Can anyone offer me some advice on my wrist injury?

ductions

A little back story: I had a bit of a crash on my bike just over two weeks ago. I was on a bike path on the way from a ride, I decided to speed up a bit and got out of my saddle. Next thing I know I'm sliding along the pavement.

I wasn't knocked out or anything, but what I remember most is smashing my [helmet'd] head into the ground and sliding along for a little bit. My chain was snapped - I think it got caught up in the front mech. I had lots of road rash, destroyed my favourite and only club jersey and my helmet was cracked all up the back.

I walked myself to the nearest hospital and waited to get checked out. After sitting around for a long time (4 hours!) the doctor finally saw me and told me my that head seemed fine and a nurse would dress my wounds. I told him that my wrist was hurting, he had a good feel and asked me if it hurt where he pressed and had me squeeze his hand and push him etc.. he told me it would be fine. At the time the sharp stinging pain from my road rash seemed to cloak any pain from my wrist.

I took a day off work (waiting tables) but went in the day after. I've continued working and riding my bike - rode my first century the other day. The pain in my wrist has been present, but nothing I haven't felt before when twisting and ankle or wrist. I would describe the pain at this point, although it may sound strange, as a headache in my wrist.

The other day though I spent the shift running food carrying large trays of plates. This is when it started hurting a lot and I couldn't close or open my hand without being in agony. Half way through the shift I told my manager I'm going to have to carry on one handed. The pain seems to be down my little finger and ring finger (when it is at its worst) all the way to my wrist. I can't even squeeze a toothpaste tube, it not only hurts but I don't feel strong enough!

The next day I booked an appointment with my GP. I described my symptoms and he had a good feel and asked if it hurt where he squeezed - each time I said no, because it didn't. He gave me a workplace adaptations letter for 2 weeks and told me to take ibuprofen and paracetamol.

I'm in a bit of a panic as I'm worried about not being able to cycle especially as my wrist has only felt worse since my crash. Should I try to avoid using my wrist at all? So frustrating as I've just come up with a very basic training plan that I'm trying to stick to for hill climbing season and I'd like to enjoy the last of the "warmth" of the year. I did intervals on my rollers today instead of going on the club run, as I knew 60 miles would put a lot of strain on my wrist. I also have a 100 mile audax this weekend which I've really been looking forward to.

Sorry for the essay, but I'm just after a bit of advice really.

nochekmate

stop w..nking!

ductions

nochekmate wrote:

stop w..nking!

Yes I've had to switch hands.

fizz

ductions wrote:

Sorry for the essay, but I'm just after a bit of advice really.

Go back to the Dr's and tell them it still hurts. In the meantime rest it. Well thats what I'd do anyway.

roddixon

Take your Ibuprofen and paracetamol and rest your wrist like a good boy and see if it gets better . If not, go back to said GP in, say, a week and ask again. It sounds like you went to the doc and are mythed that he didnt "fix" your wrist immediately. It is a bummer that you cant ride, but at least you didnt break anything!

p.s. its only been 2 weeks! Give your body some time to heal itself.

anto164

My expert internet doctor opinion - You've had a major fracture to your wrist, you're going to die, slowly, painfully, oh, and you've contracted aids aswell..

On a serious note, trust the doctors - they know where to look. If you're still concerned after a few weeks, go seek a second opinion (which you've already done, so a third opinion then). 9 times out of 10, if you have damaged something the only fix is rest and time Don't expect it to hurt one day, and be fine the next.

Also, if it's hurting when you're riding the bike, stay off the bike for a while! It'll only make the recovery process last longer. Don't think, 'oh, it's only a bit sore, i'd better MTFU'. That'll do no good. Rest it up whilst the weather is dire.

alihisgreat

rest it, try to not move it at all -> or strap it up to stop it from moving.


it could just be a sprain or something that you've agitated by working with it (i'm guessing carrying plates is pretty hard on the wrists) -> but that's just speculation... i'm no doctor.

rc856

Is it only on your little finger side?
Last June I hurt my wrist playing footy. Got it x-rayed and was given the all clear.
Still hurt so eventually went back to hospital in Aug..to be told I had a broken scaphoid.
Had to have an op, get a screw put in it and in a cast for 8 weeks.

Give it a week or so but don't leave it too long!

kingrollo

Keep taking the ibuprofen. But look for some wrist \ hand excercises on the web - and do these so long as the pain isn't intense. Back off if it starts to get worse.
I think GP'S are crap - but to be fair its highly unlikley that a+e & gp would both miss a break or fracture.
2 more weeks I reckon you will be sorted.

forward_loop

Scaphoid is the break hat people often get and don realise it - cause they can move all their fingers :roll:

try the "screwdriver test" - - self explanatory really - can you use a screwdriver with dais hand. Similarly ca you put pressure on the hand as if you are pushing yourself up from a sitting posiiton on a bench. - excruciating pain for either of these (whist otherwise just a dull ache) may suggest scaphoid.

if you are worried - dont wait the 2 weeks - pop down to A&E - monday evening is a good time to go ! - they will be more used to scaphoid injuries than your GP

If it is a fracture - the longer youwait - the longer it will take to heal and the more likely complications.

ductions

RC856 wrote:

Is it only on your little finger side?
Last June I hurt my wrist playing footy. Got it x-rayed and was given the all clear.
Still hurt so eventually went back to hospital in Aug..to be told I had a broken scaphoid.
Had to have an op, get a screw put in it and in a cast for 8 weeks.

Give it a week or so but don't leave it too long!

