What to expect after radial head fractures

Thank you! I fractured my radial head 3 weeks ago (no displacement) and I wish my fracture clinic doctors had told me even half of this. While they did encourage me to move it, they didn't explain anything or tell me it's better to push through the pain. I would always stop when it got too painful as I feared further damage. I have gotten a lot of range of motion back just through general use and stretches I found online (particularly this last week). But haven't been pushing it enough and it's definitely not quite back to normal. I'm determined not to lose range permanently so I will continue stretching a bit more "aggressively" and I wish I had known this from Day 1. This is a terrific video, thanks again.

Thank you for the motivation of pushing through the pain. I hope you upload some more because you are a huge help!

Your video motivated me to get away from surgery. I had an enclosed fracture of the radial head. I had a cast on for a couple of days and met with a orthopedic afterwards. After he examined me, he asked me to make some motions (Up/down and palm facing up, palm facing down). I could not do that - too much pain that I almost fainted. He put me back on the cast and referred me to a surgeon who confirmed that surgery is needed, but he wanted to check in with me before. I was so terrified of surgery so I started looking at YouTube and that is when I stumbled on your video 1 day before our first meeting (This is last week). So I took your advice and I decide to suck it up and push through the pain when I see him. So, in the morning, he grabbed my arm and started asking me to do some of those motions which I actually did in a very difficult manner. He then was surprise that The joints were very smooth and that there was no crunching or popping. He then administered another test (palm up/palm down) and could not hear/notice anything. He then said "I do no think you need surgery AT ALL". He referred me to OT and started my trainings 3 days ago. Right now, I have no cast, I can bend my arm, I can rotate my palm up and down (With pain but not as bad) and I can do my daily think without putting too much stress. I am so glad I stumbled upon your video. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

The best most detail, the most informative doctor I’ve seen talking about this yet. Thank you.

Thank you for specifying healing rates both for regular bone rates and your anecdote in what you have seen with your patients. This is useful for us PTs. Great video!

What a relief to find this video. Was splinted at ER and wait time to get into specialist is few weeks. My fracture wasn’t so bad so I’ve begun these exercises and already feel relief after being stiff in the splint.

Thank you doctor! This is a very helpful video. My doctor just confirmed all of this for my specific break and it was wonderful to hear! Push through the pain!

Really appreciate this explanation, thank you!. Fractured both arms 10 days ago. I saw the ortho 1 week in, and he explained the importance of stretching but was dismissive of the pain I'm experiencing. It all felt very confusing. This makes much more sense now

God bless you, You have given me so much optimism and courage to push through the bit of pain I have. Just diagnosed bilateral fractures. Funnily the one that’s dislocated is barely painful with full range of movement. 🙏🌹

You have made my day. Thank you

Thank you so much for taking the time to share these insights. This has given me a lot of peace of mind after a recent fracture! 🙏🏾

I had this injury 3 weeks ago. Over the bars of my gravel bike. I wish my docs would have been this informative! Thank you Dr!

I haven't been able to turn my wrist face palm up all the way since I was a kid and I never knew what the underlying cause could've been. This is the most informative video I've seen on it.

Thank you so much for your video. It has given me great motivation to push through the pain and get movement back into my arm🙌🏻

This was very helpful to me ! I had a surgery in the elbow after fracturing my olecranon. Gosh I was so stiff after the surgery! I started moving my arm 1 week after. Now I'm at week 2 and I'm trying to bend more than 90° and extend more. I wish I had all this info before and I'm glad that I've found this video! Thanks

Thank you for this video, very helpful!

THANK YOU SO MUCH for this helpful video!! I fractured my radial head 3 weeks ago (no displacement) and the ER doctor told me to do exercises every hour out of the sling but didn't specify which ones. I started these exercises on the 3rd day pushing through pain. Now, at a follow up 3 weeks later in different hospital, doctor says my injury has healed very nicely, that I will regain full range of motion in the future and physio isn't required!

Thank you for this informative video. My physiotherapist told me to start moving my arm from the first week but didn't clarify enough that I should push through the pain to do it. My arm was pretty stiff at the second week but now I push myself through the training even if it hurts (painkillers don't work).

This video is so helpful I've surgery tomorrow and even tho the docs have been great I still look for more info

Great video, very informative. I slipped on the ice yesterday and obtained a radial head fracture with definite step off. I currently have my arm immobilized and hope to be able to get in the Ortho surgeon immediately for evaluation. Nice to know ahead of time what I can expect. Thank you.