Metacarpal Fracture/Boxer’s Fracture

I’m interested in learning about anyone’s return to climbing timeline and protocol following a metacarpal neck fracture. My doctor is not familiar with climbing movement and estimated 6+ weeks past the point of the bone being healed. I’ll follow all medical advice/PT but my gut reaction is this seemed like a long time. If anyone has a hand surgeon/ortho in the Colorado front range that is familiar with climbing, I’d also love a recommendation.

Six weeks is pretty normal for clean bone fractures without complications. I was in a cast for six weeks and then had limited movement due to swelling and soreness for a month or two after that. It takes time.

Opposite experience, but mine was not a clean fracture. I shattered my hand in a 2005 bike crash, with, in the words of the er doctor, “the worst broken pinky he’d seen”.  then it was pinned for 6-8 weeks , then the pins came out, but it was six months of hand therapy before I could really use the hand normally, and a looooong time before I had my (admittedly weak) grip strength back. I broke a lot of dishes in the interim.

Apropos, I hate it when pt, doctor, nurse folks tell me to “ let pain be my guide” in recovery. Like define pain for me please!