The medical term applied to a broken wrist is a distal radius fracture. The radial bone is the large bone in the forearm, and the area near your wrist is referred to as the distal end of the arm. The treatment of a fractured wrist depends on the extent of the break; open fractures puncture the skin of the arm and may need to be reset with surgery. A breakage in more than one section of the wrist may also call for surgical treatment. Immediate medical attention should be sought if you suspect you have fractured your wrist.
Instructions
1. Seek medical attention at a hospital or other facility that has the ability to X-ray your wrist. X-rays will tell your doctor how severely the bone is broken and if surgery is necessary.
2. Keep your arm elevated while you are waiting to be seen by the doctor. This helps reduce the swelling in your arm. Severe swelling may mean that you need to wear a splint for a few days before a cast can be applied to your wrist.
3. Agree to surgery if your wrist fracture has caused your arm to rest at an odd angle. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons calls this "deformed" and explains that sometimes surgery is required in order to realign the forearm bones to avoid permanent disability in the future.
4. Control the pain from your broken wrist by taking pain medication exactly as directed by your doctor. You may be offered prescription drugs post-surgery, but most people find relief with over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
5. Keep your cast dry while bathing so that it will remain functional to keep your arm rigid. Cover your arm with a plastic bag to avoid the plaster or fiberglass from becoming soggy.
6. Schedule a follow-up appointment with your physician to check your progress. Most wrist fractures are set in a cast for 6 weeks, at which point the cast is removed. A splint is then worn for a period of time determined by your doctor.
7. Attend physical therapy sessions after your cast has been removed. The therapists will show you exercises to do--both at your sessions and at home--to strengthen your muscles and to regain your range of motion.
8. Resume sports and other vigorous activities with the permission of your doctor. Most people with a healing wrist fracture are cleared for returning to sports within a few weeks of the cast-removal. You may be advised to wait a bit longer for full contact sports such as football.
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