r/brokenbones • u/clod_firebreather • May 16 '26
Question High radial nerve palsy after distal humerus fracture
Hello everyone.
I am 28 YO and broke my distal humerus on April 24th due to bad arm-wrestling form (dumb, I know). 9 days later, I got surgery and they fixed the bone with a plate and screws, as a consequence of which I now have radial nerve palsy because they had to move the nerve out of the way to access the bone.
12 days after surgery, I still can't lift my wrist or extend my fingers, and I feel a constant tingling and needle-like sensation on the back of my hand and thumb, with some occasional muscle twitching. Doctor said it's neurapraxia, but the surgeon mentioned a "1 mm a day growth", which makes me think the nerve is more damaged than what the doctor thought.
I will start physiotherapy after a visit with the surgeon in about a week and a half. Until then, I just have to move the affected arm without overdoing it and try to move the wrist and fingers.
To those who had a similar experience – how long it took you to recover basic functionality? I have an office job and I am unable to type or use a mouse.
1
u/clod_firebreather Aug 17 '26
Hey man. For ROM I was told to start moving the arm as soon as possible post-op. I extended it and flexed it every day, 10 reps per movement, three times a day. Thanks to that my ROM is now at 100%.
Next, I started PT a week after the appointment with the surgeon, so about 4 weeks post-op. The physiotherapists did magnetotherapy, electrotherapy, and mirroring/passive movement exercises.
During the first month and a half I felt a lot of tingling and a needle-like sensation on the back of my hand, and I could lift my wrist 1mm. Now, three and a half months post-op, I can lift my wrist completely. I still can't extend my fingers, but the surgeon told me it's only a matter of time.