Injured Arm

[Eve]

I had quite a nasty double fall on Sunday morning, slipped in the shower and smashed into the side of the bath as I went down then fell again when trying to get back up. I have some bruising round the bottom of my ribs on my left side which is still very sore but I also bashed my arm. I have a bruise running down the bone, ulna I think (the one the little finger side of your arm) from up near the elbow down the side of my arm and there is a very painful bit which feels like a lump/bump which is as painful to touch as after I did it.

Nothing feels broken (I can use my arm and fingers, no huge swelling or more pins and needles than usual) though it's like the bone feels painful up round that point and I'm noticing it more as it's increasing, randomly especially if I don't have my arm flat down my my side or I'm carrying something like a shopping bag, it's hurting typing this. Not a screaming or sharp pain, more dull pain/ache.

Could I have badly bruised the bone or something and is it likely to take long to heal itself? I've tried to have a feel and it feels bumpy but I can't too much as it's really painful to press, even lightly.

[pixie373]

I think you need to rest it a lot longer. Carrying shopping bags is probably putting too much strain on at the moment. Sqad may correct me, but i don't think you can "bruise a bone". There may be a slight crack in it, but i think it just needs a bit longer to heal

[Sqad]

From your full and accurate description it sounds like a subperiosteal haematoma (bruise beneath the bone covering) It will be painful to the touch, but Ibuprofen in sqad's dosage should ease the pain. May take some time 3-3 weeks to settle completely.

[Sqad]

P.S I agree with pixie.

[Eve]

Thanks both. I know, carrying shopping bad but have my walking stick in the other. Will have to sort something out, thought it would have stopped hurting so much by now.

I think I need to question the anti-inflammatory/methotrexate thing more, keep getting told not to take them which is crap with the arthritis let alone being as accident prone as I seem to be lately (had a bad fall on a bus and down the stairs too in the last couple of weeks or so!). I haven't got any in though have paracetamol, codeine phosphate, co-dydramol and dihidracoedine but all pretty much the same thing.

I need safety padding!

[pixie373]

You do! Are you feeling dizzy or anything before you fall?

[Eve]

I've been feeling a bit lightheaded. I have Menieres Disease as well and a knee that is prone to giving way so can't discount those. No vertigo, sickness etc... like with usual Menieres related attacks though.

My GP has booked me in for a check-up on Friday to check blood pressure, my ears etc... I figured it was time to be sensible and ask advice after the third bad fall (and, to be honest, some smaller ones), especially as I have been hurting bits of me quite badly which I could do without.

[bednobs]

ok, time to simplfy your life for a while i reckon
1) order internet shopping
2) use an across body bag for small amounts of shopping
3) take a few days off work to recover

[bednobs]

also, time to say "yes!" to all of those people who ever ask you f there's anything they can do to help :)

[Eve]

You're right bednobs, even I have been accepting a bit of help which is something! :) I really do need to start saying yes though.

I'm home now after work and have 4 days off and so glad! Will definitely be taking it easy. My ankles are swollen to hell today so am now feet up and not moving off the sofa save ice lolly freezer raids.

I will go hunting on the net, see if I can find a decent bag. I have a rucksack at the moment for day stuff but always seem to find things which fill it up so no room for shopping like books and must have emptied a load of tubigrips and such out of it the other day!

I was looking at those shopping trolley wheelie things but it then dawned on me that it would mean having no hands free with my stick. I really need to get into doing more online shopping.

Hope things are good with you and your lovely little one.

[Eve]

Went to GP for an appointment earlier (checkover as I'm falling so much) and BP all fine and ear, heart rate etc...

She had a look at my arm and sent me to the hospital for an xrayas thought I might have fractured it. They guy who did it said he couldn't see anything really obvious (yay!) but would need a consultant to look at it so what he said could be a load of rubbish and result will be sent to my GP in 8-10 days. It seems a lot more painful today though not helped with the positions they put my arm in for the xray to be taken (owwwww that hurt!).

I got a cheap sling thing from Boots to try to rest it and keep it supported but can't get it on properly for the life of me!