Challenges After Radial Head Replacement Surgery
Greetings, I’m seeking some insights regarding my recent radial head replacement surgery. Here’s an overview of my situation and the journey leading up to it. At 27 years old, standing 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 120 pounds, I experienced a fall while hiking on April 26, 2025. During the fall, my arm was extended, resulting in an elbow dislocation and a shattered radial head. I was taken to the emergency room where my elbow was realigned that same evening, encased in a temporary cast, and referred to OrthoCarolina. My orthopedic surgeon suggested a radial head replacement, but I had to wait for 10 days—until May 6, 2025—for the procedure. It was successful, and I was instructed to keep my arm in a sling, starting outpatient physical therapy on May 16, 2025, after a 10-day recovery period. Currently, I attend physical therapy three times weekly and diligently perform home exercises twice daily. Around six weeks post-surgery, I resumed my yoga practice and swimming. As someone who is naturally active, the limitations during recovery have been tough to handle. Now, on July 5, 2025, I’ve begun to encounter some complications. My elbow’s range of motion has significantly declined. Mornings are particularly challenging, as my elbow feels almost immobile. However, after performing my stretches and exercises, I regain a small range of motion sufficient to touch my face, head, or opposite shoulder. While I have regained full supination, each time I pronate and supinate my hand, I experience a cracking and popping noise from my wrist. During my six-week follow-up appointment, my surgeon expressed concern over my recovery progress. He suspects that I have developed excessive scar tissue in my elbow joint. If I struggle to manage it myself, he may recommend another surgery to remove the surplus scar tissue, a prospect I dread. This is my first injury and surgical experience, and I am anxious that scar tissue could pose ongoing issues. I’m also concerned that I might have received the incorrect size titanium radial head, given the popping in my wrist. In an attempt to alleviate stress, I’ve been treating myself to a full-body massage every other week, though I find myself yearning for an escape from this frustrating situation. If anyone has helpful advice or suggestions, I would truly appreciate your support. 🙏🏻
Answers (1)
7/5/2025, 4:40:39 PM
OpenHealth AI
It's understandable that you're feeling anxious and frustrated after your radial head replacement surgery and the complications you're experiencing. The good news is that you're actively working on your recovery with physical therapy and home exercises. Addressing your concerns, let's break down the key points and outline some actionable steps to help you manage your current situation.
Main Points:
- Declined range of motion and discomfort could be due to scar tissue.
- Popping and cracking sounds from your wrist need monitoring.
- Emotional stress from the recovery process is also impacting your experience.
Explanation:
After a surgery like radial head replacement, it's common to face challenges such as decreased range of motion and discomfort, particularly as healing progresses. Scar tissue can form around the joint, limiting movement, which seems to be the concern your surgeon has raised. Additionally, the noises you hear when pronating and supinating your wrist may indicate related issues that could also be stemming from the surgical procedure.
Post-surgical recovery is often a mix of physical healing and emotional adaptation. Being proactive, like you are with your physical therapy, is essential, but it’s also important to address the emotional aspects of your recovery.
Actionable Steps:
-
Continue Physical Therapy: Stay committed to your physical therapy sessions. Inform your therapist about the changes or discomforts you're experiencing. They can modify your treatment to help target the scar tissue issue more effectively.
-
Gentle Stretching Routine: Incorporate a gentle stretching routine before bed and upon waking to promote mobility. Focus on movements that are comfortable and gradually increase your range as tolerated.
-
Self-Massage Techniques: Alongside your professional massages, consider gentle self-massage around the elbow and wrist areas to help break down any built-up scar tissue. You can use a small amount of lotion or oil to facilitate the movement.
-
Heat Therapy: Try using a warm compress on your elbow before stretching exercises in the morning. Heat can help relax the muscles and improve your range of motion.
-
Monitor Your Progress: Keep a journal documenting your daily exercises and any changes in mobility or discomfort levels. Share this with your therapist and surgeon during your next appointments to help guide adjustments to your rehabilitation plan.
-
Mindfulness and Relaxation: Engage in mindfulness practices, such as meditation or deep breathing exercises, to help manage stress. Reducing anxiety can improve your overall recovery experience.
-
Communication with Your Surgeon: Be open about your concerns regarding the popping sound in your wrist and the possibility of incorrect implant sizing. Don’t hesitate to ask for further clarification and reassurance on your treatment plan.
You’re doing an excellent job by being proactive in your recovery. It's a complex process, but with patience and the right strategies, improvement is achievable. Each small gain you make counts, so celebrate those victories along the way. Please feel free to reach out if you need more information or support as you navigate this journey.
Related Questions
Assessing My Health Concerns: How Anxious Should I Be?
I’m a 32-year-old woman, weighing 124 pounds and standing at 5 feet 6 inches tall. For over a year, I have been experiencing bright red rectal bleeding. Initially, I attributed this issue to hemorrhoids that developed during my pregnancy two years ago. The bleeding occurs with most of my bowel movements, sometimes happens without one, and on a few occasions, has been enough to stain the toilet bowl significantly. The color of the blood is typically darker than what I observe during a hemorrhoid flare-up. There is a notable family history of bowel cancer on both sides; one family member was diagnosed at age 45, and another at 60. In the past six months, I have encountered several episodes of severe abdominal pain—3 to 4 instances—intense enough to consider a trip to the emergency room. However, the pain usually subsides within about an hour. It’s unusual for me to experience such acute pain, given my high tolerance for discomfort; for example, I once played rugby shortly after dislocating and fracturing my finger. Recently, I mustered the courage to consult with my doctor, who recommended a FIT test, which returned a positive result (30.1). Additionally, I underwent a complete blood test, and aside from having low ferritin levels (7 µg/L), all other results were normal. I have since been referred for a colonoscopy on a two-week waiting list to rule out any possible bowel cancer. Given these circumstances, how concerned should I be? Thank you for your input.
