My left wrist is broken...

[tpariff]

Anyone ever broken the hamate bone?

Here's a little background:

In late May, I played in an event in Orlando. On one of the par 5's, I drove the ball into a fairway bunker and played a 5 iron to put the ball back in the fairway. I hit the 5 iron shot thin and felt a shooting pain in my wrist. Over the next month or so, I struggled to complete a round because of the pain in my wrist. I visited my doctor in early July, and he referred me to a hand and arm specialist. He examined my wrist and took X-rays, but nothing showed up.

Fast forward to early August where I go to Ohio for a member/guest. We play 63 holes over 3 days, and on the final day, I only play about 1/2 the holes because I'm in so much pain. I come back to Tampa, don't play for 5 weeks, then try to tee it up 2 weeks ago. NO DICE!!! I didn't even make it off the practice tee.

So, I go BACK to the specialist and we set up an arthrogram MRI where they inject dye into my wrist then do an MRI to see if there are any torn ligaments or tendons, or a fracture that can't be seen on X-rays. I had this done Wednesday.

Well, yesterday I received the results. The MRI shows a fracture in the hook of the hamate bone which is located at the base of the ring finger and pinky near the bottom of the wrist. Apparently this type of fracture is common in baseball players, golfers, etc. where a bat, club or stick is used to strike a ball. Treatment can be done two ways: cast for 4-6 weeks until the bone heals; or removal of the hamate bone since it really serves no purpose. Guys like David Ortiz, Willy Mo Pena, and Jose Canseco have had their hamate bones removed.

Anyway, I go back to the specialist next Wednesday to determine our course of action. Bottom line is that I haven't played in over 6 weeks, and it looks like I'll be down for at least another 6 weeks, probably longer if we go with surgery.

The timing sucks because my golf season is just getting started. Living in Tampa I look foward to October through April because it's cooler. Oh well, I might be able to play again in January or February, so at least I'll get some of the good season.

Has anyone else experienced this injury? If so, how was it treated and what was the outcome?

[crew_138]

What is the recovery time after the removal?

 

Sucks man... I just injured my knee and I can't do much so I feel your pain... just as my golf game was coming around too.

 

Good Luck on your decision and recovery.

[tpariff]

What is the recovery time after the removal?

 

Sucks man... I just injured my knee and I can't do much so I feel your pain... just as my golf game was coming around too.

 

Good Luck on your decision and recovery.

 

Thanks. I'll know more next Wednesday after meeting with my doctor. The information I have now on treatment and recovery is based on internet research.

[karjar]

The timing sucks because my golf season is just getting started. Living in Tampa I look foward to October through April because it's cooler. Oh well, I might be able to play again in January or February, so at least I'll get some of the good season.

 

Has anyone else experienced this injury? If so, how was it treated and what was the outcome?

 

I have been fighting continual and periodic shooting pains on the baby finger side of my wrist, but have been writing it off to too much computer typing at work (carpal tunnel?) Haven't had it looked at though. frustrating when times of putting hurt even from holding the putter.

 

Maybe you should move up here to the prairies of Canada. You'll have the next 6 months for it to rest up instead of feeling bad cause you're missing golf in those months. (golf in Nov- Mar, who ever heard of such things...LOL ) Hope it gets well for you. Not much fun.

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

A few of my friends broke that tiny bone racing BMX. If I remember corectly, it does not receive enough blood supply so it heals VERY VERY slowly. Take the winter off and allow it to heal properly so it does not become a re-occuring injury....

[Swingtheclub]

take care of your wrist my friend and follow the Docs orders to the letter.

 

When you do play again look into those velcrove wrist bands for extra support I just started wearing one instead of tape for my bad wrist .

 

 

Good luck to you

[oregongolf]

What does your doctor say? We're heading into the golf down season, maybe it might be better just to have it taken out. If I remember correctly, Ryan Moore had the same problem and opted for surgery. He found some success though in cocking his wrists before he started his swing -- have you tried the same?

[tpariff]

Thanks for the replies. Unfortunately this IS my golf season living in Florida. The summers are hot, and I prefer playing from October through April.

 

Anyway, because I've been fighting this for almost 5 months without success, I'm sure my doctor will either remove the hook of the hamate bone or the entire bone through a surgical procedure. From what I've read, I'm looking at 8 weeks +/- including rehab, so I should be back in action in early 2008.

 

I've tried everything to alleviate the pain during my swing, and nothing helps because the pain occurs at impact. I haven't figured out how to successfully play the game without making impact, so I'm screwed until it gets fixed. ;)

 

I look at it this way...all my fellow WRX'ers to the north can't play for the next 4 or 5 months, so it's almost like I live up there with you guys.

 

Kevin

[Bobcat43]

Sorry to hear this.

 

I'm not sure how old you are but it goes without saying we don't heal like we used to. I "shreaded" the end of my radius (at the left wrist) racing motocross when I was 17. To this day I have not fully recovered and won't (I'm 35 now). The xrays will make you puke!

