{"id":10033,"date":"2019-09-04T12:20:53","date_gmt":"2019-09-04T12:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=10033"},"modified":"2021-06-23T15:23:53","modified_gmt":"2021-06-23T15:23:53","slug":"14-frequent-symptoms-of-colles-fracture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-frequent-symptoms-of-colles-fracture\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Frequent Symptoms of Colles Fracture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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While the Colles fracture may sound like a very complex and intricate medical condition, it\u2019s actually just the official term used to describe a wrist fracture. There are two bones in your forearm, and the radius is the larger one of the pair. Believe it or not, the radius is actually the bone in the arm that gets broken most often. This is due to its inconvenient placement and susceptibility to impact injuries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Colles fracture describes a form of radius break when the broken bone fragment is pointed in an upward direction. Abraham Colles, the revered Irish surgeon, was the first person to describe this injury and thus it was named in his honor. There are many things that could lead to a Colles fracture, but age and gender do play a role in this risk assessment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today we\u2019re going to take you through the eight common symptoms of Colles fracture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As you can imagine, any fracture-based injury <\/a>is bound to cause a lot of pain to you. The pain will generally be centered on the area of the break but isn\u2019t entirely localized. You might notice some pain leeching out to the surrounding areas. The pain will likely be intensified if you touch it, apply pressure, or attempt to move it in any way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why doctors attempt to immobilize the affected bone so that it doesn\u2019t constantly move which isn\u2019t only painful but can also cause further damage.OTC drugs such as Tylenol and Advil may help with the pain caused by the injury. That being said, you should avoid taking drugs unless instructed by the physician attending to you. This is especially true if you\u2019re currently on other medications that may cause a conflict when mixed with ibuprofen or other OTCs. Pain is hard to deal with, but complications are far more annoying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Swelling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Much like most injuries, your broken bones will bleed. This usually isn\u2019t life-threatening \u2014 except in some extreme cases \u2014 but it can lead to swelling. This form of swelling is called edema<\/a>. There are a few things that you can do to reduce the swelling in the fractured area. Elevating your injury and applying ice for 20 minutes has been shown to work in most patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, you should refrain from doing so if your doctor advises against it. If they have no issue with it then you should be applying ice 20 minutes out of every hour for the first two days after the initial injury. After the two days have passed, you can reduce the time to 10 minutes and only apply the ice around three times a day unless you need it more frequently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Bruising<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bruises <\/a>are a form of contusion \u2014 closed wounds \u2014 that occur whenever your body endures a traumatic injury. When you break a bone, the fragments can cut into capillaries and force them to burst. The blood will then gather beneath your skin which is what causes the blue texture associated with bruises. Much like with swelling, you can use ice to treat the bruise so that it gradually dissipates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alternatively, heat can also be utilized to improve the blood flow to the area and drain out the pool of blood that\u2019s causing the blueing. Elevation also works on bruising much like swelling because it allows any pooled up blood to escape from the site of the injury. Various studies have also shown that ingesting vitamin C could help clear up bruises faster. Whichever route you take, just be sure to stick to the treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Tenderness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Along with swelling, bruising, and pain, you\u2019ll also notice that tenderness <\/a>may occur as a result of the injury. Some people have trouble distinguishing between tenderness and pain so we\u2019re going to highlight a few key differences. At its base, there are two things that set pain and tenderness apart \u2014 how they occur. Pain is usually present regardless of external stimuli and can either come in acute bursts or long-lasting waves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tenderness, on the other hand, is a feeling of discomfort or pain that only occurs when the area is touched. Some patients suffering from a Colle’s fracture experience a combination of both pain and tenderness. They may feel a constant pain around the injury but also notice a tender reaction whenever the affected area is touched. OTC medications and ice packs will both be effective at reducing the tenderness caused by the fracture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Hanging wrist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The radius is the bone that holds your wrist in place. It keeps it upright and in the correct orientation. If it is fractured then you might notice your wrist hanging in an irregular way. This symptom is exactly why most patients with a broken wrist <\/a>are advised to refrain from driving or operating heavy machinery until their injury as fully subsided. When looking at Colles fractures, the average healing time can range from 4-6 weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, there are other factors that can influence the total amount of time spent healing. Proper treatment could help the injury heal faster while detrimental activities such as attempting to drive can actually slow the healing process. We know that not driving for over a month is hard, but surely if our ancestors fared without cars for millennia we can survive 4-6 weeks using public transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Carpal tunnel syndrome<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There have been various studies showing that traumatic injuries can actually lead to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome<\/a>. In these cases, it\u2019s often only one hand that is affected by the condition rather than both. If you\u2019re not familiar with carpal tunnel syndrome, it\u2019s a relatively common condition that could lead to a feeling of numbness and\/or pain around your arm and hand. It can make tasks like typing rather difficult, posing a serious occupational risk to writers who rely on their fingers to pay bills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sensations of a numb burn or itch in your palm can be indicative of carpal tunnel syndrome. If you notice the symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome developing shortly after a Colles fracture then you should head to your doctor so they can treat it early on if it is indeed a case of CTS as early treatment yields better results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Pale fingers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are some instances in which a broken one can actually obstruct the normal flow of blood to a certain area of your body. While this is relatively rare, some cases of Colles fracture<\/a> can actually pinch the blood vessels in your wrist area and make it impossible for enough blood to reach your fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will lead to them taking on a pale appearance. A tingling feeling will often accompany the paleness. If the blood flow isn\u2019t restored then the hand may start to cramp up and experience increasing levels of pain. As soon as you notice your fingers becoming paler you should head to your doctor so that they can provide the appropriate treatment and restore the flow of blood to your hand. When it comes to circulation issues, early detection is the best way to prevent further damage from occurring at the site of the injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Numb wrist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Much like with the above symptom, a numb <\/a>wrist might develop if the bone fragment released due to your Colles fracture presses on a blood vessel and thus restricts the free flow of blood through it. The numbness in your wrist may be relatively slight at first but then increase in severity as time goes on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The numbness may not seem like anything more than a mild nuisance, but it\u2019s still important that you bring it to the attention of your doctor so that he can restore the flow of blood to that area before you experience more intense symptoms. As we like to say, nipping problems at the bud is the best way to ensure that your garden doesn\u2019t become infested with weeds. If you feel even a slight numbness you should still report it to your doctor whether over the phone or in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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