Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooColles' Fracture

But how do you know if you have a Colles’ fracture? A fracture should be ruled out if you have injured your wrist, for example by falling on an outstretched arm. A broken wrist usually causes sudden pain, swelling and bruising, and it may be difficult to move. The wrist may look bent or out of place, or feel numb (NHS, 2026; AAOS, n.d.). It can be hard to tell whether a wrist is broken or badly sprained, so you will probably need an X-ray (NHS, 2026). Get medical advice as soon as possible if you think you have broken your wrist (NHS, 2026).

Call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital if, after a wrist injury

• Your fingers are numb, tingling or pale
• Your wrist looks badly bent, out of place or at an odd angle
• A bone is sticking out of the skin, or you have a cut that is bleeding heavily
• You have severe pain that does not get better or gets worse, or severe pain when someone gently straightens your fingers
• You have new weakness or trouble bending your thumb or index finger

(NHS, 2026; AAOS, n.d.)

2. Ice

Gently hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel to the injured area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours (NHS, 2026). Make sure you keep the cast or splint dry when using ice (AAOS, n.d.).

3. Pain Relief Medication

The NHS (2026) says you can use painkillers such as paracetamol, or ibuprofen gel, if a healthcare professional has advised you to. AAOS (n.d.) notes that your doctor may recommend taking ibuprofen and paracetamol (called acetaminophen in the US) together to help control pain and swelling, if your medical conditions allow. (This medicine information comes from the NHS and AAOS, not from me. Always check with a pharmacist or your family doctor or nurse practitioner before taking any medicine.)

4. Exercise

After casting or surgery, start moving your fingers as soon as possible, and tell your doctor if you cannot fully move them within 24 hours because of pain or swelling (AAOS, n.d.). Follow the exercise advice you are given by the hospital and your physiotherapist (NHS, 2026). At first, exercises should be gentle, so do not overdo it. Your wrist may be stiff and weak after the cast is removed, and a physiotherapist can help with this (NHS, 2026). I can help too, with hands-on work and exercises to get your wrist and hand moving and strong again, in step with your fracture team's plan. See the My Approach tab for how I work.

These treatments are carried out by your hospital or fracture clinic team. Always follow their instructions.

Options outside my scope

• Resetting the wrist (reduction): if the broken bone has moved out of place, a doctor may move it back into position without making a cut. You will be given medicine beforehand to reduce or stop the pain (AAOS, n.d.; NHS, 2026).
• Splint and cast: a splint is usually used at first to allow for swelling, and a plaster cast may be put on later. Your team will tell you how long you need it (AAOS, n.d.; NHS, 2026).
• X-rays: regular X-rays may be taken to check that the bone is healing in the right position (AAOS, n.d.).
• Surgery: if the bone cannot be put back or kept in the correct position with a cast, a surgeon may fix it with metal plates, screws, pins or a frame outside the body (external fixation) (AAOS, n.d.).

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

• Easing the forearm, shoulder and neck while your wrist is in a cast
• Swelling, stiffness and scar care once your team allows
• Wrist, hand and grip strength exercises in step with your team's plan

It usually takes around 6 to 12 weeks to recover from a broken wrist, and longer if the break was severe (NHS, 2026).

I don't stretch or load across the fracture until your team says it has healed, and I avoid heat over any metalwork. If you have osteoporosis, I keep pressure and joint work gentle. If your fingers go numb, pale or cold, or your cast feels too tight, call 911 or go to the emergency room. Severe pain that isn't settling should be checked by your doctor (see Complications).