What Does a Stress Fracture Feel Like in Your Hand?

Overuse injuries account for nearly 50% of all sports injuries, like stress fractures. Although stress fractures commonly occur in feet. However, gym freaks or weightlifting athletes can experience them in their hands as well. So, what does a stress fracture feel like? Let’s find out.

What Is a Stress Fracture?

A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone. It’s a type of bone fracture (which means a broken bone). Stress fractures live up to their names. They happen when there’s too much stress on a bone.

Healthcare providers often refer to them as overuse injuries. This is because they usually occur from repeated use of the same body part. You might also hear them called hairline fractures, which describe the thin crack that forms in the bone.

Symptoms of Stress Fracture in Hand

Stress fractures in the hand are a rare occurrence. However, they can occur. The ulna is the bone in the upper arm that is most often affected. Some symptoms of a stress fracture in the hand include:

• Localized Pain: Such pain focuses on one specific area of the hand. It usually gets worse with activity and better with rest.
• Swelling and Tenderness: Swelling around the injured area and tenderness when you touch it.
• Weakness: A noticeable decrease in grip strength or trouble doing tasks that need hand use.
• Pain During Movement: More pain when moving the wrist or fingers, especially when gripping or lifting.
• Rare Bruising: Bruising can happen, but it’s less common with stress fractures than with other types of fractures.

How Painful is Stress Fracture?

A stress fracture feels like a constant mild to moderate pain in the hand. It starts with a dull ache that gets worse with activity and better with rest. The degree of pain can become sharper and more intense over time. You might also experience swelling and tenderness in the affected area.

Stress Fracture Treatment

Following are some effective approaches to treat a stress fracture in hand:

• Consult a Doctor: Get medical advice for a proper diagnosis and treatment options. This might include using a brace or splint to keep the hand still.
• Pain Management: Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen can help with discomfort. However, avoid NSAIDs because they might slow down healing.
• Physical Therapy: Once you start to heal, physical therapy can help rebuild strength and flexibility with exercises designed for your recovery.
• Surgical Treatment: Most stress fractures in the hand don’t need surgery and can be treated with rest, ice, compression, and a cast or splint. However, surgery becomes necessary in severe cases where the fracture doesn’t heal properly. You might also need it if the bone fragments are badly dislocated. This kind of surgery involves using screws or plates to hold the bone together.

How Long Does a Stress Fracture Take to Heal?

A stress fracture in the hand usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal. The exact healing time can vary depending on how severe the fracture is and individual health factors. More serious or long-term stress fractures can take longer to heal.

Wrapping Up

Stress fracture is the most common injury that occurs in physically active people. It can happen anywhere in the body. So, if you wonder, “What does a stress fracture feel like?” It feels the same as any other bone fracture. Only a proper diagnosis can help identify it.

Visit Dr. Luo at Randy Y. Luo, MD, MBA. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializes in treating injuries to the hand and upper extremities. Dial any of the following numbers to book an appointment.

Houston: (713) 794-3307
Houston: (713) 799-2300
SugarLand: (713) 794-3457