What Does A Broken Scaphoid Feel Like?
A broken scaphoid feels like a sharp pain in your wrist. It may hurt when you are trying to do something or even just standing still. There are different types of fractures and each one has its own feeling. Some feel like a punch in the stomach while others have a burning sensation at times. But all of them cause some sort of discomfort if not treated properly.
The most common type of scaphoid fracture is called a scaphoid fracture. It occurs when there is a break in the bone that connects your shoulder blade to your wrist joint. Most often it happens during sports such as football, basketball and hockey where players use their arms and hands to make plays. However, it can happen in other activities too such as driving a car or operating machinery.
Scaphoid Fractures Are Commonly Treated With Surgery
If you suffer from a scaphoid fracture, then surgery is usually the best option. If you don’t have any complications after surgery, then chances are good that you will experience little pain afterwards. The main reason why many people choose to ignore the pain caused by a broken scaphoid is because they think that it won’t affect them too much. In reality, not seeking treatment for a broken scaphoid is a bad idea because it can cause health complications in the future.
If you have been ignoring the pain in your wrist for months or even years, then it is important that you get it checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. Ignoring a broken scaphoid could lead to other painful conditions down the road. If left untreated you could potentially end up with problems with your arm and shoulder too.
How Is Scaphoid Pain Treated?
In most cases, a broken scaphoid is treated with a surgery to secure the bone in your wrist. This is done by replacing the fragments with a steel rod. You may also need screws or pins to keep them in place until they are strong enough to hold on their own. While this might sound scary and painful, most people only feel minor pain during and after the surgery.
After going under the knife, you will need to take it easy for at least a few weeks in order to help your bones completely heal. In some cases, you may be able to get back to normal activities within a month. It all depends on the type of work that you do. If you are a manual laborer or do something that puts stress on your wrist, then your surgeon may want to hold off for at least six weeks or more.
Scaphoid pain can be very serious if not treated in a timely manner. Not only can it lead to long-lasting permanent damage, but it can also prevent you from engaging in your favorite activities. If you ignore the pain for too long or try to “work through it,” then you could make the problem much worse and surgery may end up being your only option.
For the best treatment options, make an appointment with a doctor near you as soon as possible. They will be able to help you figure out the next steps that you should take. Don’t’ waste a single moment suffering from scaphoid pain when you don’t have to!
Sources & references used in this article:
… of scaphoid X-series, carpal box radiographs, planar tomography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of scaphoid fracture by W Roolker, MMC Tiel-van Buul, M Ritt… – Journal of Trauma …, 1997 – journals.lww.com
A review of scaphoid fracture healing in competitive athletes by JN Riester, BE Baker, JF Mosher… – The American journal of …, 1985 – journals.sagepub.com
Ultrasound for the early diagnosis of clinically suspected scaphoid fracture by JA Senall, JM Failla, JA Bouffard… – The Journal of hand …, 2004 – Elsevier
Scaphoid fracture: a new method of assessment by DW Hodgkinson, DA Nicholson, G Stewart, M Sheridan… – Clinical radiology, 1993 – Elsevier
Suspected scaphoid fractures. The value of radiographs by JJ Dias, J Thompson, NJ Barton… – The Journal of bone …, 1990 – online.boneandjoint.org.uk
