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Hand or Wrist Injury

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Injury to the hand or wrist
Injury to a bone, muscle, joint, or ligament
Excluded: muscle pain caused by too much exercise or work (overuse). Covered in Hand or Wrist Pain care guide.

Types of Hand or Wrist Injuries

Fractures. Fractures are broken bones. A broken bone will be tender to touch and may look misshapen. You will not be able to move the injured area without pain. Fractures often occur in the wrist or hands due to falls, sports injuries and direct blows. The small bones in the wrist can be fractured as well as the bones in the hand and fingers. After a fracture, if the bones were moved out of place, they may heal in that position. This could affect your use of the wrist or hand in the future. Surgery may be needed to fix the break and reset its position.
Dislocations. This happens when a bone is pulled out of its joint socket. Dislocated wrists are less common than dislocated shoulders, but they do occur. This can also happen in small bones in the hands and fingers.
Sprains. Sprains are stretches and tears of ligaments or tendons. They can occur along with a fracture or without one.
Strains. Strains are stretches and tears of muscles.
Muscle Overuse. Muscle pain can occur without an injury. There is no fall or direct blow. Muscle overuse is from hard work or sports (such as a sore wrist).
Muscle or soft tissue bruise from a direct blow
Bone bruise from a direct blow
Skin Injury. Examples are a cut, scratch, scrape or bruise. Wounds to the hands need checked carefully. Damage to blood flow or nerves can affect your use of the hands in the future.
Nail Injuries. Fingernail injuries can occur due to a direct blow which causes bruising under the nail or the nail being torn. A bruise forms from bleeding under the nail. The nail will look black and will be painful. If pain is severe, it may be possible to drain the blood with a simple procedure.

Pain Scale

Mild: you feel some pain, but it does not keep you from most normal activities. Work, chores and sleep are not changed.
Moderate: the pain keeps you from doing some normal activities. It may wake you up from sleep.
Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps you from doing all normal activities.

When to Call for Hand or Wrist Injury

When to Call for Hand or Wrist Injury
Call 911 Now Serious injury with many broken bones The wrist, hand or fingers have been crushed Major bleeding that can't be stopped Bone or object is sticking through the skin You think you have a life-threatening emergency Call Doctor or Seek Care Now Severe pain Can't move the wrist, hand or fingers normally You have wound and have never had any tetanus shots Cut over knuckles of the hand You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent	Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Very large bruise or swelling Increasing pain, redness or swelling around the wound Pain not starting to improve after 3 days Wound is dirty or hard to clean and it is MORE than 5 years since your last tetanus shot You have a clean minor wound and have NOT had a tetanus shot within the past 10 years You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent Contact Doctor During Office Hours Injury limits work or sports Pain lasts more than 2 weeks You have other questions or concerns	Self Care at Home Sore muscle or bruise from direct blow Minor hand or wrist injury

Call 911 Now

Serious injury with many broken bones
The wrist, hand or fingers have been crushed
Major bleeding that can't be stopped
Bone or object is sticking through the skin
You think you have a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

Severe pain
Can't move the wrist, hand or fingers normally
You have wound and have never had any tetanus shots
Cut over knuckles of the hand
You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

Very large bruise or swelling
Increasing pain, redness or swelling around the wound
Pain not starting to improve after 3 days
Wound is dirty or hard to clean and it is MORE than 5 years since your last tetanus shot
You have a clean minor wound and have NOT had a tetanus shot within the past 10 years
You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

Injury limits work or sports
Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Sore muscle or bruise from direct blow
Minor hand or wrist injury

Care Advice for Minor Hand or Wrist Injuries

What You Should Know About Minor Hand or Wrist Injuries:
- During sports and activities, muscles and bones get bruised.
- Muscles get stretched.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Pain Medicine.
- To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
- Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works better for this type of pain.
- Use as needed, but do not take more than the maximum recommended dosage as stated on the package.
- If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.
Small Cut or Scrape Treatment
- Use direct pressure to stop any bleeding. Do this for 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops.
- Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes. Try to rinse the cut under running water, maybe in the shower.
- Gently scrub out any dirt with a washcloth.
- Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed. Then, cover with a bandage. Change daily.
Cold Pack for Pain:
- For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
- Put it on the sore muscles for 20 minutes.
- Repeat 4 times on the first day, then as needed.
- Reason: helps with the pain and helps stop any bleeding.
- Caution: avoid frostbite by wrapping the ice pack. Do not put ice directly onto the skin.
Remove Tight Jewelry and Clothing:
- Remove any jewelry (rings, bracelets) or tight clothing from the limb. They could become too tight if the hand or wrist swells.
Use Heat Pack After 48 Hours:
- If pain lasts more than 2 days, put heat on the sore muscle.
- Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth.
- Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed.
- Reason: increase blood flow and improve healing
- Caution: avoid burns by wrapping the heat pack. Do not put it directly on the skin.
Rest the Hand and Wrist.
- Rest the injured area as much as possible for 48 hours, but keep the fingers moving gently if you can.
- Keep the hand raised on a pillow beside you or held across your chest to help limit swelling.
What to Expect:
- Pain and swelling usually peak on day 2 or 3.
- Swelling should be gone in 7 days.
- Pain may take 2 weeks to fully go away.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Pain is not better after 3 days
- Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
- You think you need to be seen
- Your symptoms get worse

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

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