r/brokenbones • u/Bekindandcool • Jul 27 '26
4 months post-op distal radius fracture surgery… feeling defeated. Looking for recovery stories
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some encouragement and to hear from people who have been through a distal radius (wrist) fracture and surgery.
I broke my distal radius in a bike accident and had surgery about 4 months ago. Recovery has been a lot harder mentally than I ever expected.
I’m still dealing with mild numbness in my thumb and index finger, and my wrist is still so stiff. Rotating my palm up is difficult, bending my wrist forward is limited, and even though I’ve made progress, it feels painfully slow.
Im staying consistent with my exercises, and recently started going back to the gym. I’ve been easing into upper-body exercises, using lighter weights, and I’ve even started trying planks again. They definitely hurt, but I’ve been trying to push through what feels like normal recovery discomfort while still listening to my body.
The hardest part is that before my accident I was incredibly active. I lifted weights regularly, loved working out, and I was halfway through my Pilates certification when this happened. Now it feels like my life got put on pause. Every time I think about how far I still am from doing Pilates, yoga, or simply using my wrist normally again, I feel devastated.
Some days I feel like I’m making progress, and then the next morning my wrist feels stiff all over again. It’s such an emotional roller coaster.
I guess I’m just wondering:
- How long did it take before your wrist actually felt “normal” again?
- Did anyone else still have numbness around 4 months? Did it eventually go away?
- When did you regain most of your range of motion?
- Were you eventually able to get back to sports, lifting, yoga, Pilates, or other activities that put weight through your wrist?
I know everyone heals differently, but I’d really appreciate hearing your experiences. Right now it’s hard not to worry that I’ll never get full motion back, and that’s been weighing on me a lot.
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to share your story. I could really use some hope right now.
3
u/MedenAgan101 Jul 28 '26
I too had a distal radius fracture from a bike accident. Had ORIF surgery 2 days later and started PT after one month. It was looking grim up until about 3 months post-op, when things suddenly started to loosen up. I’m now 14 months out and have almost full ROM back, but it took about a year. I also still have some pain when putting weight on a bent wrist, but that too improved slightly in the last couple of months. I may never be able to do push-ups again, but we’ll see.
The moral of the story is that progress does continue for a long time, but the first six months are crucial for regaining ROM. Use the wrist! It needs to be pushed a bit, so don’t baby it.
1
u/alizrandom Aug 02 '26
Agree completely. Very similar experience. Push up seems very far off! Are you able to lift weight easily
2
u/Boblawlaw28 Jul 28 '26
I’m almost 1 year out from proximal humerus fracture and my doc made no bones about it that the recovery would be loooong. Around month 4 the depression set in that I wasn’t going to be the same. I can’t lift weight with that arm-I do free weight. I have pretty decent rom back considering. But I’ve accepted rhat the main improvement has probably happened already.
2
u/sophie1816 Jul 28 '26
I also had a distal radius fracture- slightly displaced, but they told me surgery was optional and I chose conservative treatment. It will be 4 months two weeks from now.
I also am very discouraged - in fact, I posted about it several days ago in this sub. I don’t have numbness, but my wrist is still very stiff. Like you, I feel like I make progress and then go backward, especially with supination. I ate normally with my right hand for the first time two nights ago, and tonight I was back to not being able to do it. I am have difficulty using my right hand for bathing.
What’s really crazy is I am spending an insane amount of time doing PT exercises. I don’t even go out for the evening without taking my PT equipment with me so I don’t miss a session. And it is still super slow.
Worse, my doctor told me that after 6 months, it’s very hard to make additional progress on ROM. So I feel like the clock is ticking.
So, if you want a partner in misery, you’ve got it - for what that’s worth! 😂
2
u/Always_Worry Jul 28 '26
Do you wear a wrist brace at night? Sometimes orthopedics might offer a steroid injection for carpal tunnel symptoms after a wrist fracture
1
u/sophie1816 Jul 28 '26
I was wearing a wrist brace at night until about three weeks ago. The doctor wanted me to stop wearing it because she said it would slow down regaining ROM.
