Radial Nerve Palsy after arm surgery

[seema]

My husband went thru humerus bone fracture surgery 7 days ago. After surgery he has symptoms of radial nerve palsy. His hand does not work. I am really scared. Anyone with similar experience, please reply. How long will it take to heal...is there hope for recovery. PLEASE HELP.

[lori54]

Originally Posted by seema

My husband went thru humerus bone fracture surgery 7 days ago. After surgery he has symptoms of radial nerve palsy. His hand does not work. I am really scared. Anyone with similar experience, please reply. How long will it take to heal...is there hope for recovery. PLEASE HELP.

Nerves take up to a year to heal...you have to be patient. Did they check him for impingements? I understand though, it can be a very scary and very painful experience.

[brokenarm1]

I feel I'm somewhat an expert on this subject . I fell on August 30 of last year and ended up with an arm broken in 3 places and radial nerve palsy. I had surgery the next day with a titanium rod and screws inserted from my shoulder to elbow. My hand and arm were completely useless! My doctor told me not to expect anything for at least 4 months and as long as 6. I'm happy to report the radial nerve palsy is almost gone and I have 80% use of my hand back & 85% use of my arm back. I only need to wait for the palsy to leave my knuckles and fingers and continue strengthening exercises on my arm. I had 97 therapy sessions with my hand and wrist (I had drop wrist). I was able to write my name again after 4 months, tie shoes after 4 months and finally drive with 2 hands on the wheel at 5 months without alot of pain. I was on pain killers the first three months pretty much every 4-6 hours, slept only in 2-3 hours spurts because of the pain. I thought I'd never recover but I should be 100% by April they say. I've had 26 sessions with my arm therapist so far. I did encounter a non union though that I'm hoping will show signs of healing next week when I have an xray. I've been using a bone stimulator 20 minutes a day for 5 weeks now and my doctor says it may take 6-10 weeks before we see results. It's common for non unions in the upper arm bone and with my 3 point break it's makes it even more difficult. I was out of work for 6 1/2 months because I couldn't do lifting or have much use of my hand until recently. I can now lift up to 20 pounds and do most of the preschool jobs at my workplace such as cooking, cleaning, art projects, diaper changes, teaching, etc..Everyone heals differently but I've seen over 20 people at therapy and the majority that had injuries like me all returned to 100% with therapy and time. Patience is key and good support from your loved ones. My husband and daughter were my rocks as well as my therapists. I still see my arm therapist but have been discharged from my hand therapist as all I have to do now is wait for the palsy to leave my hand on it's own.I hope this has been helpful to you.

[brokenarm2]

Hi Brokenarm1 - I was thrilled to find your entry here, as I broke my humerus bone in 3 places just 3 weeks ago. The radial nerve is in tact but damaged by the complicated 2 hour surgery to screw and plate the upper arm. The pain and resulting hand palsy (wrist drop) have been a total shock.

It would be interesting to hear more details or from anyone else going through this ordeal. If you find ladycherie1 b l o g on the net - just mail me through that.

Originally Posted by brokenarm1

I feel I'm somewhat an expert on this subject . I fell on August 30 of last year and ended up with an arm broken in 3 places and radial nerve palsy. I had surgery the next day with a titanium rod and screws inserted from my shoulder to elbow. My hand and arm were completely useless! My doctor told me not to expect anything for at least 4 months and as long as 6. I'm happy to report the radial nerve palsy is almost gone and I have 80% use of my hand back & 85% use of my arm back. I only need to wait for the palsy to leave my knuckles and fingers and continue strengthening exercises on my arm. I had 97 therapy sessions with my hand and wrist (I had drop wrist). I was able to write my name again after 4 months, tie shoes after 4 months and finally drive with 2 hands on the wheel at 5 months without alot of pain. I was on pain killers the first three months pretty much every 4-6 hours, slept only in 2-3 hours spurts because of the pain. I thought I'd never recover but I should be 100% by April they say. I've had 26 sessions with my arm therapist so far. I did encounter a non union though that I'm hoping will show signs of healing next week when I have an xray. I've been using a bone stimulator 20 minutes a day for 5 weeks now and my doctor says it may take 6-10 weeks before we see results. It's common for non unions in the upper arm bone and with my 3 point break it's makes it even more difficult. I was out of work for 6 1/2 months because I couldn't do lifting or have much use of my hand until recently. I can now lift up to 20 pounds and do most of the preschool jobs at my workplace such as cooking, cleaning, art projects, diaper changes, teaching, etc..Everyone heals differently but I've seen over 20 people at therapy and the majority that had injuries like me all returned to 100% with therapy and time. Patience is key and good support from your loved ones. My husband and daughter were my rocks as well as my therapists. I still see my arm therapist but have been discharged from my hand therapist as all I have to do now is wait for the palsy to leave my hand on it's own.I hope this has been helpful to you.

[eric edwards]

Originally Posted by brokenarm1

I feel I'm somewhat an expert on this subject . I fell on August 30 of last year and ended up with an arm broken in 3 places and radial nerve palsy. I had surgery the next day with a titanium rod and screws inserted from my shoulder to elbow. My hand and arm were completely useless! My doctor told me not to expect anything for at least 4 months and as long as 6. I'm happy to report the radial nerve palsy is almost gone and I have 80% use of my hand back & 85% use of my arm back. I only need to wait for the palsy to leave my knuckles and fingers and continue strengthening exercises on my arm. I had 97 therapy sessions with my hand and wrist (I had drop wrist). I was able to write my name again after 4 months, tie shoes after 4 months and finally drive with 2 hands on the wheel at 5 months without alot of pain. I was on pain killers the first three months pretty much every 4-6 hours, slept only in 2-3 hours spurts because of the pain. I thought I'd never recover but I should be 100% by April they say. I've had 26 sessions with my arm therapist so far. I did encounter a non union though that I'm hoping will show signs of healing next week when I have an xray. I've been using a bone stimulator 20 minutes a day for 5 weeks now and my doctor says it may take 6-10 weeks before we see results. It's common for non unions in the upper arm bone and with my 3 point break it's makes it even more difficult. I was out of work for 6 1/2 months because I couldn't do lifting or have much use of my hand until recently. I can now lift up to 20 pounds and do most of the preschool jobs at my workplace such as cooking, cleaning, art projects, diaper changes, teaching, etc..Everyone heals differently but I've seen over 20 people at therapy and the majority that had injuries like me all returned to 100% with therapy and time. Patience is key and good support from your loved ones. My husband and daughter were my rocks as well as my therapists. I still see my arm therapist but have been discharged from my hand therapist as all I have to do now is wait for the palsy to leave my hand on it's own.I hope this has been helpful to you.

Iwas greatly uplifted from the current depression as i too had 4 weeks ago a humerous fracture. i had a titanium plate and 13 screws inserted and have developed radial nerve palsey. I was informed by the consultant that a nerve conduction test was done during the opperation and it showed successfull. I have now been out of the sling for over 1 week by advice of the physio and doictor staff and have a staighterarm at the lbow. i have current difficulty extending my elbow but that is improving which is an associated radial nerve palsey issue. I also have wrist drop with no current ability to move my wrist up atall so my hand flops down . i am doing all the physio exercises regularly and although it is early days i am hopeing that i will recover before too long . i will keep you up to date of my progress but each day a small seemingly insignificat improvement takes place such as do my shoe laces and push an empty trolley . as i am a lecturer of highly practical content manual dexterity is vital in my role . i am happy to see you recovered "broken arm 1" i just hope my recovery ends with as good as a result as yours . please feel free to reply to me directly if yopu so wish .