Pain after distal radius fixation. Hot wax bath?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 66-year-old mother had a distal radius fracture in her right hand two months back. She has diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, ASD, and osteoporosis. The doctor performed a K-wire fixation and put a plaster of Paris cast from her fingers all the way up to her shoulder (just a little over her elbow), thus immobilizing her entire hand. Four weeks later, they removed the K-wire and the cast. They took an x-ray before placing the K-wire, but they did not take an x-ray after taking out the cast. The doctor said that the fusion was satisfactory, and hence they have removed them. Ever since then, my mom has been having swelling and severe pain in her wrist and fingers, and the pain surges across her elbow and shoulder. She is unable to move her fingers or hold even a stress ball or paper. She took all the painkillers, antibiotics, and Chymoral-BR for over four weeks. She went for five sittings of physiotherapy, but due to unbearable pain, she stopped it. The pain and swelling are not subsiding even after two months. Someone suggested a hot wax bath. Will it be useful?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Sorry to hear that the surgery and its outcome have not met your level of expectations. I would like to see the entire set of X-rays before I can comment on the healing of the fracture, as well as the timing of the removal of wires. Usually, the wires are removed around four to six weeks' time. This is followed by physiotherapy, strict limb elevation, grip exercises, and specific hand therapy. The best recovery takes place in the first six weeks of the removal of plaster. Hot wax is a part of physiotherapy to help with stiffness that is seen post-surgery. My worry is that she may have developed a CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome), which is an abnormal response of the body. It causes swelling and stiffness and may need pain clinic intervention.

Thank you.