Could I have fracture, nothing showed on x-ray?!
Question: Could I have fracture, nothing showed on x-ray!?
I fell and hit my hand and wrist on asphalt 5 days ago!. I had excruciating pain at the time!. Have been wearing an immobilizer since!. I went for an x-ray the next morning, "no clear fracture" noted at the time!. I still have moderate pain all the time and take pain meds every 6hrs to be comfortable!. Last noc I noticed the tiny fluid filled blisters formed mostly in a line on the back of my hand!. I also have alot of itching since yesterday!. I do have history of shingles in the past also!. I have limited ROM and increased pain when attempting to grip,etc!. My question is could there be a fracture!? If so, how to diagnose and how to treat!? I would appreciate a reply, I hate to return to doctor if not necessary!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
You can have a hairline fracture otherwise known as an "occult" fracture!. It can be seen on x-ray about one week after the injury because the bones are laying down new calcium on the fracture site, thus making it more visible!.
I doubt that the blisters are shingles!. It would be an unusual presentation!. When you have had them in the past haven't they formed a longer, more linear pattern and been on an arm or on the chest!? Also they were redder and much more painful!. I'm thinking this is your skin reacting to local swelling and injury and it should subside on it's on shortly!. Are they small, rather superficial, easily popped open and ignored!? Except for the itching!? Get rid of the swelling and let your skin get back to normal size, it'll feel better!.
As for your injury: at this point you should be using a warm pack 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off to increase blood flow and help with the healing!. Some people like the results they get using hot/cold therapy!. Either way only leave the hot or the cold on for no longer than 20 minutes!. Keep your arm elevated!. It's no fun walking around with your hand in the air like the Statue of Liberty but gravity will help pull any swelling off!. The more your hand is in a downward position the more it will swell or stay swollen!.
Advil 600mg every 6 hours with food will help as an anti-inflammatory and help to reduce pain!. Keep your brace or compression wrap on to help limit movement but you can try taking it off periodically throughout the day and doing some very slow stretches and massages of the area to keep things from stiffening up!. Do not do this to the point of it being painful!. It's just to help loosen things up!. Not get into shape for sign language class!.
Whether or not you have an occult fracture you certainly hurt your hand/wrist and it might take awhile to get better!. Unfortunately, I mean weeks!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
I doubt that the blisters are shingles!. It would be an unusual presentation!. When you have had them in the past haven't they formed a longer, more linear pattern and been on an arm or on the chest!? Also they were redder and much more painful!. I'm thinking this is your skin reacting to local swelling and injury and it should subside on it's on shortly!. Are they small, rather superficial, easily popped open and ignored!? Except for the itching!? Get rid of the swelling and let your skin get back to normal size, it'll feel better!.
As for your injury: at this point you should be using a warm pack 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off to increase blood flow and help with the healing!. Some people like the results they get using hot/cold therapy!. Either way only leave the hot or the cold on for no longer than 20 minutes!. Keep your arm elevated!. It's no fun walking around with your hand in the air like the Statue of Liberty but gravity will help pull any swelling off!. The more your hand is in a downward position the more it will swell or stay swollen!.
Advil 600mg every 6 hours with food will help as an anti-inflammatory and help to reduce pain!. Keep your brace or compression wrap on to help limit movement but you can try taking it off periodically throughout the day and doing some very slow stretches and massages of the area to keep things from stiffening up!. Do not do this to the point of it being painful!. It's just to help loosen things up!. Not get into shape for sign language class!.
Whether or not you have an occult fracture you certainly hurt your hand/wrist and it might take awhile to get better!. Unfortunately, I mean weeks!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
The same thing happened to me!.
Well, the fracture not showing up part!.
It probably IS fractured, it just might have been too small to tell!. Just keep you're brace or imobilizer on!.
You might have soft tissue damage, which might be causing the really bad pain when you try to grip something!.
If I were you, i would try to not use that arm for a week or so!.
As for the blisters, I dont know about that!.
I hope this helped you!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
Well, the fracture not showing up part!.
It probably IS fractured, it just might have been too small to tell!. Just keep you're brace or imobilizer on!.
You might have soft tissue damage, which might be causing the really bad pain when you try to grip something!.
If I were you, i would try to not use that arm for a week or so!.
As for the blisters, I dont know about that!.
I hope this helped you!.
Www@Answer-Health@Com
Sometimes, your bones doesn't brake or fracture in result of an accident but they displace and the pain you feel is because your bone is where your muscle's supposed to be!. These don't show on X-ray normally but a good orthopedist can see it with the naked eye!. I'd say return to the doctor!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Go back to the doctor, explain and show him what has happen since your last visit!. you have damaged a part of the hand that movement will cause you more damage!. Blisters and pain!.
Cheers Www@Answer-Health@Com
Cheers Www@Answer-Health@Com
Rarely one comes across a hair line fracture that did not show up on the initial xray that becomes visible on follow up xrays!. However, a sprain can be very painful almost as much as a fracture and can be slow to heal as well!. The blisters, now that is baffling!. Not a sign of any fracture I have ever seen!. It could be shingles!. If you are still experiencing pain 5 days after the injury, follow up with your doctor!. A repeat x ray may show a missed hair line fracture!. If no fracture is present, you may have a severe sprain or some ligament or tendon damage!. If you are still requiring pain meds 5 days out, I would go back to the doctor!. Hope you feel better soon!.Www@Answer-Health@Com