25% of wrist injuries such as carpal instability and dislocations are missed in clinics and on radiographs. If doctors occasionally struggle to identify these issues, it only makes sense that a patient would. It helps to know what to look for beyond the obvious symptoms. Read on to learn about five subtle dislocated wrist symptoms to look out for.
1. Widespread Pain and Swelling
A certain level of hand and wrist pain is normal. It may come from strenuous or repetitive activities and get worse with age stress, or certain medical conditions. Harsh pain or swelling during rest is one of the most common dislocated wrist symptoms. It may get even worse when you try to move your wrist up or down. The problem is that you can misread where it’s coming from. The pain may start at your wrist and go all the way to the forearm. This can trick you into thinking you have a different injury such as a broken arm. It can prevent you from getting the right treatment.
2. Visibile Deformities
The wrist has 8 bones known as carpals. They’re arranged in two rows and allow for movement and flexibility. Traumatic wrist injuries may only dislodge one bone, but that doesn’t make them any less serious. They can bend all of the others that are connected to it out of shape. You may notice a visible deformity in your hand, wrist, or elbow. They may curl in or get forced up or down. These deformities aren’t always as noticeable as they are with other joint dislocations. You do need to look out for them because they are a subtle sign that a doctor can look for during a diagnosis.
3. Tingling or Numbness
Certain wrist problems, including dislocations, can cause bones to press against the nerves in your wrist. This can make your fingers tingle or go numb. That feeling is a sign of an even more serious issue: nerve damage. Without treatment, it creates widespread numbness or tingling across your entire wrist or arm.
4. Loss of Grip
Have you noticed that you can’t grab onto or hold anything? This is a symptom of various issues but also a sneaky sign of a wrist injury. A dislocated wrist deconditions the muscles in your hand and wrist and makes them weaker. The resulting pain and inflammation are also difficult to overcome.
5. Inability to Move
A severe wrist dislocation may leave you unable to move your wrist or hand at all. This is primarily due to a lack of nerve function. The part of your brain that’s telling your wrist to move isn’t working the way it should.
Treatment for Dislocated Wrist Symptoms
Not all dislocated wrist symptoms are obvious. The condition may go undiagnosed, ignored, or mistaken for another injury. Pay attention to the less obvious signs. You may have deformities, pain, swelling, tingling, or numbness that spread down your arm. Your grip may start to loosen, or you may be completely unable to move your wrist. Make an appointment to have a professional diagnose and treat your dislocated wrist today.
