A broken or fractured wrist requires immediate medical attention. If your wrist is broken, you may experience the following symptoms: Severe pain that gets worse when trying to grip or squeeze something. Swelling, stiffness, and difficulty moving your hand or your fingers. Tenderness and pain when applying pressure. Numbness in your hand. An obvious deformity involving your hand positioned at an angle that is not normal. With a severe break, the skin may be split open and bleeding, and protruding bone may be visible. A delay in seeking proper medical treatment for a broken wrist can impair healing. This can cause problems with your getting back your normal range of motion, as well as resuming the ability to properly grasp and hold objects. Your doctor will examine your wrist, and possibly do imaging tests like X-rays to see if there are any fractures or broken bones. The scaphoid bone is a boat-shaped bone located on the outside of other bones in your wrist, and closest to your thumb. There is no clear indication when this bone is broken. The wrist does not appear deformed and there is little swelling. Symptoms of a broken scaphoid bone include the following: Pain and tenderness to the touch. Difficulty gripping an object. A general improvement in pain after a few days, then return of the pain, felt as a dull ache. Severe pain and tenderness is felt when pressure is applied to tendons that are located between your thumb and hand. See a doctor for a diagnosis if you have these symptoms. You will need help from a healthcare professional since diagnosing a broken scaphoid bone is not always clearly evident. If your wrist is bleeding, extremely swollen, and if you are experiencing intense pain, you need to be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible. Other symptoms that warrant medical attention for your wrist injury include pain when trying to turn your wrist, move your hand, and move your fingers. You need to be examined immediately by a doctor if you are unable to move your wrist, hand, or fingers. If your injury is thought to be minor and you proceed with treatment at home, see a doctor if the pain and swelling lasts for more than a few days, or if symptoms begin to worsen.

Summary:
Be sure your wrist is not broken. Do not delay in seeking medical care. Watch for signs that your scaphoid bone may be broken. Seek medical attention for severe symptoms.