Sore wrist hours after fall- any advice?

[Zippyzulu]

I fell in the snow today and put both hands out to stop my fall. Both hurt considerably straight afterwards but then eased off.
Five hours on, my right wrist is now sore on the outside, radiating down from below my pinky to under my wrist joint. It aches a little when still but hurts when I put pressure on it (first noticed when I tried peeling potatoes!). I can’t find a specific ‘sore’ spot when I press on it...
What’s the best advice? ICe it and review in the morning? It’s sore but not agonising and I’m not sure why it seems to be getting worse as time goes on

I think the only sensible advice is for you to decide if it can wait for GP tomorrow or minor injuries tonight if one is near you.

There’s no way I can get out in the snow and it’s not sore enough to warrant a trek outside anyway. Think I’m just more intrigued as to why it’s getting sorer as the night goes on, I thought I’d escaped injury!

Muscle damage? like how after you've done exercise it hurts gradually getting worse or maybe it's the bruise coming up if ice and rest it tonight see how it is in the morning.

I walked around for three weeks with pain like that after a fall - it was broken. It didn't hurt as much as I thought it would for a break. Rest it and perhaps go to a and e when you can get out.

I’m just icing it and taking ibuprofen but don’t think it’s urgent- will reassess in the morning. I somehow landed with both hands outstretched and both hurt straight away but only one is still throbbing, very strange!

The usual problem with falls is scaphoid fracture (wrist) so you should probably splint it and get an x ray in the morning.

Sounds like it could be a fracture. Get yourself to somewhere that can easily get you an x-ray.

Thanks. It’s definiely aching more as the night goes on and I just had a really good prod at it, which has made it really tender... hopefully it’ll be ok by the morning.

Do you have full mobility (usual range of movement)? Does it feel swollen?

Is it painful enough to limit you from doing usual full range of movement? -- not just a bit sore, but "omg, I DON'T want to do that" feeling.

-veteran of 3 broken arms

No it doesn’t seem swollen and I can move it fully with some pain (but not impossible).
Hopefully this means it’s just a sprain- I’ve been icing it lots and it’s aching but only ‘really’ hurts if I move it or put any pressure on it...

It could be a fracture. I did mine last year, it wasn't massively painful but a bit of research told me that untreated scaphoid fractures can often lead to arthritis in BOTH wrists (the second one is a sympathetic one).

Go to minor injuries in the morning and get it x-rayed.

Just to update, I finally got it checked and have indeed fractured my wrist! It got sorer and sorer by never reached agonising so I honestly thought it would be a sprain... thanks for all the advice

Thanks for the update - not entirely surprised it’s a fracture. I have a sports physio friend who advises that stuff that doesn’t start feeling better over 24 hours or so may well be a fracture. He also says that it’s no big deal for a small fracture if you don’t get it treated instantly but it is important to get it treated. Get well soon!

Are they actually doing anything to treat it? Is it in a sling or a cast or surgery or anything?

It’s in a splint and I’m awaiting a referral to go back to have it further assessed. Still causing quite a lot of discomfort but not sure what treatment will be needed yet...

Might i suggest you start taking a high dose of vitamin C every day, 1000 mgs? It is known to help prevent a complication associated with wrist fractures called CRPS, it is rare but devastating speaks the voice of bitter experience

Thanks, I already take vitamin c but will check the dosage!