 

But to my point make sure it heals completely before you start pounding on it again. I struggle with mine everyday and it really cuts down on the amount of golf I can play. The doctors say eventually I will have to give it up! (yeah right). Just don't jeopardize your long term health for some nice florida winter weather.

 

Good luck to you.

[Hungsolo]

very common injury. They don't remove the whole hamate bone, just the "hook" which is basically useless. Most docs will cast you for 6 weeks and if it doesn't heal, will remove the hook. If you don't want to wait, you can have it removed now. It will be a couple of months before you can swing a club again either way.

[daughterscameron]

 

 

 

 

DUDE, I thought I would start my post with this picture of my

left hand 2 days after hook of hamate surgery. I call it "The

mark of Zorro" LOL.

 

I guess, now I can give you MY story:

my pain started about the end of August '06. We weren't sure

if it was golf or work. (I work in construction). I just new something

was wrong. By Labor day, I played 11 holes (I was even par too!) and

that was it. I went right to the ER from the golf course.

The next month or 2 or so was almost the exact same thing you went

through. X-rays, MRI's, CT's, hand specialists. Not very fun, but you already

know that!! Then my hand doctor sugested I get a CAST on my hand,

(I had never had a cast before), worst 6 weeks of my life.

At the end of the 6 weeks, I was really looking forward to being done with this.

Doctor cut the cast off, stuck his thumb in my palm, and I almost cryed.

6 weeks DID NOTHING. We went a few more weeks discussing a "bone growth

stimulator". Come to find out my insurance won't cover that. GREAT.

My surgery was on Jan 17. I think that picture was the 19th or the 20th.

I'm one of those northern guys you mentioned :russian_roulette: so, YES, I had all

winter to heal.

It's now, what, Oct 9th, and we are winding down our season here, and it's

gone really well. Have I had pain?? Well, that's ironic because I had zero pain

until about 6 weeks ago (YES ALMOST 1 YEAR TO THE DAY, THAT IT STARTED

HURTING) but not too bad. I know it's just scare tissue.

 

My advice for you is to SHUT IT DOWN, SHUT IT DOWN, SHUT IT DOWN. You might

not have a chioce if the pain is bad enough.

 

I know i'm not an expert, but I HAVE been through it. IT AIN'T FUN.

If you want to talk more, PM me. Otherwise, good luck. Jim A. :beruo:

[golfer_junior]

I came down wrong on the MX track a few weeks back and messed up my wrist. Its been painful to hit golf balls since so I think I might have hurt something internally. Hitting that tree out on the dunes yesterday didn't help it either...

[tpariff]

Surgery is scheduled for Oct. 23 to remove the hook of the hamate, and clean up the remaining bone. I should be good to go by mid December. A guy I talked to the other day at Starbucks said he was playing golf four weeks after the same surgery. I won't push it because I want to heal properly, but at least the prospect of a quick recovery is there.

 

I'll be sure to post some pictures!! ;)

 

Thanks for the feedback!

 

Kevin

[matt411]

good luck kevin, sorry to hear about that. let me know how it turns out. matt

[Bobcat43]

Sorry about that. But Chicks dig scars.

 

Good Luck. I hope it rains everyday so you aren't tempted to play too soon.

[tpariff]

Sorry about that. But Chicks dig scars.

 

Good Luck. I hope it rains everyday so you aren't tempted to play too soon.

 

Thanks! The temptation is already there...every day. My club's member/guest starts this Thursday, so it sucks that I had to withdraw. We have interclub matches starting in January, so I hope I'm back playing by then. And our club championship is in the spring, so I'll need to sharpen up my game before that.

 

Oh well, it's only 6 weeks or so from what I hear.

[NikeDD59]

Anyone know how much this procedure costs without insurance? My insurance prob won't cover it.

 

Over a year ago my ball landed next to a tree on top of leaves. I hit down on it with a 5 iron and thought i broke my wrist. Under the leaves lied the root of a tree. Every since then, my left wrist has not been the same. The pain is bearable and only occurs when I play golf.

 

Another way I trigger the pain is when i spread my pinky apart and push down on the table. Kinda like a poker player making a check.

 

thx

[tpariff]

I had surgery Tuesday and paid $50 which I was told is my 10% copay. I think $500 total might be low, but I didn't argue.

 

I'm going back to the doc for a checkup tomorrow, so I'll post some pics. :man_in_love:

[Samsquanch]

I feel sorry for you man, I broke me right wrist last spring and was casted for six weeks. Not the funnest thing you could be doing. :man_in_love: :D

[sixfive1ebot]

A few of my friends broke that tiny bone racing BMX. If I remember corectly, it does not receive enough blood supply so it heals VERY VERY slowly. Take the winter off and allow it to heal properly so it does not become a re-occuring injury....

