|
|
Post by chitchatgirl on Jun 5, 2017 12:54:17 GMT
Two weeks ago Saturday I tripped and fell. Tried to catch myself and ended up breaking both arms. In the ER I find out I've broken all three arm bones including dislocating one and my other side fortunately had some stress fractures but not enough to put it in a cast. Had surgery four days later. I've been needing my painkillers less but I have been crazy exhausted just walking around. DH says it's because I've not been able to do anything and my body has to overcome it. I've read that healing bones is hard work and I am trying to fix four of them. I guess I'm just looking for validation that I've not just turned into a lump of useless in two weeks.
Also, any tips for broken arms. Thank heavens my dominant side is useable and has no cast! But I'm bored out of my mind!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by peano on Jun 5, 2017 12:59:12 GMT
Wow! That sounds miserable and it does sound like your body has been adjusting to the physical trauma and the demands of healing. I've never broken anything so can't help you there, but sending you some positive healing energy.  |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:32:02 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2017 13:00:04 GMT
Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I hope you heal quickly with no lasting problems! I can't even imagine! That's my biggest fear is falling and trying to stop myself and breaking multiple bones!
Lots of reading, and binge tv watching! You need to rest and heal! Gentle hugs!
|
|
|
|
Post by myboysnme on Jun 5, 2017 13:01:56 GMT
Ouch! OMG that is quite a fall! I broke my dominant arm and it was a bitch because I drove a stick shift. I lived alone and recall knocking on a neighbor's door to open a jar of peanut butter for me. It was so long ago there were no computers and I had to write everything at work with my non dominant hand. Got lots of practice with ambidexterity!
Can you stay home or do you have to work? If you can stay home, take pain killers and relax, curl up and watch a marathon, drink shakes and eat finger food you can use one hand for. Maybe read some books. You can still go for walks and get outside.
Everyday it will be better. Thank God bones usually heal. Be prepared for some therapy after they heal from the weeks of not being used. |
|
|
|
Post by mom on Jun 5, 2017 13:02:16 GMT
OUCH! I cringe just thinking about the pain you must be in.
No tips to offer - sorry - I have never broken anything. Take it easy. You've been through a lot and your body probably needs to rest.
|
|
maurchclt
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,654 
|
Post by maurchclt on Jun 5, 2017 13:08:13 GMT
ouch! no words of wisdom,can you listen to books on tape? I'm sure you're watching lot of TV.Give yourself time to heal, really you have no choice but to listen to your body, don't rush things.
|
|
|
|
Post by genny on Jun 5, 2017 13:09:17 GMT
Oh my gosh I am so sorry!
My sister in law is a media specialist. at the beginning of this past school year she was hanging some things from the ceiling in her library and I guess maybe leaned too far, fell off the ladder and got tangled up in a desk and a chair somehow. She broke both arms and a couple of fingers and one of her legs was messed up too, but not broken. She had to have pins put in one hand and in the other arm(the bone came through the skin in that arm). 4 surgeries later she is finally healing. She was out of work for months and I'm not kidding when I tell you it happened in August and she is still tired and overwhelmed and sore.
Give yourself some slack - your body has sustained a lot and you just need to rest and heal and don't worry about being a lump - you need to be right now!
I can't help with tips, but I do know that SIL was going stir crazy too. She was sick of TV in a few weeks. I know she listened to a lot of audio books because she couldn't even hold a book.
I'm so sorry you are going through this and I hope you are on the mend and better really soon!
|
|
|
|
Post by chitchatgirl on Jun 5, 2017 13:10:00 GMT
Ouch! OMG that is quite a fall! I broke my dominant arm and it was a bitch because I drove a stick shift. I lived alone and recall knocking on a neighbor's door to open a jar of peanut butter for me. It was so long ago there were no computers and I had to write everything at work with my non dominant hand. Got lots of practice with ambidexterity!
Can you stay home or do you have to work? If you can stay home, take pain killers and relax, curl up and watch a marathon, drink shakes and eat finger food you can use one hand for. Maybe read some books. You can still go for walks and get outside.