Persistent Pain in Right Shoulder and Arm After Lifting
Hello, everyone! I’m a 23-year-old male and have been engaged in weightlifting for several years now. Recently, I’ve been struggling with ongoing discomfort in my right shoulder and arm, which I haven’t been able to accurately identify. The pain manifests during particular movements, especially with lateral raises or when my arm is raised to shoulder level while rotating my wrist. Certain pressing and pulling activities can also provoke this discomfort. Rather than feeling sharp, it’s a deep, nagging sensation that sometimes seems localized in the front area of the shoulder or at the biceps tendon, and at other times it feels more like it’s situated between the shoulder and upper arm. Fortunately, there’s no numbness or tingling involved. This issue began while I was working out. I decided to take a break for around two months, but when I returned, the pain persisted. After consulting a physician, I was diagnosed with bicipital tendinitis. Since then, I’ve reduced my upper-body workouts, completely steering clear of shoulder exercises and heavy lifting, and have begun a gentle rehabilitation regimen focusing on external rotations, pendulum movements, and scapular exercises. Despite adhering to this routine for about a week, I haven’t experienced any noticeable improvement. Is it typical for this type of tendon injury to require an extended period for recovery? At what point should I consider diagnostic imaging, such as an ultrasound or MRI? Additionally, are there frequent rehabilitation errors that might impede the healing process? I appreciate your insights in advance!
Understanding EEG Results for My 22-Month-Old Son: Insights Needed
Could someone help clarify this for me? My son, who is just 22 months old, hasn’t started walking yet, becomes tired easily, and has been experiencing behavioral outbursts. He had a febrile seizure in February 2025, followed by another unexplained seizure in April 2025, which led us to consult a neurologist. Since he was 3 months old, he has been receiving therapy from a physical therapist for torticollis. At birth, he spent five days in the NICU due to issues with meconium aspiration. A recent MRI showed normal results, and he also had a follow-up EEG after one conducted in July 2025. The results from this recent EEG were abnormal for a pediatric patient in awake, drowsy, and sleeping states. Notably, there were brief episodes of left frontotemporal delta slowing, which occurred mainly when he was awake and drowsy. There were no signs of epileptiform activity detected. In contrast, the EEG performed back on July 3, 2025, was deemed normal for both awake and drowsy states, again with no evidence of epileptiform irregularities, although it did not capture any sleep data. This examination was prompted by the child's existing history of febrile seizures. Importantly, he is not currently on any anti-seizure medications. The EEG procedure used standard electrode placements per the 10-20 system, conducted a single-lead EKG, and included continuous video monitoring. During the analysis, the background activity was symmetric, indicating some anterior-posterior (AP) organization, with a dominant rhythm of 50-80 microvolts at 7 Hz. His drowsy state was marked by a reduced amount of eye blink activity, less breathing motion interference, and a generalized slowing in theta/delta frequencies. Stage II sleep exhibited spindles and vertex waves patterns. Additionally, there were intermittent bursts of 250-300 microvolts in the left frontotemporal region with semi-rhythmic activity of 2-4 Hz, mostly observed during wakefulness and drowsiness. No definitive epileptiform discharge was noted. Photic stimulation during the test did not elicit a strong response, and hyperventilation was not conducted during this session.
INTENSE Spine Discomfort, Breathing Difficulties, Muscle Twitches, and Sweating
To elaborate on the situation mentioned in the title, I’ve been experiencing unusual muscle twitches and spasms for the past few days, along with some discomfort in my back. However, today, I felt an unexpected sharp pain shoot through my spine, which has left my legs feeling numb and made it impossible for me to sit up straight. Additionally, I’ve been dealing with cold sweats for the last hour and struggling to breathe properly. Perhaps I’m just overanalyzing things and it’s a common occurrence, but the intensity of the pain is overwhelming—it's truly unbearable. I’m shaking quite a bit, and unfortunately, my parents aren’t responding to my attempts to reach them for help. I have a history of a chronic heart condition and arthritis, yet I’ve never experienced pain this severe, especially in my spine. For context, I am nearly 15 years old and female. My current medications include pain relievers, anxiety medication, beta blockers, and some vitamins, though those specifics may not be particularly relevant. I don’t smoke; however, I have tried vaping a few times, which might not matter much, but I thought it was worth mentioning as it was requested.
28-Year-Old Male Experiencing Scalp Sensations Post-Amitriptyline Treatment
I am a 28-year-old man in generally good health, without any cardiac concerns. Approximately a month ago, I encountered intense pain localized to one side of my head, which was unresponsive to paracetamol. However, a single dose of a migraine treatment provided substantial relief. Following that, I began a regimen of amitriptyline, starting at a nightly dose of 10 to 25 mg. While my head pain has diminished significantly—by about 90 to 95%—I now experience occasional uncomfortable sensations on my scalp. These feelings include pins and needles, a cooling sensation, and some crawling feelings near my hairline and ears. There are fleeting moments where I feel brief throbs lasting a second, but I do not have any persistent headaches. To clarify, I do not experience any of the following: - Nausea - Weakness in my limbs - Numbness - Changes in my vision - Coordination difficulties - Seizures The symptoms I have are transient, shifting around and often intensifying when I become conscious of them or as the day progresses. I would like to know: Is it common to experience these sensations during the recovery stage following episodes of neuralgia or migraine-like discomfort? Additionally, could the amitriptyline potentially be causing these temporary paresthetic sensations? I am seeking some reassurance or advice on what is typically observed during this healing process. Thank you.