Forearm pain after a fall: what to know

Tenderness, bruising, and discomfort with movement can occur after a soft-tissue injury, but they do not rule out a bone injury. A crooked appearance, grinding sensation, or inability to rotate the palm up and down is concerning. Numbness or tingling can mean a nerve is irritated or compressed. [Forearm Pain](/symptoms/forearm-pain/) covers symptom patterns; [Tennis Elbow](/conditions/tennis-elbow/) and [Golfer's Elbow](/conditions/golfers-elbow/) are tendon conditions that are less typical explanations for pain that began immediately after a fall.

Stop using the injured arm for lifting and keep it supported in the position that feels most comfortable. Apply a cold pack wrapped in cloth for short periods to help with swelling. Remove rings or tight items early if swelling is developing. Do not try to straighten a visibly bent arm or push a joint back into place. Arrange medical assessment when pain is significant, movement is limited, or the injury is not clearly improving.

Seek urgent care for deformity, an open wound over a painful area, rapidly increasing swelling, severe pain, or inability to move the wrist, fingers, or elbow. A pale, blue, or cold hand, loss of feeling, or weak finger movement can signal a circulation or nerve problem. Even without these signs, persistent focal tenderness after a fall may require examination and imaging.

Ask which bones and joints need examination, whether an X-ray or other imaging is appropriate, and how the arm should be supported. Ask when to begin gentle movement and which activities to avoid while healing.