4. Tenderness
Along with swelling, bruising, and pain, you’ll also notice that tenderness may occur as a result of the injury. Some people have trouble distinguishing between tenderness and pain so we’re going to highlight a few key differences. At its base, there are two things that set pain and tenderness apart — how they occur. Pain is usually present regardless of external stimuli and can either come in acute bursts or long-lasting waves.
Tenderness, on the other hand, is a feeling of discomfort or pain that only occurs when the area is touched. Some patients suffering from a Colle’s fracture experience a combination of both pain and tenderness. They may feel a constant pain around the injury but also notice a tender reaction whenever the affected area is touched. OTC medications and ice packs will both be effective at reducing the tenderness caused by the fracture.