The pain is on the same side as my little finger and ring finger, but more towards my wrist. When it was at its worst last week I had pain in both of these fingers. I don't think it is the scaphold as I understand that is nearer to the thumb?

Forward loop wrote:

try the "screwdriver test" - - self explanatory really - can you use a screwdriver with dais hand. Similarly ca you put pressure on the hand as if you are pushing yourself up from a sitting posiiton on a bench. - excruciating pain for either of these (whist otherwise just a dull ache) may suggest scaphoid.

Using a screwdriver is out of the question. The pain isn't excruciating but it is enough for me to have to stop. It also hurts if I were to put any pressure on my hand like you say, but again not excruciating.

anto164 wrote:

On a serious note, trust the doctors - they know where to look. If you're still concerned after a few weeks, go seek a second opinion (which you've already done, so a third opinion then). 9 times out of 10, if you have damaged something the only fix is rest and time Don't expect it to hurt one day, and be fine the next.

I know I should trust the doctor and I in fact wasn't expecting a miracle cure when I went in, but I felt like he didn't believe that I was in any pain as he couldn't produce any pain when he was squeezing my wrist/hand. But I suppose he would know where to look and if he couldn't find pain where he squeezed then it probably isn't serious at all.

Some people have also mentioned going to a sports injury clinic but I think this may be overkill. I am just going to see how it goes for a couple of weeks. Thanks everyone for your replies.

kayakerchris

Ok, i will bite.

Little finger side of your hand is much more difficult than the thumb side of your hand as the injuries are far more commonly ligament type injuries. Most GPs will have no idea of what to look for on the little finger side of the hand as 99% of orthopaedic surgeons are no better. The good news is that any delay in treatment on the little finger side of the hand does not alter the outcome whereas missing a scaphoid fracture for 6 weeks will mean an operation rather than a simple POP.

I would nip into Boots and obtain a simple wrist support and use that for another 3 weeks, if no better ask for referral to a specialist wrist surgeon NOT the general orthopaedic clinic.

Chris

Chris87

Ask your doctor to refer you to a physio therapist, my girlfriend had a similar problem (she will be a qualified doctor next year so knew somthing was wrong) the GP said it was nothing and to take painkillers the phsio said otherwise, turns out it was ligament damage that can be fixed with some exercises and a powerball.

kayakerchris

sorry, powerballs do not fix ligaments. if the ligaments are damaged but in the right place they will heal. if they are damaged and pulled out of place they will never heal.

powerballs may have a benefit once healing has taken place to encourage collagen remodelling and as an encouragement to programmed activity, however any cyclic loading will accomplish the same result.

My advice would still stand, wrist support for unto 6 weeks and then if no improvement rapid referral to a wrist specialist.





I happen to be one of the aforementioned specialists

dartmoorscottydog

Some fractures are difficult to spot on X-ray and there are other small bones in the hands that can be fractured apart from the scaphoid - I know this because I broke my capitate bone after a tumble and it took an MRI scan to reveal it.
Agree with above advice to return to ED or ask your GP to refer you to a hand specialist. It may still be a soft tissue injury but if it doesn't improve soon.............
Take internet advice with a pinch of salt though. Even the docs on here can't tell you much without looking at you and your X-rays. Good luck

Nik Cube

I have broken both my wrist 10'years apart. Forts one needed pins to get better and took quite a while to feel right (it still aches in wet weather) the second and most recent was good enough to ride in a week.

So mtfu and stop being a girl

People say I have problems with sensitivity I think they are just.......

Seriously just rest an take the right pain killers all will be good soon

scottarm

This may sound strange but when you move your wrist is there a grinding sensation, I had a trip to A&E with suspected fracture last month, turned out to be tendinitis that with rest and a support sorted itself out in 2 weeks.

when the initial pain eased I was left with the sensation of what I would imagine sand in the wrist joint would feel like when I tried to move it

(I did discover when the xrays came back I did have a fractured hand that had healed that I never knew about???)

my advice would rest it as best you can

davicio

Rest. As frustrating as it is, it is the only guaranteed healer.
Unfortunately, you could be looking at 6 weeks +.
Ligament damage is dependent on the person - some peoples wrist never feel the same for an awful long time - mine was a year for example.

But then, I had a double fracture after being hit by a car from the side. Ever so slight, but ever so frustrating.

shane r

dartmoorscottydog wrote:

Some fractures are difficult to spot on X-ray and there are other small bones in the hands that can be fractured apart from the scaphoid - I know this because I broke my capitate bone after a tumble and it took an MRI scan to reveal it.
Agree with above advice to return to ED or ask your GP to refer you to a hand specialist. It may still be a soft tissue injury but if it doesn't improve soon.............
Take internet advice with a pinch of salt though. Even the docs on here can't tell you much without looking at you and your X-rays. Good luck

I've broken my left wrist 3 times over the past 20 years, always a different place. This last time I fell off my skateboard on a oncrete half pipe (now age 42, wife says enough is enough).

Went to hospital was xrayed which revealed no fracture and dismissed by doctor with a splint and asked to return in a few days to actual fracture clinic. Doc at fracture clinic was specialist and immediately sent me for further xray which revealed several fractures, mainly to lunate-which is almost impossible to knit apparently. Straight into cast for 4 weeks minimum. Some time in the near future I have to have surgery for it ever to mend [properly and stop hurting.

If symptoms are as you describe there is almost certainly a fracture. I'd go back immediately or find out if there is an actual Fracture Clinic you can attend.