Hi, I'm a recent physio graduate, which means I have enough knowledge to make me paranoid about every little ache, without the experience to tell me that it's probably nothing, or conversely that I should go to A+E.

I've had an intermittent dull ache localized on the radial aspect of my right wrist for a while now (not sure how long but it's quite a few weeks, if not more) It's only 1-2 out of 10 on the VAS. Aggrevating factors include opening particularly stiff door handles and driving (I drive using only right hand on wheel, so it takes a beating it terms of ROM - infact now that I think about it, I've changed my driving style around it to use 2 hands and I'm quite careful now) There is no latent pain after I come out of that position. As far as I'm aware there was no mechanism of injury, but I'm quite an active 22 year old male, so there may well have been without me noticing.

There is no loss of AROM or PROM or strength at wrist, although active radial deviation is painful at end of range, but not when done passively. Gripping is painful in radial deviation, but not in any other position. Resisted movements are not painful. Palpation of scaphoid is tender in snuffbox, and anterior to adductor pollucis tendon (is that the right name?) but it doesn't feel like "my pain" particularly, and it's fairly tender on my non-symptomatic left hand... (maybe I'm pressing too hard)

As I said it's only a niggle, but should I be worried about it? - I'm aware that an untreated scaphoid # can lead to problems later in life, and conceivably avascular necrosis.. - would it be more painful if this was the case?

The factors that point to scaphoid fracture in my mind are achy pain in scaphoid locality, painful at end of range, resisted movements not painful, grip in radial deviation painful... Would you not expect passive radial deviation to be painful though?

Would be very grateful for your experienced thoughts!

Similar Threads: