ulnar fracture (non displaced)

The bone (that shows no sign of union after 9 weeks)is the least of my concerns. BTW I'M 49 and I live in Huntington Beach ca

What worries me is the motor skills, I have sensory function
but all digits(the fingers) have lost motor function
they look like swollen italian sausages, spoiled ones


in 9 weeks (8 doctors) no one has mentioned a diagnosis or prognosis

so after many hours of research on google I've been educated
on nerves and hand function I'M SCARED

Dr.s have left me in the dark for 9 weeks,

Two of them said you have RSD And reffered me to pain management
the burning from the tips of my fingers to deep into my shoulder is
killing me, and I'm not sleeping anxiety running rampant


ps I know someone who has been full circle for 9 years with RSD I know the ropes never dreamed I'd go through this too

Hi Donny
 

I'm Sue the dork from PN,i just wanted to say welcome. And yes pain
is scary and it HURTS. Dr's. can be flakes and i'm sorry your having
so much trouble. Peeps will be around soon to help you. RSD folks
are all ages,and not so dorky as i. :) Hang in there they will be here Sue

Hi Donny,

Welcome to the forum. How did you break it? I had a colles fracture (stupid fall), ulnar and radius, few hand bones...and still have problems from the ulnar, a small piece of which shattered at the wrist end, still got the bits in there. Ulnar breaks seem to cause ongoing problems.

How did they set and cast it, and what tests have they done? I assume x-ray. Non-healing is worrying, but it often takes longer if you're a bit older. When you say they've said nothing, is that really nothing? Did it ever not hurt, or was it like this from the word go? Not that I'm a doctor...

How do you know about the loss of motor function, I hope you aren't trying to use it; I couldn't use my arm for ages, but I didn't try until it had healed and was uncasted.

It sounds as if you're still in the early stages of mending, don't lose hope, it could be almost anything at this stage, but you do need them to start looking properly, in my experience the docs treated all fractures the same and never looked for, or seemed to expect, problems, despite the fact that complications often happen. Don't lose hope yet,

all the best :)

Hi, welcome. I am in San Diego. My RSD is in my right knee/leg, so no comments about arms. Welcome.

Hey Donny.

My RSD started in my right arm after a fall. When are you going to see a pain dr? where did they refer you? they will hopefully be able to assess the situation and help deal with the pain and then sort a diagnosis out - it is scary though!! This pain is NOT fun to live with and it is scary if you don't know what is happening to your body!

Take care and I hope the diagnosis gets abit clearer soon.

Love

Frogga xxxxxxx

Donny,

Welcome from Virginia. I have rsd in feet so I can't help you with you arm/hand, but welcome to the group.
Mary

Hi Donnie,
 

Sorry to hear that you have the RSD. Since you have a friend with it maybe he will be able to help you through it and give you the support that you have given him.

My thought would be to ask your Dr. to send you to an Anesteologist for a block to diagnose the RSD and maybe put it into remission. A lot of people here have had no luck with blocks but they did wonders for me.

My hands and fingers were in the same shape as yours when I first started with the RSD. I have had Ulner nerve surgery, TOS surgery and 2 rotator cuff surgeries on my right arm. With good PT, blocks and triggerpoint injections I can use my arms pretty good, I just have to watch what I do with them. I still have triggerfinger syndrome to deal with yet and carpal tunnel. When I walk and swing my arms they still swell up and turn colors.

Welcome to the forum and I do hope you start getting the help you need to get better. You can get better, remember that.

Ada

Hey
 

Hi Donny! I'm Mark the Dork from Massachusetts! I too never thought I would be dealing with RSD ever in my entire life. I expected to be living a pretty carefree life at this point. Independent, financially sound, and still be able to get out of bed in the mornings without help. :( Ha NOT! 7 years ago I got nailed with this mess and my dream went down the toilet faster than you can say RSD!!

But through support from folks like the ones here, a good doctor and if you can be so lucky - a great family - you can get through it. But just remember this. Take it one day at a time. You'll have good days and you'll have really bad days. Don'y let the really bad days mask your good days.

Come here often. We are here for each other. Were all in the same boat. Talking about RSD/CRPS makes you feel better believe it or not. I hope you do!

Chin Up!! Mark :)

First, let me thank all of you for the well wishes, and the encouragement
I'd like to respond to each you individually, but I'm running on approx
4 hours of sleep and I'm pretty much an emotional mess

Ada, sounds promising, but I gotta tell you the blocks scare the crap out of me, especially after reading here
http://www.rsdinfo.com/rsd_puzzles_1-146.htm

the RSD syndrom as a whole has me puzzled, this was a very minor
fracture did 4 weeks splinted, and prior to the short splint they had the plaster packed splint with ace bandages

I think the initial plaster pack thing was too tight, causing loss of blood to the hand, and bone itself, my hand curled up

there was blunt force trauma to the forearm above the elbo (flew over the handle bars and landed on my face)

by the fourth weeek I sought care at the university hospital complaining of the swelling and loss of motor skills they charged 1700.00 to sit me down, take four xrays, and have an intern tell me I had a broken arm "xray is normal"

I stopped the meds cold turkey three days ago, almost broke down last night
in an effort to sleep, Christ, I wish they'd give me a sedative

anyone wanna talk on the phone I Just got digital phone with unlimited calling pm your number

typing one fingered and trying to puntuate is a real pain

again let me say thank you to each and everyone of you family dosen't GET ITfreinds expect me to cut off the cast and party down

Donny

well I'd like to toss in another thought.
since the break occurred due to an impact on the arm is is possible that impact carried up into your neck/shoulder area?

you don't have to reply to my suggestion- just wondering if you should read a bit on our TOS forum - for brachial plexus injuries- nerve /vascular injuries or compressions in the neck /collarbone areas-
here's the useful sticky link with our best info links. just in case it might apply too {unfortunately TOS is just as difficult to find a good dr for :( }
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=84


Did you say the break is not healing??
I would think that would be a big concern??:confused:

For the most part the neck & shoulder areas are doing alright
I did in fact read about TOS, quite a bit. I've spent lots of time reading about ulnar and median nerve comp & entrapment

Frankly, I wonder if the students at the university have
suppose to very common in patients wiyh my history I swear they could care a less

Howdy!
 

