How do I know if my wrist is broken?

Question

I think my wrist is either broken or dislocated cause it really hurts and is swelling up bad, but I don't feel like going to the doctor unless its actually broken, what signs should i look for?

Answer 1

you cant move it or your fingers..

Answer 2

I'm not a real doctor but I play one on the Internet....The first thing you should look for is any bones sticking out. If there are bones sticking out then chances are it's broken. Next is it really really swollen and very painful? If the answer is yes, then it is most likely broken.. Do Not believe the "if you can move your fingers it isn't broken". That is absolutely not true.

Just remember, if it is broken, the longer you wait to have it x-rayed and casted the more serious the situation becomes. If it is broken and starts to heal then you may be looking at possible surgery to break it and reset it. I would rather pay for an E.R. visit tonight than surgery next week.

Answer 3

If you can still bend it or move the wrist. Is their swelling perhaps an ice packs will help. How much pain do you have? If you can still lift anything? There are all sorts of ways you can go about this but the best advice go see a doctor or a Nurse Practitioner for any other injury to your wrist. Nurse Practitioner is just like a doctor she sees the patient and spends more time with the patient. The nurse practitioner can do physicals to suggest medicine to the patient. I hope you do feel better.

Answer 4

I agree with the medic. While the wrist has eight bones, most people confuse the distal portion of the forearm (the part closest to your hand) with the wrist. If you feel on the sides of your wrist you'll feel two bones that kind of make the shape feeling like two bumps. Most likely the shaft leading to those bones could be broken at the distal end. Ice it like the medic said and get it looked at ASAP. If you cant rotate or flex your wrist, theres almost a sure sign right there.

Answer 5

The SYNPTOMS are : !. Pain wmich can be xecruciating 2. Pain on movements (active or passive).

The SIGNS are :1.Swelling of the tissues and skin over or around the fracture site. 2. There may be redness of the overlying skin.3.The overlying may be hotter than normal. 4.Deformity of the bones ,more obvious in a dislocation 5.tenderness (pain on pressure ) 6. Limitation of movements whether active (bt itself) or passive (with help).

The DEFINITIVE SIGN of a fracture is an X-ray evidence of 1. a crack or 2, displacement of the fracture bones 3. overt displacement as in dislocation of a joint.

Good Luck.

Answer 6

The wrist has many bones. yuo really should go to the dr or the ER and get a x-ray. Right now put ice on it and wrap it with a ace wrap. See the dr or er in the moring. The wrist has alot of small bones and you should have it looked at.

Answer 7

well sometimes u cant tell a fracture until 48 hours later soo id wait for a while. in teh meantime put some ice on it. you probably shoudl see a doctor though since you actually have to do an x-ray to completely figure out if its broken or not.

Answer 8

Well if you can't more it it's broken, but if it's just sweling then you probably sprained it, put some ice on it, it will make the swelling go down

Answer 9

How you know if your wrist is broken: You go to the emergency room.

Answer 10

severe pain and swelling for one....but other things can mimic that such as a severe sprain or tendonitis....best way is to go to the doctor and have it xrayed if he things it could be broken.

Answer 11

If you heard a 'snap' when you fell (assumed), Yup, it's broke!

Only an X-ray can tell 4 sure!

Hope this helps!

The Ol' Sasquatch Ü