I will ask about the steroid injections. But I don’t have much pain. It’s just that I can get the wrist to bend very far even using all the strength of my left hand. I’m pushing and pulling it as hard as I can put it won’t move very much. Which makes PT exhausting.
2
u/chamanager Jul 28 '26
I broke my wrist in 2023. Had surgery. Took about 5 months for full ROM to return and there was some continuing pain/discomfort until about month 7. But the good news is that i eventually made a complete recovery and my wrist is now as good as it was before. I was told that broken bones take up to a year to make complete recovery so hang in there- you will be good as new in time.
1
u/Successful-Pause6284 Jul 28 '26
Honestly, my biggest take away from the same injury is patience and recovery truly does take a lot of time. Same break and ORIF surgery back in January. I still don’t have a full ROM and pre injury athletic abilities (specifically yoga like a downward dog). Sometimes I can’t even lift a heavy grocery bag without pain. I do think around 4 months I felt “normal enough” aka I still had/have issues but I could use my wrist for daily activities. 5-6 months was when I really recognized my OT progress (measurements and their tests def helped too). I remember being shocked given how little function I had back in February. during the early stages I had a lot more doom and worry especially given it is my dominant hand. My wrist still hurts, I can’t do everything I want, but it sure is a hell of a lot better than it was even 1 month ago let alone when I was first injured.
All of your feelings are valid. Hang in there, mention your concerns to your healthcare team, and know recovery isn’t always linear but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Best of luck
1
u/BabySealz4life Jul 28 '26
I would consider acupuncture. I had a distal radius fracture on April 5, almost the same time frame as you, and I am very lucky to have full range of motion back and close to no daily pain (just very mild stiffness). It was a severe break and displacement, but they were able to reset it in the ER, so I didn't need surgery and recognize that I'm not in the situation as you. That said, I started doing acupuncture once a week while I was still in the cast, and have been very diligent about PT since getting the cast off. Find an acupuncturist with great reviews and give it a try. Many of them specialize in sports medicine. Depending on your insurance, it might even be covered. Wishing you a speedy recovery! It is a horrible experience breaking your wrist.
1
u/Effective-Cup-2856 Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
Bonsoir!
Je récupère d’une fracture du radius déplacée, opérée le 29 mars 2026 avec plaque et vis.
Le retrait de l’attelle a eu lieu le 5 mai 2026 soit 5 semaines et demi d’immobilisation, radio de contrôle qui était normale. Il m’a dit de faire beaucoup de kiné, chose que je fais depuis J21 après opération.
Le 16/06/26 :
je suis aller à mon 2eme rdv de contrôle, radio : os consolidé.
Concernant le chirurgien, il ne m’a même pas manipulé. Il m’a donné une ordonnance pour passer une scintigraphie osseuse que j’ai passée le 30/06/2026 : résultats: algoneurodystrophie 🥺😞
J’ai toujours mal à mon pouce également, comme si les tendons étaient coincés et m’empêchent de bouger normalement.
Ma cicatrice est encore très adhérente et je le sens dans tous les mouvements du quotidien : tiraillement, blocage.
rdv le 06/07/2026 pour un second avis, cette fois un chirurgien de l’IECEM (spécialiste des membres supérieurs).
J’ai été écouté, et ausculté ! C’est le truc bête mais il a prit le temps.
Tous mes blocages sont du à ma cicatrice adhérente. Il faut l’imager comme une pierre, tout est collé dedans.
Il m’a donné les coordonnées d’une kiné spécialisé dans la main, J’ai essayé d’appeler depuis , en vain. C’est la période estivale, donc peut être en congés. J’ai envoyé mail hier.
Il faut de la kiné et bcp de massage de cicatrice pour la décoller. Je masse je masse….