Everyday it will be better. Thank God bones usually heal. Be prepared for some therapy after they heal from the weeks of not being used. Yes I'm home for a minimum 8 weeks on FMLA. Fortunately I have short term disability and an emergency savings account so no worries about staying home to recover. It's mostly just trying to keep my sanity. |
|
|
|
Post by chitchatgirl on Jun 5, 2017 13:13:02 GMT
OUCH! I cringe just thinking about the pain you must be in. No tips to offer - sorry - I have never broken anything. Take it easy. You've been through a lot and your body probably needs to rest. It was the first time I've ever passed out from pain. The days between ER and surgery were the worst. They weren't able to get the bone set in the ER so I was in severe pain for a few days. It wasn't until after my surgery the new doctor gave me more than the minimum dose of drugs. Felt a million times better then!!!! |
|
|
|
Post by gulfcoastgirl on Jun 5, 2017 13:13:19 GMT
You poor thing!  Thanks for the validation. I broke 2 ribs last summer and I was exhausted for months. I didn't connect the two until recently. I hope your recovery is uneventful. |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:32:02 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2017 13:17:22 GMT
That sounds like a nasty fall, I'm wondering if the shock is still having an effect on you and contributing to the tiredness?
I'd put my feet up and listen to some audiobooks, have as many naps as you need, eat comfort food and just concentrate on healing. I hope you feel better really soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by jennyap on Jun 5, 2017 13:19:21 GMT
OUCH! I cringe just thinking about the pain you must be in. No tips to offer - sorry - I have never broken anything. Take it easy. You've been through a lot and your body probably needs to rest.  Yeowch, you poor thing! You definitely need to rest and let your body work on healing. |
|
sueg
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,140
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
|
Post by sueg on Jun 5, 2017 13:27:17 GMT
I am not surprised you are feeling exhausted - your body has so much to deal with. Also, many painkillers will make you feel tired - it is a part of the way they act on your brain.
It is hard to be patient, but this is one of those times where you just have to be. Your DH is probably just trying to be helpful in what he says, but you need to listen to your body.
|
|
|
|
Post by mikklynn on Jun 5, 2017 13:27:53 GMT
Your exhaustion sounds perfectly normal to me! Can you ask a friend or two to stop by, bring you lunch and chat?
|
|
|
|
Post by malibou on Jun 5, 2017 13:33:34 GMT
So sorry for your call. What a nightmare. Your body is doing some tricky tricks, and you will have to give it the time it needs. Hope your healing goes quickly.
|
|
ddly
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,066
Jul 10, 2014 19:36:28 GMT
|
Post by ddly on Jun 5, 2017 13:35:27 GMT
Oh, that's awful.
I had carpal tunnel done on my dominant wrist and I just drove myself and everyone crazy, so I have no good advice.
Try to take it easy and rest while you can! I hope you heal up quickly!
Lisa D.
|
|
|
|
Post by destined2bmom on Jun 5, 2017 13:36:38 GMT
Oh you poor thing! That sounds so painful! 😟 Praying that you heal quickly. Do you have Amazon prime or Netflix to watch movies or shows? That's what I would be doing.
By the way, the exhaustion may be a combination of pain medication and your body trying to heal.
|
|
|
|
Post by jenjie on Jun 5, 2017 14:00:20 GMT
Ahhh I'm so sorry! I do know a little bit about broken bones. As others have said, it's been a traumatic experience. I remember those first few weeks. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't get comfortable. I counted down the hours and minutes til I could take my next painkiller, which barely touched the pain.
In the beginning I laid around all day long. It was really all I could do. Go easy on yourself.
