A broken wrist, which in medicine is defined as a fracture of the distal epiphysis of the radius, is a fairly common injury. In fact, it is the bone that most frequently breaks following an arm accident. For example, in the United States alone, one in ten fractures involve the wrist. The causes could be a fall or a blow received on the area. People who are at high risk for this type of injury are athletes who play contact sports and people who suffer from osteoporosis (fragile and thin bones). If you have received treatment for a wrist fracture, you will probably need to wear a brace or cast until the bone heals. Read on to learn some techniques for dealing with the fracture.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Heal the Wrist
Step 1. Go to the doctor
A broken wrist requires medical attention for proper healing. If you are not in severe pain, you can wait until you are able to go to your doctor. If you experience any of the symptoms listed here, you need to go to the emergency room:
- Strong pain;
- Numb wrist, hand, or fingers
- Deformed wrist that looks bent or crooked
- Open fracture (the broken bone has perforated the skin);
- Pale fingers.
Step 2. Understand what the treatment procedures are
Most wrist fractures are initially treated with a brace or splint; in this case a piece of rigid plastic or metal is fixed to the wrist with a bandage or brackets. It should be kept for at least a week, until the swelling subsides.
- Once the initial swelling has subsided, the splint is replaced with plaster or a fiberglass brace for a few days or a week.
- After two to three weeks, you will need to have another cast applied if the swelling has greatly reduced and the first one has become too large.
Step 3. Wait 6 or 8 weeks
Most wrist fractures resolve within six to eight weeks if well treated. This means that you will have to wear plaster most of the time.
During this phase, your doctor will take x-rays to make sure your wrist is healing properly
Step 4. See a physical therapist
Once the cast has been removed, the doctor may direct you to this professional who will help you regain the strength and motility you lost after the injury.
If you don't need structured physical therapy, then your healthcare provider may recommend exercises to do at home. Remember to follow his recommendations to allow your wrist to regain full function
Part 2 of 4: Relieve the Pain and Swelling
Step 1. Lift your wrist
Raising the injured area above the level of the heart helps reduce both swelling and pain. In the first 48-72 hours after applying the plaster, this procedure is particularly important. Your doctor may also recommend that you keep your wrist up for longer.
You may need to maintain an elevated wrist position while you sleep or during the day. Try keeping a couple of pillows under your arm
Step 2. Apply ice
The cold helps reduce swelling and relieve pain. Remember that the chalk must stay dry when you put the ice on.
- Place ice cubes in a sealable plastic bag. Make sure it is tightly closed and does not leak water. Wrap the bag in a towel to prevent condensation from wetting the plaster.
- You can also use a pack of frozen vegetables as if they were an ice pack. Choose small vegetables, such as corn or peas, as they fit better around the wrists. Obviously, don't eat vegetables after using them as a compress.
- Keep the ice on your wrist for 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours. Do the compresses for the first 2-3 days, or according to your doctor's recommendations
- On the market there are also bags full of gel for cold packs which can be very useful. They are reusable when stored in the freezer, they do not melt and do not release condensation on the plaster. You can buy them in pharmacies and orthopedics stores.
Step 3. Take over-the-counter pain relievers
In most cases, wrist pain is manageable with these over-the-counter medications. You should ask your doctor for advice on which product is best for you. Some, in fact, could interfere with other underlying diseases or with the drug therapies you are already following. Your doctor may recommend a combination of ibuprofen and acetominophen / acetaminophen to reduce swelling and relieve pain. These active ingredients taken simultaneously are more effective than individually.
- Ibuprofen is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory). It helps reduce fever and swelling by inhibiting the body's production of prostaglandins. Other NSAIDs available on the market are aspirin and naproxen sodium, although aspirin has a greater anticoagulant effect than other drugs of the same class.
- Your doctor may advise you not to take aspirin if you suffer from bleeding problems, asthma, anemia or other systemic diseases. In addition, aspirin interacts with several drugs and underlying diseases.
- When administering a pain reliever to a child, be sure to use a specific dosage and formulation for children, taking into account the age and weight of the subject.
- There is a risk of liver damage associated with the consumption of acetominophen, so strictly follow the dosage indicated by your doctor.
- Do not take an over-the-counter pain reliever for more than 10 days (5 for children) unless your doctor tells you to. If the pain persists beyond this time, contact your doctor.
Step 4. Sway your fingers and move your elbow
It is very important to move the joints that are not blocked by the cast, such as the knuckles and elbow. By doing so, you promote blood circulation. It also accelerates the healing process and improves the mobility of the limb.
If you experience pain when moving your fingers or elbow, contact your doctor
Step 5. Do not stick objects into the plaster
The skin will become itchy under the cast and you will probably want to scratch. Do not do it! You could damage your skin or cast. Do not insert or block any object between the wrist and the cast.
- Try lifting the plaster or blowing in it with a blow dryer set to low or "cold".
- Do not put any dust between the skin and the plaster. Itch-relieving powders can cause irritation when trapped under plaster.
Step 6. Apply a skin protection patch to avoid friction blisters
The plaster may irritate your skin along its edges. Put a skin protection patch (a kind of soft adhesive fabric) directly on the epidermis, where the plaster rubs it. You can find these patches in pharmacies, orthopedics and even some supermarkets.
- Apply the patch to clean, dry skin. Replace it when it gets dirty or loses adhesive strength.
