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Our user asked: "Hi, I fell and broke my right wrist in June. I had to have surgery, and wore a brace for a couple months. My fingers, at the base (not the tips) are enlarged, and I am wondering if arthritis could have set in so quickly. I cannot make a fist or touch my fingers down to my palm. Do you think it could be arthritis or something else? Are there any exercises that I can do at home, and anything else that you can recommend? I have gone to a therapist, but I really think I can help myself at home a lot also."
Ask a PT Repsonse: "Have you addressed your concern with your doctor? Are you in the age group where arthritis is more prevalent, and do you have a family history of arthritis. Given your past condition, it sounds like you may be continuing to experience edema at your fingers as a result of your past injury. It is not uncommon for a patient to continue to experience edema in the hand despite a fracture being healed. My recommendation to my patients is to continue to work on range of motion exercises for the fingers along with strengthening exercises to maintain/increase strength. Modalities such as ice can be utilized as well to assist with decreasing edema. In some cases heat can be utilzied before the treatment to help get the joints looser and to allow for tolerance to exercise which is followed by ice afterwards. Parafin wax baths or fluidotherapy are other treatment options as well.
You mentioned, you have already gone and saw a therapist. What does he or she have you doing and is it helping? If it isn't helping, perhaps the therapist can adjust or modify the treatment plan in an attempt to achieve better results. "
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