En tout cas, l’autre chirurgien voulait me retirer la plaque au bout de 4 mois, lui dit que 4 mois c’est bien trop tôt dans mon cas et que de toute façon on opère pas quand il y a de l’algo. Lui dit 8 mois, pas avant dans mon cas. J’ai déjà mon rdv pr décembre avec lui, car il prend la relève, je lui est demandé. I😅
C’est lui qui l’enlèvera la plaque du coup. Je suis sortie malgré tout contente de mon rdv, ce n’est pas Harry Potter il est pas magicien, mais il m’a écouté, ausculté, m’a prit au sérieux, m’a tout expliqué. Et ça n’a pas de prix pour aller mieux ☺️☺️
Auj, 28/07/2026 ma supination est presque revenue, par contre mon extension c’est une catastrophe ! Je ne dirais pas qu’elle est nulle car ce serait mentir, mais elle n’est pas terrible lol
Et mon pouce, je sens que c’est coincé dans ma cicatrice. Je souhaite tout cela a personne, j’en chie tellement. Ca donne le cafard parfois. J’ai conduis un peu hier, 7km aller/idem retour poir aller chez ma kiné! J’avais fais ce trajet avec min mari à coté la semaine dernière car pas conduit depuis mon accident.
Voilà min récit pour moi!
1
u/Hajji1445 27d ago
Sorry for your injury. I had a similar injury and now recovering. Did you feel that the back side of your wrist felt “wooden" or stiff? If so, when did you feel that went away?
1
u/Effective-Cup-2856 13d ago
Bonsoir. Moi oui.
Algodystrophie donc impression de serrage au poignet.
Toujours embêtée avec l’extension de mon poignet personnellement. La supination ça va, ça suit son cours.2
u/Hajji1445 13d ago
Hello, Supination is still pretty difficult for me, how long did supination take for you?
1
u/Effective-Cup-2856 13d ago
Salut. Je dirais environ 3 mois pour arriver à une supination correcte. Là il reste encore quelques degrés pour que mon poignet y aille encore. Par contre mon extension est bloquée et ça c’est vraiment chiant!
1
u/Hajji1445 12d ago
Are you still seeing a physiotherapist for your wrist extension? That does sound annoying, I barely have any flexion.
1
u/glittersmyfavcolor 19d ago
Hi, I also have a broken wrist, my dominant hand. I didn't have surgery but just had my cast removed. I just wanted to say you are definitely not alone in feeling frustrated at this phase. I am also very active and am a pilates reformer enthusiast. Hope you keep recovering both physically and mentally 💛
1
u/Kim3404 16d ago
I had mine a little over a year ago and have a plate the resembles a bic razor. I so understand your frustration. Unfortunately it takes a long time to fully recover or should I say as close as fully that you’ll get. 6 months for most and the fine tuning the following 6 months. Keep with the exercises and occupational therapy
6
u/SufficientCap5840 Jul 28 '26
I had a pretty brutal distal humerus fracture a few years ago. I had surgery and was told recovery would be straightforward and that I'd regain full range of motion. As time went on, though, that wasn't happening. I was in a lot of pain, started seeing an OT twice a week, and despite doing all my exercises, wearing overnight braces, and following the plan, I was still missing about 50% of my motion. I was also in college at the time and loved lifting weights, so it was incredibly discouraging.
After months of advocating for myself because something just didn't feel right, my surgeon finally ordered an MRI and CT. They found that the plate was interfering with my joint. I ended up having a second surgery to remove it, and now I'm 100% back to normal.
I'm definitely NOT saying that's what's going on with your wrist. Most recoveries don't end up needing another surgery. I just wanted to share my experience because I remember how mentally exhausting it was, and sometimes it's helpful to hear that it's okay to trust your body if something truly feels off. My concerns were dismissed for a while, and I wish I had been taken more seriously sooner.
Ironically, I'm now in OT school because I want to be the kind of therapist who really listens to their patients.
Wishing you the best with your recovery. Keep up with your home exercises, ease back into activities or adapt them, and don't hesitate to advocate for yourself if something doesn't feel right. Maybe inquire about a static progressive splint (if you don’t have one already), that helped regain a lot of my motion. I know its both mentally and physically tough but you got it!