 

Not the same bone. I broke the bone your talking about. it is at the bottom of the thumb and does not get much blood flow. Riding my MTB bike. I thinks it is called the scaffoud. splelt that wrong.

 

Hi tpariff, I hope the doc's are taking good care of ya. I have been hurt many of times because of my day job, I'm a pro mountain bike freerider. But if you love playing golf as much as it sounds then you have to take your rehab serious. Ya your not in a wheel chair or in bed but this could reck you. If you want a pain free life and to be able to play golf you need to wait to play and do your PT. I feel your pain and hope you have a smooth recovery. Kyle

[tpariff]

Alright, here we go. These pics were taken this afternoon, exactly 3 days after surgery. Stitches come out next Friday. Doc says it's healing well and that I can putt now! Ha, ha, ha. Good thing he is a golfer and understands my dilemma.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

[handz98]

Glad that things are going well for you. You made the right decision. Take this time to work on your putting and you'll be back out playing before you know it. If you have any questions that I can help you with feel free to PM me.

 

Cliff

[daughterscameron]

Kevin,

looks good and i'm glad that you're happy

about the ordeal. Keep me in touch as to when you

get started again, and how it feels.

 

 

BTW, isn't wierd how different doctors go

at it different. Your scar will look 100%

different than mine. Kind of looks like your

doctor signed it before he did the cutting. LOL.

But, I AM golfing again!!! Take care. :man_in_love:

[tpariff]

Part of that ink is the word "YES" that they wrote prior to going in the OR. I don't know what the other stuff is because it was done after they gave me the twilight anesthesia, and I was sleeping like a baby...or so I thought. The doc told me yesterday that I was answering his questions during the surgery, and that I lifted myself back onto the stretcher from the operating table. I don't remember any of that stuff!

 

I'll be sure to post results from my first post-surgery round. I'm sure it won't be pretty.

[XYB34A]

I hate to admit this, but I actually tried to skateboard in the parking lot with my sons skateboard in october of 2005. A very bad choice on my part. As soon as I stepped on the board then my feet flew out from under me. My son said that I was parallel to the ground about waist high. I landed on my right wrist and turned it back under my body. I thought I had sprained it. I waited 3 weeks and called my doctor described what had happen and was instructed to go to the emergency room right away. It was broken in 3 different place's. I have boxers hand to start with. I had to go to an orthopedic surgeon and wear a cast from the first of Nov of 2005 to just after Christmas. In late Jan of 2006 I slipped in the snow on my front porch and feel off into the shrubs in front of my house. I had to get the dye test done that time. I wound up not being able to play golf for over 6 months. It took me another 6 months to start playing well again. I was the rip old age of 45 when this happen. I cant describe the worst part of it all. But use your imagination. I truly wish you the best of luck, and if you have to do rehab. I hope that it goes quick and you regain your strength.

[MBdaMAN]

I was just curious how the recovery ended up going? I broke my left hamate in 2003 playing baseball and had it removed. I was back on the course in 4 weeks with no pain. I just had my right hamate removed about 6 weeks ago and have this awful shooting pain on the pinky side of my wrist when i swing. I guess it is a pinched nerve from the scar tissue. Anyone else had any complications from the excision of the hamate bone? Im dying to get out on the course pain free again.

[tpariff]

Everything went well. I was back on the course in 5 1/2 weeks and have had no issues with my hand. It's been just over 7 months since the surgery and everything is good. Every now and then I get some stiffness in my left pinky which could be a result of scar tissue. It doesn't concern me though.

 

Kevin

[Corey_sulliv21]

I am 10 years post-op from the exact same broken bone - hook of hamate bone on left hand. It took me more than a year to get the confidence back to go ahead and compress the ball with a flat left wrist. A big mistake I made was hitting a lot of shots with just my right hand while I was in a cast. To this day I have a little bit of an early release and "right hand dominant" motion.

 

Hope your recovery goes well. I play pain free and have for years.

[Ward]

Wrist injuries are so crappy because they are so crucial to functioning everyday and in a lot of sports and hobbies. Golf, baseball, tennis, most musical instruments, working out, etc. I've recovered from a very severe shattering of my left radius/wrist joint. I broke it into about 20 or more pieces from falling off a ridiculous jump on my snowboard. Fixators, pins, plates, screws, some of which are still in there, + weeks of physical therapy got me back doing all those things I love. If I don't golf very regularly, I end up being very right hand dominant, which I am almost certain is causing my draws and hooks. Whatever injury you sustain, let it heal properly and work it back to health. Bodies are incredible and they can withstand some pretty tough stuff.

[danbyr66]

I recently had the hook of the hamate surgery on Sept. 12 of this year, I am going on my 5th week of post-op and still cannot play bc of pain. I am reading that this is semi-normal as it takes a while for the nerves to heal. I work in the golf course industry and am anxious to get back and play, watching people go out there everyday for the past 4 months have been tough.