A broken wrist (a wrist fracture) usually occurs during a severe fall. A sudden twisting of the wrist by an external force may also result in this fracture. However, just because it hurts doesn’t mean it’s broken. You could have a wrist sprain.
Regardless of the injury, any sudden wrist injury should be followed up with a trip to an orthopedic specialist. Go To Ortho is the first orthopedic urgent care clinic in the Portland area. You can always come to us if you have concerns.
How Do You Know Your Wrist Is Broken?
When people ask this question, they most often want to know if they have a broken or sprained wrist. So, what’s the difference? A sprained wrist is an abnormal stretching of wrist ligaments. When these stretch suddenly, you may experience wrist pain, weakness, popping, and immediate swelling.
A wrist fracture causes similar symptoms but with crucial differences. You may have one or more of these symptoms:
- More severe pain
- Gradually increasing swelling
- A crunching or grinding sound
- Inability to move the wrist or fingers much or at all
- Bruising
- Exposed bone
- Irregular wrist position
It’s important to realize that the only way to know for sure is to have your wrist examined by a professional.
Wrist Fracture First-Aid
A broken wrist requires immediate care. If you’re bleeding, apply pressure to the wound so you don’t lose too much blood while the body sends clotting agents to stop the bleeding. If you can, rinse the wound with saline (such as contact solution) or sterile water. Next, wrap the wrist in a sterile bandage.
The best thing to do is seek emergency treatment, as you cannot set a broken wrist bone and let it heal at home.
Get the Urgent Care Your Need Now
The emergency team at Go To Ortho is always available — our team of highly trained surgeons and orthopedic experts can provide rapid care, even when you walk in without an appointment.
Delay could lead to loss of function, permanent deformity, and a lifetime of wrist pain, so don’t delay. Go To Ortho, which provides urgent care for wrist injuries. Call 503-850-9950 now to let us know you’re on the way, or click here to check-in for a visit. You can also send us a message if you have questions about our services.
