hello all,
i broke my right arm/shoulder on sunday out running & i'm in a double sling contraption which isn't holding it too well. have an appointment with a consultant again on monday & he says he may operate as it is difficult to stabilise/prevent further displacement the way the break is.
just now i have seen it again!!yuk!! due to having dipped myself in bath. the whole arm is green/yellow/purple & puffy around the elbow etc BUT the hand is HUGE today, looks like it is going to burst.
should i leave it for monday or is this dangerous? i know i ought to know but i don't, short of stroking it very gently towards the heart!
i'm in considerable pain with the slightest movement but i'm ok/ish with that. any help appreciated. i feel such a fool, but not enough to phone nhs direct as yet!
by the way there's also a gash from same elbow to wrist which i've only been able toclean with antibac wipes...
mel x
RE: odema following fracture!! help!!
I'd go to casualty straight away, this doesn't sound normal at all!
RE: odema following fracture!! help!!
anyone else? i'm not up for trekking to a&e (a walk & 2 buses) unless i absolutely have to, like if i am otherwise going to die overnight.
RE: odema following fracture!! help!!
Are you on anti-biotics? If you have an open wound in the lower arm, and the hand is swollen, it could be cellulitis - in which case A&E is your best and quickestoption - cellulitis is a complication you really don't need at this time. Don't get a bus - get a taxi - or if the pain is that bad, call an ambulance. I can't imagine why you arn't an inpatient if you haven't had a corrective procedure done yet.
RE: odema following fracture!! help!!
no i'm not. i'm wondering could ibuprofen have caused the swelling. the wound isn't open, it hurts a bit & looks partly dodgy altho i can't really inspect it as it's inside the sling.
RE: odema following fracture!! help!!
if you don't want to go to a&e call NHS direct instead, they're usually pretty helpful.
I'd get it checked out though just to be safe, you shouldn't be in that much pain and as jabba said it could be infected
RE: odema following fracture!! help!!
long night, long story!
calling nhs Direct started a whole chain of events via emergency GP to almost going to A&E! a paramedic came to get me in the early hours& convinced me to ice & elevate instead after conducting a few simple tests! oh where is A&P when i need it?!?
having established that blood flowwasn't compromised & that the swelling was drainage from the original site, i've just had a few hours sleep. am now off to bank et c& will take myself up to A&E this afternoon earlyish as of course it's not right & there may be infection if not a break further down the arm as wel;l (latest theory based on grip test).
thanks so much for your input, & for ypur email JTH, much appreciated.
mel x
RE: odema following fracture!! help!!
Just a note - swelling can be a side effect of Ibruprofen -BUT may not have been the cause in this case
Hope everything is sorted
LOL
FBx
RE: odema following fracture!! help!!
..it is sort of, i'm re-trussed & set to survive til monday, with a dressing on the wound too. the swelling was mainly due to gravity, all the fluid pooling in the lower half of the arm & hand. also everything was geared to immobilizing the shoulder so was in conflict with blood flow. it's great when you get to see reassuring medical types i find. phew. thanks everyone for helping me.