Some people can still move or use the hand or wrist even if there is a broken bone. Swelling or a bone out of place can make the wrist appear deformed. There is often pain right around the break and with finger movement. Sometimes the fingers tingle or feel numb at the tips.
You may have a compromised range of motion if your hand is broken. This may be due to swelling, inflammation, or pain caused by the injury. If you're experiencing any of the symptoms discussed, especially pain in your hand, immediately contact a trusted hand doctor before symptoms worsen.
What are the Symptoms of a Hairline Fracture of the Wrist & Hand? The quick answer is the symptoms of hairline fractures of the wrist are pain(sharp or achy), swelling, bruising and lack of function of the wrist. Wrist fractures can occur with a fall on an outstretched arm, or a forceful impact such as a car accident.
Sometimes a bone can break without you realizing it. That's usually what happens to the scaphoid bone in your wrist, a boat-shaped bone located on the outermost side of the thumb side of the hand.
Wiggle your uninjured fingers often to reduce swelling and stiffness, but do not use that hand to grasp or carry anything.
In a third-degree injury, the ligament, muscle, or tendon tears completely, causing pain and limited range of motion. You may even hear a “pop” as it happens. You should consult a doctor if you experience severe pain, if any pain lasts for more than several days, or if you have trouble using your hand.
The symptoms of a stress fracture can include: Pain, swelling or aching at the site of fracture. Tenderness or “pinpoint pain” when touched on the bone. Pain that begins after starting an activity and then resolves with rest.
Restricting the movement of a broken bone in your hand is critical to proper healing. To do this, you'll likely need a splint or a cast. You'll be advised to keep your hand above heart level as much as possible to reduce swelling and pain.
Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if: Your pain gets worse. You have new or worse swelling. You have tingling, weakness, or numbness in the area near the bruise.
If left untreated or not treated appropriately, a hand fracture can lead to loss of hand mobility. People at higher risk of developing a hand fracture are those who have osteoporosis, play contact sports, or those who have poor nutritional habits.
Emergency room facilities for bone breaks are necessary when: There is heavy bleeding. You are unable to move the injury without causing pain. The area of damage is deformed or disconnected.
What Are the Symptoms of Wrist/Hand Sprains? Immediate pain in the wrist or hand after a direct blow or twist. Pain and stiffness with movement or activity in hand and wrist.
The distal phalanx is the most commonly fractured bone in the hand, followed by the metacarpals [3]. The bones of the hand and wrist are shown in the figure (figure 1). Metacarpal fractures are seen more often in adults, whereas phalangeal fractures are more common in children [2].
If you have a stress fracture, you might notice: pain when exercising that may or may not go away after rest. tenderness. mild swelling and redness.
You should visit your doctor if: Symptoms don't improve with rest and ice therapy. You experience pain or discomfort even when the hand is not moving. You have a reduced range of motion in the hand, wrist, and/or fingers.
If you have bleeding that will not stop after 5 minutes of direct pressure. If you've cut yourself and now have numbness in the area. If your fingers are pale and cold after a traumatic injury or cold exposure. If you can't move a joint or the joint is very painful and difficult to move.
It is common knowledge among orthopaedic surgeons that there may be no external signs of bruising in association with a fracture, and this is one of the many reasons why so much emphasis is placed on marking the limb before surgery.
Fractures can lead to hand stiffness through inflammation and immobility (from pain and or splinting). Fractures of the hand are often associated with concurrent soft tissue, tendon, or ligament injury.
Recovery times
After a metacarpal fracture of the hand, most of the healing happens between 3 to 4 weeks. It's normal to have aches and discomfort beyond this. This often happens when you try activities you haven't done for a while. It's also normal for the area to be more sensitive for several months after the injury.
While bone bruises are less severe than bone fractures, they can make the bone more vulnerable to fracture. In some cases, a bone bruise can be excruciatingly painful, severely limit movements, and take several months to heal.
A hand contusion, or bruising of the hand, is a mild sports injury that can occur as a result of a direct impact to the hand. When a bruise or contusion occurs, the small blood vessels get damaged and blood leaks out under the skin causing the typical swelling and bruising seen in these injuries.