When falling while standing or walking, our first instinct is to lower our hands to soften the force. Did you know this simple act is also one of the most common culprits of hand and wrist injuries? Fractures, breaks, sprains, and more can result from these small yet impactful motions.
Lingering pain, swelling at the impact site, discomfort, etc., are all reasons for x-rays to be performed. Once diagnosed, the best course of action will be determined for recovery.
The navicular bone (also known as the scaphoid) is between the base of the thumb and the radius, which is one of the two long bones in the forearm. This bone is generally the most affected in falling injuries. Gripping can be especially painful in the presence of navicular fractures, along with pain and swelling near the thumb.
In older adults, fractures in the radius are common following a fall on the hand. Pain, swelling, and bruising indicate an issue with the extremity. Treatments for navicular fractures include casts, splinters, and a post-heal physical therapy session. Since the blood flow in that region is poor, hand and wrist pain can last weeks or months after a fall.
Some of the treatments and physiotherapy programs for sprains include:
- Splints
- Cold therapy
- Exercises
- NSAIDs
- Injections
Rehabilitation is a vital aspect of healing navicular bone injuries since a long immobilization time is needed to recover in the first place.
If you’ve fallen on your hand or wrist, we can help! The experts at Michigan Hand & Wrist can assist in getting your healing underway.
Michigan Hand & Wrist was founded in 2001 with the mission to provide the highest-quality care for patients seeking surgical or non-surgical hand or upper extremity relief. Our goal is to exhaust all non-operative measures before discussing or moving on to surgical interventions. We offer on-site physical therapy from therapists committed to improving your quality of life. Our individualized treatments are modern, progressive, and exceptional. Contact us today at www.michiganhandandwrist.com or call 248-596-0412.
Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.