Anyone break their left wrist?

[rasumme]

Hi guys,
I have been a member here now for a little over year and really enjoy this place!

I had surgery 5 weeks ago to repair a fractured left wrist and am really looking forward to playing again.

I am going thru therapy and definitely improving, but still can't get my palm up which makes playing very difficult.

Anyone have experience with this and how long did it take you to be able to play close to your previous level?

[SteveO]

I've broken my left index finger and a bone in my right hand, both were a long time ago and I followed the doctor's recommendations to the letter. I'm currently playing better than I ever have, with no long-term issues from either injury.

Don't rush the rehabilitation, and don't be in a hurry to start doing things before that wrist is healed, or you could possibly do damage that will haunt you forever.

[dangeroso]

I broke my left middle and ring fingers. I was in an active gigging band at the time, and we had to take a hiatus. It was one of the more frustrating experiences of my life.

I agree with SteveO, Follow the rehab and don't rush things. It's going to take some time to get back to normal.

[Stratoben127]

Tape a slide on and be awesome.

[Peeb]

I broke my left arm just above the wrist at age 12, then again at age 16. The second time, it took a lot longer to get strength and range of motion back. Don't get in too big of a hurry, but also don't give up!

[BluesForDan]

broke the 3rd and 4th metacarpals in my left hand in a motorcycle accident the day our band was supposed to play their first ever paying gig. Had to sell my bike, car, all my gear but one guitar and amp to pay my medical bills.

[Don A]

I had a non-displaced fracture of the largest of the little bones (I forget it's name), torn cartilage and a sprained tendon on my left wrist in a fall about 15 years ago. I didn't know it at the time so I didn't have it properly taken care of. It started bugging me a couple of years ago so I went to a surgeon and had MRIs taken. Unfortunately, there's not much they can do it this point. Luckily, if I'm careful with it, the pain is fairly minimal. I have to hold my guitar fairly high and can't play a lot of songs with full barre chords in a row. Its kind of like a bad back, but in my wrist.

[hearmecrybaby]

broke my wrist in a bad football injury in HS. couldn't play at all for 6 weeks while my arm was in a cast. had physical therapy afterwards and that helped a lot. also, my doctor said playing guitar would be excellent rehab so I was able to get a lot of practice in. within several weeks i was back up to speed.

[digiTED]

Snapped off both processes from my radius and ulna (among many other things unfortunately) in an SUV rollover in '03. Shear luck that ultimately no metal was needed. I recommend avoiding this if possible.

I was not playing much at the time but it was 3-4 months before riding my moto wasn't painful.

Keep the faith brother!

Sent from my personal mobile thingy using whatever app this is

[GearFlipper]

I broke my right wrist, picking hand. Horrible break, my arm was like a noodle, I almost threw up when I saw how bad it was. Had surgery, a couple plates and some pins, and a cast for 6 weeks. It took a good 6 months of rehab, along with sleeping in a weird arm brace that would pull back on my wrist to increase the range of motion. Oddly enough, they device used a guitar tuner to exert back pressure on the wrist. Every night I'd tighten that sucker up as much as I could stand it, then try and fall asleep through the pain. The Vicodin helped, LOL.

It was painful, the break and the rehab and it still hurts from time to time. I'm back to getting my shred on though, you just pick up the pieces and push on through.

[Knuckles]

Broke left wrist twice, both bones each time, once a compound fracture. Used pliers on the part of the fiberglass cast across the palm to soften it up so I could try to play - had to use a really skinny-necked 70's Japanese weirdo guitar, but I could practice. Got a guitar in my hands as soon as the cast was off, and didn't take long to get back to snuff, but had a few days of sore wrist and arm muscles.

Boxer fractured a right knuckle about 10 days before a show opening for a national act a couple years ago. Very sympathetic surgeon used a cast that left my thumb and index finger loose to hold a pick. Did the gig and played OK but couldn't feel the cast resting on my tune-o-matic bridge to mute and had to pay closer attention. Learned my lesson about sparring before a big gig.

[jerrycampbell]

Yes, broke my left wrist swinging on a vine. It healed 100%. Take your time.

[tnvol]

I did about 10 years ago. You just have to relax and let it heal. It sucks, but if you want to get back to 100% (or as close as possible to it) , you can't force it.

[rasumme]

Thanks for all the encouragement everyone!

[andrekp]

It takes time and lots of physical therapy. I know what you mean, but mine turns as far as my right these days.