Once you are out of that initial energy drain, think about how you might like to use your time at home. You could reframe it into an opportunity. You can:
Binge watch your favorite shows
Reread a favorite series
Dream a few dreams about what you'd like to do with your house and yard - organizing and decorating - when you're feeling better
Watch YouTube or read some books on a particular topic you'd like to learn about
For me personally, I was incapacitated for an insane amount of time. I decided to make use of my time studying the Bible and praying for other people. Truthfully that period of downtime helped me become grounded in my faith. It set the wheels in motion to prepare me spiritually for when my husband became ill and then died several years later.
|
|
|
|
Post by KikiPea on Jun 5, 2017 14:01:44 GMT
No tips, here, but I am so sorry! I hope you heal up quickly!
|
|
|
|
Post by KelleeM on Jun 5, 2017 14:09:17 GMT
Oh my goodness. I hope you heal quickly and completely.
|
|
suzastampin
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,587
|
Post by suzastampin on Jun 5, 2017 14:14:13 GMT
I'm so sorry. I've broken both wrists (thankfully not at the same time). You may not be getting good sleep at night. It's hard to position the cast comfortably, plus you are probably bumping or lying on the other arm. Rest when you need to.
Tell your husband to go break a couple of arms and see how he overcomes it. Geesh!
|
|
|
|
Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jun 5, 2017 14:24:49 GMT
I'm so sorry!
It's normal to be exhausted any time you have to heal. And you have quite a lot to heal!
Just take it easy, rest as much as possible, and let your body do what it must.
|
|
|
|
Post by bc2ca on Jun 5, 2017 14:32:24 GMT
Your body is telling you to slow down because it needs to work on healing.  |
|
|
|
Post by deshacrafts on Jun 5, 2017 14:33:01 GMT
You poor thing. Take it easy and let your body heal. Hugs!!
|
|
scrappert
Prolific Pea
RefuPea #2956
Posts: 7,994
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Jul 11, 2014 21:20:09 GMT
|
Post by scrappert on Jun 5, 2017 14:37:05 GMT
Oh my goodness!! That sounds so very inconvenient!!  And painful. I have no advice, just wanted to send my well wishes for a speedy recovery. Hope everyday is an improvement. |
|
River
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,627
Jun 26, 2014 15:26:04 GMT
|
Post by River on Jun 5, 2017 14:37:48 GMT
No advice, but wanted to send you my sympathies. I broke my wrist last spring and was miserable with just that, I can't imagine what you are going through.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:32:02 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2017 14:52:06 GMT
Oh you poor thing, that must have been one heck of a fall. Be kind to yourself, your body has had quite a shock and needs time to get over it.
Maybe someone could prepare some food and cut it up for you before you need to re-heat it or prepare finger food for you if you're on your own during the day.
Be careful of the arm that has the stress fractures though, that also needs time to rest and heal.
|
|
|
|
Post by mcscrapper on Jun 5, 2017 14:53:06 GMT
Girl, you didn't fall! The ground jumped up and attacked you!!!
You poor thing!!! I bet you are more than exhausted - healing bones is no joke.
You are exhausted because #1 surgery / anesthesia kicks your ass and it takes a while for your body to metabolize all of those gases and drugs.
#2 - it takes a lot of calories and energy to re-build bones. No lie.
Glad you can still use your dominate arm but try not to over-do anything. That is tough for women to do but you gotta allow yourself some time to heal and rest. If you don't already, think about hiring yourself a housekeeper and maybe even someone to come in a few days a week to help with the grocery shopping, laundry, etc. Maybe even do a meal service a few days a week too to help out.
Keep us posted! Hope you are better soon!
meredith
|
|
|
|
Post by Outspoken on Jun 5, 2017 15:01:30 GMT
Oh, I am so sorry you are going through this! I think what you are experiencing as far as exhaustion is normal. I know you are going stir crazy and I wish there were a magic answer! Prayers for a speedy recovery!
|
|
|
|
Post by janniepea on Jun 5, 2017 15:08:50 GMT
I'm so sorry!
I recently broke a bone, in my elbow, and I've been shocked at how exhausted I've been! I was walking and hiking a lot, well over 10,000 steps a day and now? Wiped out! I can't imagine multiple breaks. I hope you feel better soon.
|
|
