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Broken hand, any advice?

RobinF

Veteran

Out for a walk with hubs Tuesday night, tripped, fell and landed on the side of my hand. Of course it was my right hand . A few hours later ER confirmed a broken metacarpal and probably 6 weeks in a cast. I’m now figuring out how to do things with my left hand and it’s exhausting! I’m an accountant and returned to work on Thursday. I had to get a left-handed mouse and separate number pad to put on the left of the keyboard and that has helped. Luckily I don’t have to wash my hair every day because that is going to be difficult and it’s actually easier being summer because less clothing to get over my cast and no socks. Could be worse!

Anyone here who has experienced this with some advice for me?

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20 replies

Latest reply was from connormom

Inge

(website)

Oh no, Robin!-((( And of course it's your right hand, double ugh!! I don't really have any advice, but hopefully other Fabbers will chime in soon.

It's only when you've hurt your hand or arm that you realize just how many daily things you do with both hands/need both hands for, isn't it.

RobinF

Veteran

Haha so true Inge! We totally take it for granted.

JAileen

Veteran

I’m so sorry. I was an accountant, too. I got tendonitis in my right elbow and had to learn to use my left hand, including using the computer mouse. Mine was a trac ball. It took a week, but I learned to do it.

Jane

Veteran

Sounds painful. I would absolutely keep up with the pain killers and listen to what the doctor says, sounds so obvious, but it is easy to think you might be taking too many etc. I think I might take arnica tablets.

I think you will be ambidextrous in 6 weeks if not sooner.

pil

Veteran

Robin, I’m sorry about your hand! I broke the fifth metacarpal in my right hand several years back. My pinkie was pointing in an unnatural direction and I thought the finger was simply dislocated. Ha ha. It was a freakish incident too. I was dog walking at the local animal shelter and the dog I had made a mad dash out the door when someone walked in, catching my right pinkie on the door frame. Eew.

Anyway, my cast was only on for a couple of weeks then the doctor put me in a removable brace. I worked on a computer and while it was awkward I learned to navigate the mouse with my left hand. After my hand healed it actually ended up coming in kind of handy as there was only one way for my work station to be arranged. Phone was to my left so I could talk to someone while navigating the mouse and take notes with my right hand - no need to switch mouse for pen.

Once the cast is off be prepared for the stiffness in your hand to last longer than you think. My pinkie grip was wonky for a while but I think that has cleared up. This may be in my head, but my finger seemed more sensitive to the cold, especially while gripping the steering wheel in the winter. At least the timing is such that you don’t need to try getting a mitten over your cast.

I honestly don’t remember how I washed my hair! Must have used a plastic bag on my hand.

Hope you have a speedy recovery!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So sorry about this, Robin! So inconvenient!

I haven't broken a hand but I did break a thumb (my right thumb) when I was a kid in school and had to learn to write cursive with my non-dominant hand and do all my schoolwork that way for about 6 weeks while the splint was on. (That's what I get for running up a slide the wrong way and catching my thumb in the rail!)

It was really tough the first week or so but then I sort of got used to it. And it doesn't last long. Of course healing is probably slower for those of us who are past the age of 10.

Hang in there. But not by your right hand!!

Anonymous

Wishing you a very speedy recovery and an easy time dealing with it.
It might cost a few bucks but maybe your hairdresser would give you a break if you let her take care of that.
Correct that summer outfits are easier but you will become an expert lefty in no time for all kinds of activities.
Most importantly- don’t play hero and let people help. No one likes being depended on others but if you stubbornly try to do it all it will come back to bite you in another area ( just speaking from experience on that last one):-(
Having sympathy pains so....hugs

Anonymous

My sympathies. A few years ago I broke my left wrist in a horrible fork lift accident, and was shocked at how much I use my left hand although right handed , opening doors and such. Have your bone density checked later. It may be a factor. Also watch and know that you you may develop arthritis in your broken hand. It will take patience and will get easier to use your left hand as time passes.

greycat6

Veteran

I’m so sorry! Broken bones aren’t fun, especially on your dominant hand. My teenage son has had two broken hands over the course if his baseball career. The biggest help for him was a waterproof cast cover so he was able to shower. The cover is like a big plastic bag but has a rubber seal to keep the water out. (Available on Amazon). They are a little pricey but sooooo much better than trying to tape a garbage bag over the cast which I found to be successful less than 50% of the time. The cast covers are easy for you to slip on yourself so you don’t have to wait for help to shower.

Good luck!

RobinF

Veteran

Thanks for the moral support! Jaileen, I also use a trackball mouse but the ball is in the thumb location, maybe when this is all over I’ll keep using the left hand one to relieve my right hand.

Jane - the pain isn’t too bad, surprisingly, as long as I don’t wiggle my fingers too much.

Ouch pil, that sounds painful! Good idea about the workstation. I might have to try that later. I’m definitely glad not to deal with mittens!

Thanks Suz, kids do seem to heal quickly don’t they? I think you’re right about getting used to it.

Good point efbgen about letting others help. That is so hard to do, but I really have to.

Joy, that sounds awful! Wrist would be hard I think, because of our tendency to move it so much. Good point about a bone density scan. My mom said the same thing, she found out recently that she has osteoporosis and it would have been better if she had checked it out sooner.

Thanks greycat6. I actually ordered a bag for showering and got it yesterday so I’ll try it today. My daughter also had broken both arms as a teen (separate times). I’m afraid I wasn’t as sympathetic as I would be now

JAileen

Veteran

Robin, I thought of you when I read this:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/0.....-hand.html

RobinF

Veteran

I love this, thank you! Similar for me, I am always knitting something and it"s hard not being able to. I am thinking about seeing if I could crochet with just my left hand.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YOU POOR THING. You have an excellent attitude Robin, and I'm impressed. Good luck and sending healing thoughts.

DonnaF

Veteran

Ask LeBron James? (He broke his hand during the NBA Finals.)

rachylou

Veteran

Oh no! Just wanted to send sympathy!

RobinF

Veteran

Thanks all! I am finding it really frustrating and tiring but hopefully it'll go fast!

Anonymous

How annoying!

Maybe be patient and don't be surprised if it takes longer than you think it should to really feel stable. And try to convince yourself to appreciate that this is an opportunity to strengthen left handed skill and right brained connections.

Bijou

Veteran

Wishing you a speedy recovery, I can only imagine how frustrating this would be.

pil

Veteran

Robin, how are things going?

connormom

I broke bones in my wrists (yes, both!) while at the gym several years ago so a bit different than yours, but I think I can relate. My hands were fairly useless early on but within the first two weeks I was able to do small things. The pain did get better after the first days. Use pain relievers as needed to make it manageable.

My only two suggestions would be to use dictation as you work on the computer (and on the phone) and definitely do physical therapy after you are out of the cast if recommended. It helped significantly!