From Splint to Cast in a Week

[Turtle]

Happened Wed morning, 11/19/14, Columbia, MO.
The splint was big and bulky and heavy. Like wearing a concrete mitten. The cast is considerably lighter, and I have at least a very limited use of my fingers. Can't really make a fist yet because of the pain and the fingers are still swollen a bit. The whole thing hurts way more than I expected.

Those who can read an x-ray know what they're looking at. I don't. These were taken a couple hours after it happened, and the ones taken a week later show a few more cracks. There are other fractures in the radius I didn't mark, as well as at least one in the ulna. Doc said there might be a few very small, minor cracks in a couple of the carpals but they don't show here.

Had 2 skids. Forklift driver took the back one out, and because they were relatively light, 200 pounds or so, he got up in the van to push the forward one back. I got up in there and pulled on the banding as he pushed. The banding snapped and I went flying backwards out the rear of the Sprinter, landing mostly between the forks (they were on the ground), breaking my fall with my butt/hip area (disturbingly large and nasty looking (and painful) bruise from that), and my outstretched arm trying to brace the fall. Got a nasty gash in my arm below the elbow, probably from the forklift rack, and banged my head pretty good on the rack. Forklift driver asked if I was OK, and I said, "Yeah, except I broke my wrist." I knew it immediately.

I initially thought I'd just stay OOS for a day or two and then get back after it. 18 hours later the pain arrived with something very different in mind. Then I drove the 6 hours home and started on the pain medication, Tramadol, which had no effect. Got new pain medication, 5mg hydrocodone, which also didn't help. Then doubled up on that which had at least some effect.

Tuesday got the cast, which is considerably more comfortable. The pain is a little less now than it was over the weekend, so the hydrocodone is more effective. I was hoping that with the cast I could quickly go back to work, but the pain and the doctor emphatically said otherwise. No way I can drive without the pain meds, and there's absolutely no way I can drive with them. Doc says 5 weeks minimum, and isn't that just awesome.

 

[Doggie Daddy]

Nice Load 1 blue for the cast!!

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[jelliott]

So sorry to hear that Turtle. Hopefully you can miss all the season's snow storms! Well try to make the most of the down time and enjoy the holiday. If you need anything let us know.

 

[asjssl]

Sorry to hear ..hopes for a speedy and successful recovery..
Prime example why to keep a "nest egg" of $$ in this business. .

 

[Moot]

Sorry to hear about your accident and injuries. Take your time recovering. Freight will be hit and miss until after the first of the year. While reading your account of how you broke your hand I got a rather vivid, mental image of a cartoon turtle (similar to your avatar) on its back between 2 fork lift tines. Take care.

 

[highway star]

I'm not sure, but I think Moot just mocked your unfortunate injury. I'm shocked... You know, being the holidays and all that crap.

Get well and enjoy the vacation!

 

[cheri1122]

Like nearly all truck drivers, I think of myself as tougher than average - but that scares the bejeebers out of me.
I could have told you the Tramadol wouldn't work [not for serious pain], but the docs like to see if the placebo effect is enough, I think.
If there's any 'good' news, it's that the serious pain doesn't last for long - at least, that's what I hear. I hope it subsides and lets you get back to work when you feel you need to, for whatever reason.

 

[mrgoodtude]

Ouch big guy, hoping for a speedy recovery.

 

[danthewolf00]

The fact that John and load one has your back is what makes them such a great place to work at.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Sorry to hear about your accident and injuries. Take your time recovering. Freight will be hit and miss until after the first of the year. While reading your account of how you broke your hand I got a rather vivid, mental image of a cartoon turtle (similar to your avatar) on its back between 2 fork lift tines. Take care.

....Here is to getting better....and back on your feet!

 

[LDB]

Good luck with a speedy recovery and in the future no pulling, only pushing.

 

[Turtle]

Six weeks to the day after the injury, and five weeks and one after the cast was put on, the cast is now off. Yay!

The x-rays looked good, and you can see new bone is starting to form at the fractures. I now have a removable cast/splint, that looks a lot like a bowler's wrist support for those that bowl with a fingertip grip (me).

It's still swollen a bit in the wrist and arm area, including in the proximal and middle phalanx area of the index and second fingers. So I can't make a fist yet. It seems to confirm the suspicions of both the ER doctor and my orthopedic surgeon that there may have been some damage that didn't show on x-rays to either the metacarpus bones of those fingers, or more likely small damage to one or more of the carpal bones (capitate and/or trapezoid). There is small amounts of new bone forming in those areas. But it looks like that aspect of this is more annoying and interesting (to me) than it is something to worry about.

I have rehab exercise instructions to get back range of movement, strength and dexterity. It doesn't appear that any formal physical therapy sessions are necessary, as I can do all this on my own. He said I should be good to go in 4-6 weeks. I'm hoping 2-3, as I have a followup in two weeks on Jan 14th, 2015.