If you’ve injured your wrist, you might be wondering: Is my wrist broken, strained, or sprained? And how can I tell? Finding the underlying cause of your injury is important to avoid making it worse and promote proper healing.
Below, we’ll look at some signs you may have a broken wrist, what often causes it, and why it’s always best to seek professional guidance when in doubt.
Common Signs of a Broken Wrist
With a broken wrist, you’ll usually experience more than just soreness. While every person’s experience and injury is unique, you can watch for some typical signs and symptoms when trying to determine whether you’ve broken your wrist.
Common signs include:
- Severe wrist pain
- Swelling around the wrist or hand
- Bruising or discoloration
- Tenderness when touching the area
- Difficulty gripping or moving the wrist
- Stiffness in the fingers or thumb
- A popping sensation at the time of injury
- Numbness or tingling in the hand or fingers
- A wrist that looks bent, crooked, or deformed
It’s worth noting that, with a broken wrist, pain is usually at its worst when you’re trying to grip, squeeze, or generally move your hand or wrist.
What Causes a Broken Wrist?
One of the most common causes of a broken wrist is falling onto an outstretched hand. This type of injury is especially common during:
- Sports activities
- Slips and falls
- Bike or skateboard accidents
- Car accidents
- Workplace injuries
Keep in mind that older adults with osteoarthritis could be more vulnerable to wrist fractures, even with what seems like a minor fall.
Broken Wrist vs. Sprained Wrist
Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between a broken wrist and a sprained wrist. It’s always best to see a medical professional for a proper diagnosis, but while you wait, you can look for a few tell-tale signs.
Broken wrists usually cause:
- More severe pain
- Significant swelling
- Greater difficulty moving the wrist
- Visible deformity in some cases
The important thing is not to attempt an at-home diagnosis; your doctor can tell you definitively. Your treatment options and care instructions will reflect that diagnosis to ensure you heal as quickly and painlessly as possible.
When to See A Doctor for a Possible Broken Wrist
Prompt treatment is important because untreated fractures may heal incorrectly, leading to long-term pain, stiffness, weakness, or reduced mobility.
You should seek medical attention as soon as possible if you experience:
- Severe or worsening pain
- Significant swelling
- Trouble moving your fingers or wrist
- Numbness or tingling
- Inability to grip or hold objects
- A visibly crooked wrist or hand
Get the Care You Need for a Broken Wrist
Our orthopedic specialists diagnose and treat a wide range of wrist injuries, including fractures, sprains, and sports-related injuries. Early evaluation and treatment can help protect wrist function, reduce pain, and support proper healing. Contact our care team at Anderson Orthopedic Clinic in the DMV area today to make an appointment and find out what’s really going on with your wrist injury.
Sources:
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/broken-wrist/symptoms-causes/syc-20353169
union.health/wrist-sprain-or-fracture-know-the-difference
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/broken-wrist-wrist-fracture
