When Should I Go to the Doctor for a Swollen Wrist?

A swollen wrist that looks puffy and engorged results from fluid building up in your tissues. Swelling may occur to protect an injury and promote healing, but it can also be a sign that you should see a doctor. Here’s what you need to know about managing a swollen wrist.

Common Causes of a Swollen Wrist

a person’s arm with a wristband on it by Luigi Estuye, LUCREATIVE® is licensed with Unsplash License

Many things can cause a swollen wrist. Reviewing the possible culprits may help you better understand your condition.

Injury

If you fall on your wrist or experience an impact trauma, swelling is likely to result. The injury could be a simple strain or a serious fracture. Review the red flags in this article to determine whether it’s appropriate to see a doctor.

Arthritis

There are two primary forms of arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in the wrist breaks down, leaving the bones to rub against one another. Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by an immune condition where the body attacks the joints. Arthritis causes swelling, stiffness, and pain. If you have arthritis, you should see a doctor to determine the best treatment plan, which may include medication, physical therapy, or surgery.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Swelling in the wrist can cause carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the median nerve in the forearm gets compressed where it passes through the wrist. In addition to swelling, carpal tunnel can cause numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hand and fingers. In serious or persistent cases, your doctor may treat carpal tunnel syndrome with surgery to ease the compression.

Ganglion Cysts

A ganglion cyst is a swollen lump of synovial fluid under the skin. It can be painless and harmless, but you should have your doctor examine the cyst to make sure it’s nothing more serious. If the cyst is uncomfortable or hinders your range of motion, you may need to have it drained or surgically removed.

Tendonitis

If you put a lot of strain on your wrist, you’re at risk of tendonitis. Wrist tendonitis is common among mothers who carry babies or toddlers for long hours each day. The rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) method is often effective for tendonitis. However, you may need surgery if your wrist doesn’t improve after several months. A surgeon can remove damaged tissue from around the tendon or release tension on the tendon by making small cuts in it.

When To Seek Medical Attention

If you ignore a severe wrist injury, you may lose your strength or range of motion, so it’s important to treat it promptly. Also, an untreated injury can contribute to arthritis in your joints. The following signs indicate that you should see a doctor about your wrist injury, but you should trust your instincts and contact a medical professional for any swelling that’s causing you concern.

Red Flags: Severe Pain and Deformity

If you’re in severe pain, it’s never too soon to see a doctor. You may have a fractured wrist that requires stabilization. You should also see a doctor if you experience numbness or tingling, as these symptoms could indicate a nerve injury.

If your wrist is noticeably misshapen, you should see a doctor immediately. A wrist deformity may indicate a displaced fracture where the bones have moved out of place.

Open Wounds

If you have an open wound from a wrist injury, this can indicate serious damage. A small scrape may not be cause for concern, but a gaping wound is a serious problem that may result from a fractured wrist.

An open fracture is a broken bone that breaks through the skin. The bone requires treatment, but the broken skin presents a threat as well. An infected wound may have a discharge or unpleasant smell and requires immediate treatment. The wound must be cleaned and dressed properly to prevent infection.

Signs of Infection

It’s important to address signs of infection as soon as they present themselves. Symptoms include:

• Warmth around the injury
• Tenderness at the injury site
• Body aches and pains
• Redness around the wound or red streaks on the skin
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit

Untreated infections are extremely serious, as they can lead to sepsis, which is a potentially fatal condition. Even those who recover from sepsis may have long-term complications, including decreased cognitive function, joint and muscle pain, and even organ failure.

Persistent Symptoms Despite Home Care

If you have a minor wrist injury, you can often treat it with the RICE method:

• Rest: Don’t use your injured wrist.
• Ice: Ice your wrist periodically for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
• Compression: Wrap your wrist tightly with a bandage, beginning on the inside of the wrist, circling the wrist twice, and wrapping around the hand in a figure-eight pattern until only the fingertips are visible.
• Elevation: Raise your wrist to a position above heart level while you’re resting or sleeping to help the swelling go down.

Over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen, may help with the initial pain associated with a wrist injury.

With proper home care, a minor wrist injury should improve noticeably within 10 days. The pain should decrease within three days, and your wrist should stop hurting when it’s immobile. If your wrist hurts consistently, even when you’re not moving it, this is a sign of a more serious problem. If you don’t see a major improvement in your wrist pain and swelling after a week and a half, you should see a doctor. If your pain worsens with home care, you should go to a doctor as soon as possible.

Contact The Hand and Wrist Institute

If you’re concerned about your wrist swelling, contact our team at The Hand and Wrist Institute in Texas. We can help diagnose your condition and develop a treatment plan to relieve your pain and swelling and restore your comfort, strength, and range of motion. Make your appointment now.

Dr. John Knight

Dr. Knight is a renowned hand, wrist and upper extremity surgeon with over 25 years of experience. Dr. Knight is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Fellowship trained. Dr Knight has appeared on CNN, The Doctors TV, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Oxygen network and more.