how long should i wait to play after an injury has been fully healed?

[tennisdude42]

I recently had a mild bone fracture in my wrist. People say that even when it is fully healed, you should not play right away. How long should I wait till I play?

[superlobber]

I think this is a good question for your doctor. You can also try the Health and Fitness tab.
However, I think that you can as early as it completely healed, but start slowly.

[LeeD]

Yup, you consult DOC.
When you start up again, you play a few minutes and see how the wrist swells up, pains, gets red, OR NOT!
If not, play a few more minutes and check up on yourself. You gotta assume SOME responsibility for your actions sometime, so do it now.
I windsurfed and RACED motocross within 22 days of collarbone breaks, but rode cautiously just for the points, not the win. Cautiously!

[Bagumbawalla]

By definition I would think "fully healed" implies that you are back to normal and ready to go.

Sometimes, what may seem to be healed, really isn't. How can you know for sure?

Ask your doctor/physical therapist.

Just as an example, I thought my knee was healed and ready to go (self-diagnosis)-- but it wasn't. Now I have to suffer through more pain and lay-offs while it heals again.

[LeeD]

And seems to me.... after an injury, you NEVER get back to 100%, like you were before you got injured. Or at least your perception of 100....
We get older, our bodies seem to decline starting around mid 20's or so.
If you're younger, your body hasn't fully developed, so you don't know how good it CAN be, before the injury.

[superlobber]

By definition I would think "fully healed" implies that you are back to normal and ready to go.

Sometimes, what may seem to be healed, really isn't. How can you know for sure?

Ask your doctor/physical therapist.

Just as an example, I thought my knee was healed and ready to go (self-diagnosis)-- but it wasn't. Now I have to suffer through more pain and lay-offs while it heals again.

Sometime the outside skin is healed, but the soft tissue, tendon, etc. is not. Since most of us are trained or experienced in this issue, it's easy to mistaken that you are fully healed when you are not.
***Back to square one - consult with your doctor.***
Most of surgeon should tell you when it is okay to play again and they are very conservative about it.

[dherring]

eh, id pick it back up, if you dont feel anything then your pretty safe, if you do then stop, altho it may just be stiffness if you had a cast.
When i broke my leg the doc told me to do whatever i was comfortable doing, your body knows whats best

[OhDear]

I think the general rule of thumb is you give yourself half of the mandatory rest time extra. So if your doctor says rest for 6 weeks, give yourself 9 just in case.

[LeeD]

If I employed that, I'd still be a Novice moto guy. Had to place top 6 in Novice class before end of year to secure points for intermediate, so racing MX after 22 days after collar break.
And I got two 5th overalls in 250 Novice racing with a cast on my left lower leg from the 11pin compound two years before.
Do what you gotta do, the impetuosness of youth....