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In case of emergency: call 112
Call 112 in Luxembourg if you have a serious injury, severe bleeding that is difficult to control, a visible bone or a hand that has suddenly become cold, pale or blue with loss of sensation or movement. A rapid change after trauma or under a cast may signal a circulation or compression problem.
Indicate your location, what happened and the symptoms. Follow the operator’s instructions. Do not drive yourself if your condition or the use of your arm makes the journey dangerous. Do not wait for a response from the practice or delay calling to complete an online questionnaire. It is not necessary for all the signs to be present together.
Understand the picture
Three levels to choose the next step
Immediately
Serious injury, threatened circulation, signs of stroke or associated cardiac symptoms.
Same day or quickly
Possible infection, a bite, or lost movement after an injury. The circulation changes described above require immediate help.
Without unnecessary delay
Progressive weakness, persistent numbness, persistently swollen joints, or unusual recovery.
Sudden weakness can come from somewhere other than the hand
Sudden weakness in one arm, especially with an asymmetrical face or difficulty speaking, may be a sign of stroke. Call 112 even if symptoms improve. Note the start time if you know it; Don’t look for a wrist exercise first.
Arm pain accompanied by chest tightness, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea or discomfort may also be a cardiac emergency. The symptoms are not always the same in everyone. Localized pain in the elbow does not rule out this risk when these general signs appear. An emergency cannot be confirmed by a test carried out at home.
After a fall, blow or cut
Severe pain, deformity, significant swelling or the inability to use the hand normally after an accident requires rapid assessment. A loss of sensation or a change in color heightens the urgency. Support the limb, avoid loading and do not attempt to put a joint or bone back into place.
A small cut can reach a tendon or nerve. Have a new loss of flexion or extension assessed, a fingertip that droops, or a thumb that has become unstable. Being able to still move does not exclude any injury. Pain near the thumb after a fall may require checking the scaphoid despite a normal initial x-ray; follow the suggested follow-up.
Redness, heat, wound or bite
A very hot, swollen, painful joint or bursa requires same-day evaluation, especially with fever, chills, or malaise. An infection can sometimes be present without a high fever. A leaking wound, spreading redness or increasing pain should be reported promptly.
A human or animal bite to the hand warrants prompt medical attention, even if the opening is small. Care may include deep tissue assessment, infection, and vaccinations depending on the setting. Do not puncture a fluid-filled swelling or use an old antibiotic as your sole treatment. If your general condition deteriorates significantly, seek urgent help.
Under a cast, splint or after an operation
Suddenly numb, cold, white or blue fingers, significant increasing pain or new difficulty moving them require urgent evaluation. Swelling can make a device too tight. Do not assume that these signs must be tolerated because immobilization has been prescribed.
Also contact the team if the cast breaks, becomes very loose, smells bad or leaks. After surgery, fever, spreading redness, or an opening wound should be evaluated. Do not cut a cast, modify an orthopaedic tendon splint, or massage a recent wound without instructions. Ask for a suitable professional solution.
Chapter sources [2]
Numbness and weakness: seek medical advice promptly
Brief tingling in one position can have several causes. On the other hand, numbness that becomes permanent, objects dropping, increasing weakness of the thumb or muscle wasting merits rapid medical advice. A nerve can lose function with little pain.
Describe what has changed and since when. Sudden weakness is part of the urgent approach described above, particularly with associated neurological signs. Progressive weakness should not simply be treated with more strengthening. General exercises and nerve movements are not a substitute for examination, investigation of the cause and, if necessary, specialist referral.
In everyday life
Prepare a call without delaying help
Where and since when
Indicate your location and time of start or accident.
What changes
Describe color, warmth, sensation, movement and general condition.
What was done
Mention casts, operations, wounds and treatments, without waiting to collect all the documents.
Persistent swelling, mass and unusual recovery
Several small, persistently swollen joints, significant morning stiffness and persistent discomfort justify a consultation promptly. A rheumatology opinion may be necessary even if a first blood test is normal. Don’t wait for a deformity to seek help.
A new or growing mass should be examined before it is considered a benign ganglion cyst. After an injury, very significant pain with hypersensitivity and changes in color or temperature warrants reevaluation. CRPS is one possibility among others; infection, compression and healing issues should also be considered. A known symptom should not automatically explain any new changes.
When to schedule a consultation and how to prepare
Without urgent signs, make an appointment if the pain interferes with sleep or activities, returns regularly, worsens or does not show improvement with reasonable adaptations. For mild wrist pain, the absence of improvement after approximately two weeks of simple care is reason for consultation; do not wait this time if the signs described above are present.
Note the onset, possible accident, fingers involved, changes in strength and difficult tasks. Bring the reports, treatments and instructions already received. If you do not know how to interpret a worsening, seek medical advice. This guide provides guidelines and cannot assess your individual situation or replace emergency services.
Your questions
Should we wait until we have several warning signs?
No. Just one important sign may warrant urgent help, such as a cold, discolored hand after an injury or sudden weakness in the arm. Do not delay the process to check if other symptoms appear.
Does a normal x-ray make any pain after a fall safe?
No. Some scaphoid fractures and soft tissue injuries may require additional follow-up. Respect the protection and follow-up offered. Worsening, loss of sensation, or function that does not return warrants further evaluation.
Chapter sources [5]
Can I send a message to the office for an emergency?
The callback form and practice contact details do not guarantee an immediate response. For an emergency in Luxembourg, call 112. KinéCheck does not replace this service and should not delay care.
Sources and references
- [1] CGDIS · Appeler le 112
- [2] NHS: Broken arm or wrist
- [3] NHS · Stroke: symptoms
- [4] NHS · Heart attack
- [5] BSSH: Scaphoid fracture standards
- [6] BSSH: Mallet finger injury
- [7] BSSH: Extensor tendon injury
- [8] NHS: Animal and human bites
- [9] NHS: Wrist pain
- [10] AAOS OrthoInfo: Olecranon bursitis
- [11] AAOS · Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, clinical practice guideline (2024)
- [12] BSSH: Cubital tunnel syndrome
- [13] NICE NG100: Rheumatoid arthritis in adults
- [14] BSSH: Ganglion cysts
- [15] NHS · Complex regional pain syndrome: diagnosis
- [16] Kiné Diddeleng · Première visite
- [17] Kiné Diddeleng · Contact
Text updated on
Medical review: awaiting Hasib Selimovic.