The Hand and Wrist

Few parts of our body help us in our daily lives as much as our hands and wrists. Injury or pain in the hand may cause you concern, but it is usually a minor problem that can be solved with home treatments.

If you experience a serious hand or wrist injury, such as dropping a heavy object on your hand or closing it in a door, seek medical attention if you experience any of the following:

• You hear a snap or pop at the time of the injury

• You experience severe swelling within the first 30 minutes of injury

• There is numbness, tingling or change of color

• Your finger, hand or wrist looks twisted, bent or otherwise out of its normal position

• You experience instability or loss of normal movement in your hand, fingers or wrist.

• You also should seek immediate medical attention if you have crushed your finger or hand between two heavy objects. Other, less severe injuries may be treated at home.