If you feel pain and heaviness around your hand, you may be suffering from a wrist fracture. This injury affects your overall mobility since your hands are a vital part of your body. Thus, you need to know the defining features of a wrist fracture and what you can do to treat it.
This article will talk about the common symptoms of wrist fractures and the tips you need to know to treat it. Take this as an opportunity to maintain the positive health and functionality of your hands and wrists.
Common Symptoms of Wrist Fractures
There are many factors why you may have a wrist fracture, like subjecting your hands to repeated strenuous exercises. However, the fracture may also be due to other medical complications.
For instance, a study confirms that wrist fractures are common among post-menopausal women. Therefore, it’s important to be watchful of the health of your wrist and hands and seek the treatment you need.
Take note of the following common symptoms to determine whether you have a wrist fracture:
Pain and swelling
You may be experiencing a tingling, burning sensation around your wrist due to the swelling of your muscle called the extensor retinaculum. The common causes include physical strain and injury.
This particular wrist fracture symptom is also closely associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, which is due to excess pressure placed on the area and the median nerve. Chronic pain and swelling mean you need to rest your hand and consult with a wrist doctor immediately.
Inability or difficulty to use the hand
The condition of your wrist has a significance to the holistic functionality of your hand. As such, you should be mindful of periods when you notice strain and exhaustion when you use your hands to do different tasks.
For instance, let’s say you need to prepare for a presentation at work and notice you cannot type on your keyboard as easily due to the limited motion of your fingers and wrist. This further signifies that you may have a fractured wrist.
Noticeable deformation
The bones within your wrist, called the carpus, may have dislocated and resulted in its deformation. This is often associated with pain and swelling. Be on the lookout for this condition since it means your wrist needs immediate medical attention—more specifically, an X-ray to assess the condition of your wrist bones.
Tips for Treating Wrist Fractures
With the previously mentioned symptoms in mind, adhere to the following wrist fracture care tips to treat and preserve your hand health:
- Don’t move your wrist: You need to make sure not to move around your wrist and hand since it may further worsen the deformation and inflammation in your bones and muscle. Protect your wrist with a compression bandage and keep your whole hand immobilized.
- Take over-the-counter pain medications: Wrist fracture pain can be dealt with through over-the-counter painkillers like Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Take the prescribed dosage and be wary of the side effects, like drowsiness and fatigue.
- Seek medical assistance from a wrist doctor immediately: Your wrist doctor knows exactly what kind of treatment, medical complication, and lifestyle change you need to not only treat your wrist fracture but also preserve its health and functionality.
Conclusion
Wrist fractures are a common occurrence since the hand is one of the most used parts of the body. Consider all the previously mentioned tips and seek medical advice immediately to ensure the health and functionality of your wrist.
The North Florida Hand & Wrist Center is your team of hand and wrist doctors in Jacksonville. We provide comprehensive services like hand therapy, surgery, carpal tunnel treatment, and other medical services for your convenience. Consult with us today and have your wrist fracture professionally treated.
