Should I go to doctor about wrist pain 6-12 months after an accident?

[NorbertDentressangle]

About 6-12 months ago I fell over (not drunk I might add ) on a wet pavement. I landed full force on my knees and one outstretched hand.

The following day I did go to our local MIU as one knee was very swollen and painful and I was also having problems moving my wrist which was painful. Also I have osteopenia so bones aren't as strong as they should be.

They X-rayed my wrist from one angle but said it was fine.

However fast forward 6-12 months and I still can't put weight through my wrist without it hurting - if I'm sitting on the floor for example and put my hand flat on the floor I can't put weight through it to help me get up IYSWIM.

So what are the chances of me having done some damage they missed? And if so will it have healed wrongly so be too late to rectify? Will the fact that it doesn't affect me all the time/isn't painful all the time mean that they'll just say it's just something I'll have to live with?

[MimsyBorogroves]

Definitely go and get it checked. My mum did similar and has ongoing nerve damage - she is having treatment which is working for her.

[NorbertDentressangle]

Thank you Mimsy. Glad your Mum's treatment is working for her.

Did your Mum have much pain or just occasionally eg. when putting weight through it?

[MimsyBorogroves]

It tended to be through specific use - lots of driving, putting weight on it in a certain way, holding grandchildren's hands and being pulled enthusiastically(!) etc. She found a wrist support very helpful, particularly for work and driving, and also had regular injections for a while into the base of her thumb, though she's having these less often now. They're also saying physio as a longterm management.

Her injury was from a fall in the street - she put her hand down and her wrist gave out under her. They X-rayed a couple of days later and there was nothing to be seen.

[NorbertDentressangle]

Thank you Mimsy.

It sounds like she may be having pain more frequently that me but it's certainly made me think about the hidden damage that can be caused but not show up on Xray.

[Banderchang]

I had wrist pain after a fall and it was successfully sorted with surgery 4 years after the accident. My pain was similar to yours: I couldn't bear weight with my hand (had to quit yoga), then it worsened and any kind of gripping became painful (writing, toothbrush, etc). I had an mri scan and it turned out that the problem was the capitate bone. The bone next to it had misaligned and had rubbed some of the surface off the capitate bone. I had surgery which involved drilling lots of tiny holes into the surface of the capitate bone so it regenerated a new surface. 4 week recovery and bingo. No further problems, and this was 15 years ago now.

Worth pursuing some more imaging, I reckon, as wrists are very complicated and an x Ray might not see everything. Good luck!

[NorbertDentressangle]

Thank you Banderchang.

Pleased to hear that yours is problem free now.