Hi Donny the Dork!

Im Allen the Geek! RSD is a monster! Sorry to here about all your goin through, I just hate learning of more people with this.

I too went cold turkey off the pain meds after almost 3 years of steady daily doses. Thought I was gonna die bro. The first month was like being on a emotional roller coaster, the highs were real high, and the lows were real low.
Once I got through the first month things started to even out :winky:

This place is a great place to come and unload, or get some information. Everyone is family! We need each other because not everyone in our world understands what hell we go through.

Like Mark my world was on the fast track to being very comfortable, but in one day that was turned upside down. I hope everything settles down for you so you can get some sleep. That is my major complaint besides the pain. Havent really had a good nights sleep in 7 years, it really is one of the hardest things to get accustomed to.

:welcome_sign:

Welcome aboard!

Hey Donny,

I live in Santa Monica. Have a couple of suggestions for you here in So Cal. Pm me your number and I will give you a call. :hug:

Hi Donny.
Iam Sue from Mass. Iam sorry for what your going through. This place is the best place to be. Before I found this site I was very alone. Only people with RSD can understand. Everyone here is so wonderful and since Ive been here, I feel so much better. Its home!

Love
Sue K.

hi donny,
i'm joan from massachusetts, rsd left lower leg and foot and now right foot. welcome, so sorry you are joining us. i also had a great job and was doing wonderfully and then one day, it was all a new world fighting the monster.
hope we can somehow help at least by listening.

Donny,
 

You just described my hand and arm two and half years ago. I could not use my hand at all and my arm and shoulder were so swollen I had to buy knit tops, because my cotton blouses wouldn't fit that arm. I own a restaurant, it owns me, I have to do all the kitchen work. I had to have people come in to do my work. I could only press 2# you have to be able to press 20# to have a useful hand. I"m an old lady and my other hand could press 40# So I did what I had to and started washing dishes, everyday for about 2 or 3 hours at a time. In the beginning I cried, but that didn't help my hand pick up a plate or cup, forget a glass!! I think having the hand underwater for periods of time really helped, and being a stubborn old lady, I forced my hand to move. I really did not want to lose my restaurant, and my home, living in the street in the heat of SC was not my idea of fun. So I keep doing dishes and one day I could pick up a cup and than a plate and months and months later a glass.Today my hand is still weak, I now have dystonia in it and sometimes my shoulder swells, but I can now pick up a full glass of tea:D Carose

Hello Donny
 

I'm very sorry that you have to be here because of the RSD monster! However, I believe that you have already seen what a kind and compassionate place this is by the number of replies to your post. Care, shoulders to lean on, support, knowledge, and information are all resident in this forum. Welcome aboard!

Take care of yourself,
:cool: EJ

Welcome Donny
 

So sorry to hear about your accident and now your RSD diagnosis. However, it is good to hear that you are researching and educating yourself on this condition. If this is truly RSD then you can treat it early and this should be helpful in having a more positive prognosis.
Someone said to check with an anesthesiologist - I agree. Often they are more familiar with treating RSD. Also, some neurologists are also more informed. That has been my experience.
Best wishes to you.
Sydney

Hi Donny,
Sorry to hear that you might have this. I've had it for almost 4 years. I did get the stellate ganglion blocks & along with prednisone helped me. Suggestion - if you do get the blocks make sure they're done with a florescope (sp?) Have you seen a hand/arm orthopedic doc?
Linmarie

Hello..
 

:eek: Ice bandages? *shudders*

Ohh wow dude I hope you are staying away from any ice now.. Ice promotes and worsens RSD.

Welcome to the group
:grouphug:
Sandra

again, let me just say Thanks for all the well wishes and advice, It's Sooooo nice to have a forum like this to comfort one's fears and anxietys

that said, I'd really like anyone whos got the skin on the fingers looking the way mine do, to chime in

note the white dry tiny cracks in the top finger, near the nail I'm totally in the dark as to the seriousness of these cracks, the yellowing of the skin, and whats in store as far as retaing my skin and fingers

http://www.allcoastsportfishing.com/...sh_024-med.jpg

Hi Donny,

Skin and nail changes are symptoms of RSD, they seem to come and go in stages. I'm sorry, I can't see in the pic exactly what you mean; not your fault, this vbulletin forum design doesn't allow high quality attachments, and it will reduce the quality of photos so that it's hard to see details. I see the swelling and redness clearly, but I just can't really see what's going on at the nail end....

You can put them in again, (and/or add them to the Picture Thread) using something like Photobucket - it allows higher quality photos and it's easy, I use it. The url that explains how to do that is here:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...?t=7728&page=2

Remember too that you do have an unhealed broken ulnar - arm breaks cause many changes in skin, nails, lots of things...if you think about it, they're bound to, the whole mechanism of the arm has been interrupted.

BTW, the forum can be quiet at weekend, people are busy with family and soforth, I expect you'll get more response soon,
all the best!

[QUOTE=carose;113461]You just described my hand and arm two and half years ago.

Thank you Cheryl, I Really appreciate you taken the time to call Me You're wonderful :hug: