Painful hand/wrist. Fractured or bruised?

[Coldhands]

I went out last Friday night and got way too drunk. I have been told that I fell out of the taxi and my wrist has been quite painful all week when moved in a certain direction or if I press down with it.

I have still been driving, that doesn't affect it and neither does typing but it has been a week and the pain isn't getting any better. I thought a bruise would have started to heal now.

Could it be fractured or just a bad bruise?

It could be a fracture but it's hard to tell without being telepathic and not having x-ray vision.

Is it swollen?

You are best off popping to A&E so the lovely radiographers can zap it for you. Where abouts does it hurt? If it's below the thumb then you could have a scaphiod fracture, these are a PITA to be honest, there's a few bones in your hand though so if you give me a clue where the pain is I can guess.

Sorry about the hint of sarcasm, I'm hungry and waiting for a pizza!

Its not swollen at all. It does hurt quite a bit below the thumb and across the bottom of my hand on the side facing up (not the palm) when I bend my hand back, as if I was going to lean it on a surface. Its quite a sharp pain.

No problem, I didn't mind.

You might have bust your scaphoid.

get an x ray but it's hard to see - at least they can tell you how to rest it properly etc.

Oh blimey, just read belle's post! Well I'll post mine anyway because that way you have extra pressure to go

Darn, that sounds like a scaphiod problem. To be honest, a scaphiod fracture doesn't show up on an x-ray until about 7-10 days so you've saved yourself a dose by not going to A&E for an x-ray earlier. You do need to go though, the scaphiod is one of the most important bones in your hand, if the fracture is bad enough to split it then it will cause problems in that hand for a very long time so it needs looking at within the next few days, if it's fractured then they will have to do something (not a plaster I'm afraid) to join the sides together . Sorry

Could also be a fracture of the trapezium, it's more likely to be scaphoid though. I'm willing to bet a bar of lindt chocolate on it.

Oh god! I was thinking I was just being a bit dramatic and it was probably a bruise.

Looks like I will have to get it looked at then. Thanks ladies.

It's always best to get things checked out. If it hurts in a specific spot, is really painful if you move it in a certain way then it needs checking.

I hope it's OK though