How long does it take for a broken wrist to stop hurting?
A cast might be needed for six to eight weeks, and sometimes even longer depending on the severity of the break. More severe breaks may take as long as six months to fully heal. Discomfort or pain may continue for months or even years after your injury.
Is distal radius fracture painful?
While bone wrist fractures are more severe than others, the most common sign of a break in the distal radius is intense pain. A broken wrist is also characterized by swelling. In some cases, the swelling can get so bad that is becomes difficult or nearly impossible to move the injured hand or wrist.
How long does it take to recover from distal radius fracture?
Fractures of the distal radius usually need about 4-6 weeks for clinical bone healing, though sometimes it can take longer. It may take another 6-12 months to regain motion, strength, and function. Many people find they are resuming most of their daily activities about 3-4 months after a broken wrist.
Do you need physical therapy after broken wrist?
Distal radius fractures—as these injuries are called—are often serious and may require surgery, but regardless of what treatment is needed, physical therapy will be essential to ensure that you have a complete recovery.
Can you still move a broken wrist?
When the wrist is broken, there is pain and swelling. It can be hard to move or use the hand and wrist. Some people can still move or use the hand or wrist even if there is a broken bone.
Can I move my fingers with a broken wrist?
Some people can still move or use the hand or wrist even if there is a broken bone. Swelling or a bone out of place can make the wrist appear deformed. There is often pain right around the break and with finger movement. Sometimes the fingers tingle or feel numb at the tips.
What does a distal radius fracture feel like?
Symptoms. When you have a distal radius fracture, you will almost always have a history of a fall or some other kind of trauma. You will usually have pain and swelling in the forearm or wrist. You may have a deformity in the shape of the wrist if the fracture is bad enough.
When can I start exercising after broken wrist?
It is important that you start to exercise your arm as soon as your cast is removed. By exercising and regaining normal movements, the feeling of stiffness and pain will gradually subside. You may find the elbow and shoulder joints are stiff too, so keep these moving if they are not injured.
Why Does My wrist still hurt after cast removal?
It is normal for your wrist to feel vulnerable once out of plaster because it hasn’t been moved for a long time. It is important that swelling, pain, strength and stiffness are addressed following the removal of the plaster. It is normal to have some pain once your cast comes off.
How long after broken wrist can you drive?
The timeframes suggested by surgeons after which patients could return to driving following a wrist fracture varied from zero to 12 weeks following the injury.
How long will I be off work with a broken wrist?
In general terms your wrist will take six to eight weeks to heal fully and during this time you will be unable to lift heavy items or do heavy manual work. However if you can do office-based duties you can potentially return to work with your plaster on before this time.
Why does my broken wrist hurt more at night?
During the night, there is a drop in the stress hormone cortisol which has an anti-inflammatory response. There is less inflammation, less healing, so the damage to bone due to the above conditions accelerates in the night, with pain as the side-effect.
How long does it take to heal a distal radius fracture?
Because the kinds of distal radius fractures are so varied and the treatment options are so broad, recovery is different for each individual. Talk to your doctor for specific information about your recovery program and return to daily activities. Most fractures hurt moderately for a few days to a couple of weeks.
What kind of pain does a distal radius fracture cause?
Distal radius fractures are a common injury that cause pain and disability. The purpose of this study was to describe the pain and disabilities experienced by patients with a distal radius fracture in the first year following fracture.
How long is cast immobilization in distal radius fractures?
ConclusionIncluded studies showed that there might be a preference for a shorter period of immobilization in nonoperatively treated distal radius fractures. Therefore, shortening the period of immobilization in distal radial fractures to a maximum of three weeks should be considered.
When to see a doctor for a distal radius fracture?
Distal Radius Fracture (Colles Fracture) A broken wrist usually causes pain and swelling, and frequently causes a deformity, causing the wrist to look bent. See your doctor for a diagnosis. The doctor will take an X-ray of the wrist. The fracture is almost always about 1 inch from the end of the bone.