posted
Last August a friend of mine was in a car accident. Some part of back of her hand hit the windshield hard enough to break the windshield. X-rays didn't show any fractures. The initial pain lasted approximately weeks after the accident. Since then she periodically experiences pain that doesn't seem to be weather related. We're wondering if there is tissue damage and if she should get checked out further.
Symptoms: extreme pain with certain movements constant tingling/numbness/feeling of coldness that extends to the wrist bruising (and most of the pain) b/t ring and middle finger knuckles and just below knuckles
Aside from the pain, she doesn't notice any reduced mobility, and she is able to clench her fist. The episodes last several days and in between her hand is perfectly fine.
I know very little about medicine, so I may be full of crap, but it sounded like a nerve issue. However, isn't the feeling of coldness circulation related? And what about the spontaneous bruising? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Posts: 226 | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I don't know, she'd have to be seen by someone to say. I doubt a circulation problem. Sure, she could have irritated or damaged a small nerve, damaged the bones or cartilage. Also, initial xrays can be misleading. A fracture might not have shown up right then. Pain lasting weeks, I'd probably have ordered another hand xray several days after the injury. Even now, a recent fracture might show up on an xray.
Why she is still bruising there, I have no idea, I'd have to take a look.
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Thanks, Theca. I figured she should get it checked out again, but if I tell her what you said, she might actually do it Posts: 226 | Registered: Mar 2005
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If it was me I’d go to some kind of sports doc. The regular family med doc doesn’t seem to care or know much beyond the x-ray. The sports guy would be able to say weather there’s some muscle, ligament, or tendon damage that is causing the problem. Which is probably the case. Not to mention have tons better treatment options then what you’d get at the clinic.
Posts: 2845 | Registered: Oct 2003
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Jay -- I'm sure you didn't mean for that to sound at all like a slam on the regular doctors who post here.. now did you?Posts: 9538 | Registered: Aug 2003
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