Is my elbow dislocated?!


Question:

Is my elbow dislocated?

I fell with my arm outstretched last week and later found out I'd fractured a bone. There was plenty of swelling at the elbow, very painful. Now the pain has subsided a bit, the muscles are extremely stiff and my arm refuses to straighten. Holding both arms out in to compare, the injured one looks a little warped.

I'm only in great pain if I twist or try to straighten it too far. Am I being impatient with the healing process, or should I get it checked out sooner rather than later?

Any advice woukd be brilliant.

Andrew.

Additional Details

3 weeks ago
I am an idiot! Sorry, I fractured my radius (arm) not my elbow. Does this change things? Elbow is just swollen and tense. Read on a Yahoo! health page that a fracture can cause the arm to look deformed. An x-ray didn't show any dislocation at the time.


Answers:

If you have fractured a bone, you'll be in some discomfort for a few weeks to come, I'm afraid.
You could put gentle heating on it - like a hotpack or hot water bottle wrapped in a towel - on a pillow, and rest the back of your elbow on it for about ten minutes. Never put the heat at the front of your elbow - it can complicate healing and cause you major problems after a fracture.
Avoid lifting, pushing or pulling for another two weeks minimum - even things like pulling your clothes on and off. Don't attempt to lift shopping or laundry with that hand. Do try to straighten it (without forcing it) about once every hour during the day, but never force it. If it hurts you, stop and try again an hour later.
The swelling should gradually lessen every day, and the movement should slowly improve.
Like any fracture, it will take the bone six weeks to knit, another six weeks to strengthen and a further six months to heal fully.
Good luck!
Edit: No, same advice applies, and the same timeline for healing applies. I take it you cracked it at the elbow end as opposed to the wrist end - it will still tend to stiffen the elbow.
The movement likely to be the sorest in your case will be pronation and supination of the forearm - that's if you keep your elbow against your side, arm bent to point straight ahead, then with your elbow still against your side, twist your forearm so that your palm faces up, then down. Same rules apply - do nothing much for another week or so, then try doing that movement a few times during the day until it loosens up - but do the elbow exercises also!




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