Wrist pain

[krazykiwi]

I fell in mid-December on ice and landed on my left outstretched hand. I had swelling and bruising on the wrist area and had pain but for the most part was able to use my wrist. After a week of pain I went to my primary doc who did an xray and didnt find a fracture. He  said it was just a sprain and gave me anti-inflammatories and sent me on my way. Still two weeks later the pain hadn't gone away and i felt it most on the bone on the left and right side of the wrist.

I went to an orthopedist that did an xray and said I had a hairline fracture on the radius and put a short arm cast on. It's now been 3 weeks since the cast came on and the pain has gotten worse on the bones i mentioned. So I went to a hand and wrist speciality orthopedist for a second opinion. He did another set of xrays and didnt find the fracture (or any other) of the wrist but said the pain on the bones was because of the wrist being immobilized. He relcutantly has written up an order for an MRI but doubts its anything.

I'm a bit frustrated because the pain is not any less than when I fell in December. I cant turn my hand without wincing in pain. I still have slight swelling on the original fracture site but moreso on the sides of the wrist (and pain) along with on/off swelling traveling to my fingers. Ive also had shooting pains when i bend my hand along the crease of the wrist.

1. can a hairline fracture completely heal in 2 months so that it doesnt show up on xray?
2. can there be something else wrong?

[achilles2]

I am sorry you are still having pain. You might want to look up information about a UT ligament tear:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/ulnar-wrist-pain/

I hope this helps you get your answers,

achilles2

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

Non displaced fractures take 4 weeks for complete healing and for very minor hairline fractures it is difficult to spot proper callous formation. An expert radiologist can only comment.

Go for an MRI and also rule out any soft tissue issues at your wrist joint.

Your orthopedician is right when he mentioned about stiffness. You should take NSAIDS, apply ice packs and start mobilization and consider physiotherapy after getting a go ahead when you complete your scans.

Take care!