- If the edges of the chalk become rough, you can use a nail file to smooth them. Do not cut, break or remove plaster fragments.
Step 7. Know when to call your doctor
In most cases, the wrist heals within a few weeks with proper care. However, you should contact your healthcare provider if:
- You experience numbness or tingling in your fingers and hand
- You have cold or pale fingers
- The skin around the edges of the plaster is irritated or abraded;
- The plaster has soft areas or cracks;
- The plaster has become wet, loose or too tight;
- The cast stinks or you experience severe itching that doesn't go away.
Part 3 of 4: Managing the Daily Life
Step 1. Avoid getting the plaster wet
Since it is made of "gypsum", it is damaged with water. Furthermore, humidity could promote the growth of mold inside the rigid bandage. Wet plasters also cause skin ulcers; therefore never get it wet.
- When taking a bath or shower, tape a sturdy plastic bag (such as a garbage bag) around the plaster with duct tape. Leave your wrist out of the shower or bathtub to reduce the chances of getting it wet.
- Wrap a small cloth or towel around the upper end of the plaster to prevent water from seeping into it.
- You can buy specific waterproof protections at orthopedics or pharmacies.
Step 2. If the plaster gets wet, dry it immediately
Dab it with a dry cloth and then use the hair dryer set to minimum to dry it for 15-30 minutes.
If the cast is still wet after this attempt, see your doctor. It will probably need to be replaced
Step 3. Put a sock on your hand
Your fingers will become cold from the cast and you may suffer from circulation problems (or maybe it's cold in the house). Raise your wrist above heart level and put a sock on your hand to keep your fingers warm.
Move your fingers to restore blood circulation
Step 4. Choose clothes that are easy to wear
Putting on clothes with closure systems such as buttons and zips is not at all easy with a cast on the wrist. Even clothing that is tight-fitting or with long, narrow sleeves is not a great idea, since the wrist in a cast may not fit.
- Choose soft, stretchy clothes. Pants and skirts with an elastic waistband will not force you to "tinker" with the closures.
- It is worth wearing short-sleeved shirts or sleeveless shirts.
- With your good hand, slide the shirt sleeve over the cast and gently pull. Try to minimize the movement of the injured arm.
- To protect yourself from the cold, use a shawl or blanket instead of a jacket, as it may be difficult to put on. A thick poncho or cape could be a good alternative to a coat.
- Don't feel embarrassed to ask for help when you need it.
Step 5. Ask for someone to take notes for you in class
If you are a student and you have broken the wrist of your dominant hand, ask for permission to use a tape recorder or other support during healing. Talk to your teacher or the university's disability office.
- If you can learn to write with your non-dominant hand, it will be very useful, even if it is a long process.
- If the fractured wrist is that of the non-dominant hand, then use a heavy object such as a book or paperweight to hold the notebook steady as you write. Avoid using your injured arm as much as possible.
Step 6. Perform tasks with the other hand
When you can, use your uninjured hand to perform daily activities, such as brushing your teeth or eating. In this way, you reduce the inflammation of the fractured wrist.
Do not lift or carry objects with an injured hand. Protests cause a new injury and prolong the healing process
Step 7. Avoid driving and using machines
This is especially important if you have broken your dominant hand wrist. It is not at all safe to drive in these conditions and your doctor will advise you against doing so.
- Although the highway code does not expressly prohibit driving a vehicle with an arm in a cast, the legislation does however require you to be in a suitable physical state to carry out all the maneuvers, especially those of safety. For this reason, the insurance may not respond in the event of an accident and the police forces may sanction you if, in their opinion, you do not comply with this requirement.
- Machinery should not be used either, especially those that require the use of both hands.
Part 4 of 4: Healing After the Fracture
Step 1. Once the cast is off, take care of your arm and wrist
You will notice some dry skin and possibly some swelling when you remove the hard bandage.
- The skin may be dry or cracked. The muscles will be smaller than before the cast, which is completely normal.
- Soak your hand and wrist in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Gently rub dry skin with a cloth.
- Use a moisturizer to soften the skin on your hand and wrist.
- To reduce swelling, take ibuprofen or aspirin, as directed by the doctor.
Step 2. Resume your normal activities as advised by your doctor
It will take some time to recover full functionality. In particular, you will have to wait 1-2 months before exercising lightly (swimming or other cardio exercises). For more vigorous activities and competitive sports you will have to wait another 3-6 months.
Be careful to prevent future wrist fractures. Guardians can be for you
Step 3. Remember that healing takes time
Just because your cast was removed doesn't mean your wrist is perfectly healed. It will take six months or more for full recovery after a major fracture.
- You will feel pain or stiffness for a few months or even years after the accident.
- The speed of recovery also depends on your age and your general health. Children and adolescents recover faster than adults. The elderly and patients with osteoporosis or osteoarthritis may not heal as quickly or fully.
Advice
- When in severe pain, raise your arm above heart level. In this way, you reduce the flow of blood to the wrist and find some relief from swelling and pain.
- When you sleep, try to give your wrist some support. Lie on your back and place a pillow under your wrist.
- If you need to take a plane with your arm in a cast, check with the airline. You may not be allowed to fly in the first 24-48 hours that the cast has been placed.
- You can write on chalk. Use permanent markers to prevent the ink from staining clothes and sheets.
