UKC

It turns out I've fractured my scaphoid in my right hand. I did it 8 1/2 months ago! At the time, when I'd come off the bike, I thought it was a bad sprain and was really painful for about two weeks, but nothing much worse than a usual sprain. Since then it got loads better and I've been unaffected by my wrist in every respect except for when axially(?) loading it (eg. pressups, getting out of a low chair). Then it hurts quite a bit, but nothing really bad. I've been climbing on it for the last month and have been climbing better than ever - the wrist hasn't affected this in the slightest.

I got x-rays last week (after the fourth visit to a GP or physio) after I realised that the wrist just wasn't getting back to perfect. The physio actually couldn't find anything wrong with it for a long time (even asking why I'd bothered coming in!) but then referred me in case the scaphoid was bust. I see a specialist next week to discover my fate, but some of my researching online has scared me...

Anyone else bust their scaphoid? What was the treatment? How long did it take to fix? How long until you got back to climbing (AKA is my whole winter season screwed?), and have you had long term problems as a result?

Cheers people.

In reply to Mr Fuller:


Yes, the only bone I've broken


Rest the hand....which was a problem as it was my writing hand and 3 days before my A levels started


A few weeks; not much longer than a bad sprain - but I did truly rest it


I was back to normal that summer and have had no issues subsequently.

Overall, it was annoying but minor in the scheme of things. Resting it is quite hard as the thumb is so mobile; follow the doctor's and the physio's orders and you'll be fine. Don't cheat on the physio exercises and don't go climbing until they say ok even if it feels good.

In reply to Mr Fuller: Yup, bust mine playing rugby aged 17. I kid you not, I heard it break and immediately felt i was about to pass out and vomit, the medic at school refused to believe me, so wasn't X-rayed until days later. Anyway, story over...

...it is a very common wrist fracture that can be frustratingly hard to diagnose from Xray. I got a cast for 6 weeks, then by 6 months it was definitely 100% in terms of what I could do. That was many ears ago thoug,h if you see what I mean.

Very hard to tell about winter climbing. When you see the specialist, maybe don't just say "winter climbing" - after all, he relaxes on the dreary golf course not on grade V. But tell him about how it affects your wrist, e.g. holding axe, pulling up, leashes etc. It seems promising that you have been unable to climb thus far; so, if no operation or cast, *maybe* exercises and physio may allow you to get onto the ice. But if we are talking surgery, clearly it becomes more complicated. I'm sure he'll start with an Xray and history - take time to tell him in detail about how it has been over the last 8.5 months, what you can do etc.

All the best mate.

In reply to Mr Fuller: I broke my scaphoid bone falling off Pinnacle Traverse at Froggatt. The initial assessment was that I would need an operation for it to be pinned and I was told that it might never heal properly since the blood supply to the bone is so poor and part often dies. Prior to a meeting with a doctor to discuss the forthcoming pinning operation I did some research online and discovered that some experts thought it better not to operate. When I dicsussed this at the meeting with the doctor he sought more specialist advice from a consultant who agreed that a simple cast for 3 months should suffice. In the end I didn't have it pinned and it healed perfectly fine, though I did need some physio sessions to get the movement back.

You probably don't want to hear this but I also understand that there is a significant chance of problems in later life if scaphoid fractures go unrecognized and untreated since the bone doesn't necessarily always heal properly and can gradually break down with wear.

All this comes with a warning: I'm not a medical doctor. No doubt there are folks on here who are better qualified to comment but this was just my experience.

In reply to all:

Thanks a lot guys, it's all really helpful stuff. I am also concerned about the length of time since I did it. I'm hoping that because it has been so low on symptoms (none of this massive stabbing pain that I've read about elsewhere) and has been unobtrusive, that it has not deteriorated and will not require surgery, bone grafts, or similar. Following the advice above I'm going to start resting it from racket sports and climbing starting now.

Any more info? Keep it coming!

In reply to Mr Fuller:

Broke mine many years ago. The consultant told me it was the worst bone in the body to break; and for a few days (but only a few days) I had to break my own personal rule about not taking painkillers. The only treatment it needed was six weeks in plaster, and after a few months building up the strength again it was absolutely fine. I get the occasional twinge, but it's certainly never stopped me from doing anything.

In reply to Mr Fuller:
Yep me too. Was sea fishing on the prom here in Blackpool, slipped and used hand to break fall as you do. Carried on fishing and then went to the pub. Woke next morning with someone elses hand <well it felt like it!> Temp cast till fracture clinic appointment then a cast for 6 weeks, took things very gingerly for the first few times on the rock but no problems and never had problems since. Good luck, hope you get lucky like I did, doc told me they can be nasty.

In reply to Mr Fuller: As others have said, it's a bad bone to break, as blood flows in and out of the same side, and unless it is treated quicky part of the bone dies and can get arthritic very early. Get it set and a cast on it asap and make sure it has healed properly before you use it too much to prevent long term damage.

In reply to Chris F:

At eight months there will probably be an established non- union or avascular necrosis if it is still symptomatic. The options will probably be to leave it alone or operate.
If the latter winter may well be spoilt.

In reply to Mr Fuller:

Hmm, did mine playing football 14 years ago. As I was working self employed abroad with no health insurance I "cured" it with half a dozen beers and put up with pain and extensive bruising for a few weeks until it subsided.

Like yourself I thought it was a sprain and thought nothing of it until back in the uk. There the gp referred me for physio as my wrist had lost a lot of movement. Still no-one suspected a scaphod fracture.

Roll forward 5 years and I broke my wrist snowboarding. Surprisingly it took until the final xray after the cast was off for a consultant to notice that at some point I'd broken my scaphoid (he was more interested in that).

Definitely dont have 100% movement (say 95) but it doesnt seem to have got any worse and it doesnt hurt.

In reply to Mr Fuller: Cheers everyone. It seems to be that it'll be just chance on how it turns out, based on what state the bone is in at the moment. Once I've had my consultancy I'll post again.

In reply to Mr Fuller:
Very variable, some people heal great. It helps if it's been recognised and dealt with. I've had quite a few untreated problems with that wrist unfortunately and it has all come together to mean that sometimes I'm in a lot of pain for long periods of time. Unfortunately my job at the moment involves sitting at a computer all day so it seems like its permanently twinging. Apparently lots of it has probably died and fused and its just a bit of a state.
My entire wrist is a wreck for life and I'm 21 which is a bit unfortunate.
You will however be pleased to hear that in any situation where you are holding ice axes previous injuries will be immediately forgotten...