Get answers from Hand Surgeons and top U.S. doctors, Our doctors evaluate, diagnose, prescribe, order lab tests, and recommend follow-up care. You need to be evaluated with xrays, because several things could have happened. I saw the doctor the day after I hurt my wrist. Ice: Fill a bag with ice and put it on the . Your symptoms like pain and swelling should improve as soon as you start treatment. Sprains of the wrist are fairly rare in everyday life and in the workplace. Falling on an outstretched hand pretty hard typically. Now it only hurts on the joint/ligament beneath my thumb. Sprained finger: Everything you need to know. I saw the doctor the day after I hurt my wrist. The pain switches from burning to throbbing to numb in not only my wrist but also my pinky and thumb. Wrist tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon within the wrist. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Mild wrist sprains will usually improve with home treatment that includes the RICE protocol: Additionally, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can help reduce pain and swelling. Your doctor may order imaging tests to help confirm the diagnosis. Last medically reviewed on December 21, 2020. Strengthening the muscles surrounding the wrist joint may help maintain alignment, and stretching may help prevent overstretching in the surrounding muscles and ligaments. You may sprain your wrist if you fall onto an outstretched hand. Cool down and stretch after physical activity. In other words, a person should avoid using their wrist, use an ice pack regularly, compress the wrist, and keep it elevated as much as possible. Sprains can range from a stretch or tiny tear in the fibers that make up the ligament to a complete tear through the ligament or through its attachment to the bone. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies. It felt as if my wrist was sprained & was painful for a few days. Knowing what to do, and what not to do, after sustaining this type of injury may help you heal faster and help prevent future injuries. Symptoms of a wrist sprain are: Pain Swelling Tenderness and warmth around the injury Feeling a popping or tearing in the wrist Bruising Loss of motion Weakness To diagnose a wrist sprain,. However, for more complicated ones, fractures and dislocations at the same time or those involving other small bones of the wrist, many times we see that those are more traditionally taken care of by hand surgeons. This is usually a break of the distal radius, which is one of the two bones in the forearm. Theyll look at your wrist and ask you about your symptoms. I sprained my wrist 2 days ago and I took off the bandage today (48 hours later ) it still hurts ? Treatment without surgery may be appropriate in a predynamic injury, or a mild sprain of the scapholunate ligament without changes on x-rays. While your body is mending, there are things you can do to help speed up the healing process, and there are also activities you should try to avoid. 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event, (https://www.assh.org/handcare/condition/sprained-wrist). Dr. Tyser: I would and I think that's a good summary of the recommendations. New patients can schedule an appointment online and fill out your patient information to save time. Hi, I'm Dr. Tom Miller and I'm here with Dr. Andrew Tyser and he is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand care and hand surgery. Many times they're caused by similar mechanisms. For severe wrist sprain involving a partial or a complete tear of the wrist ligament, an orthopedic surgeon will perform surgery on the wrist. Ligaments are strong, fibrous tissues that connect bones to other bones. 1 of 2. For these, please consult a doctor (virtually or in person). We look at symptoms, treatment, and how to feel more comfortable during, Wrist pain is a common complaint that can have many causes. Give your body time to rest and recover after intense activity. originally published: April 3, 2016. They will also ask about how the injury . First, it may occur after a lifetime of normal every-day use of the hand. It may not be possible to prevent all cases of sprained wrists. It is important for your doctor to evaluate even a mild wrist injury if it does not improve quickly. The proximal wrist bones articulate with the radius and ulna, while the distal carpal bones connect with the metacarpals. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Obviously for people who have long bone fractures they can't do anything until the fracture is healed. Home remedies for a sprained wrist At home, you can treat a mild wrist sprain with the RICE method: Rest. Prescription pain medications are not usually recommended. In some cases, if a sprained wrist does not improve after a period of waiting, your doctor may order additional imaging to see if there are injuries that cannot be seen on x-ray or during a physical exam. Try not to do activities that involve your. Moderate sprains may need to be immobilized with a wrist splint for one week or more. The Terry Thomas sign is a nickname for the extra space that opens between your wrist bones after some types of sprains. 28F, I went snowboarding 2 weeks ago and wore wrist guards, but still fell on my hands/wrists quite a bit. It hurts, but you're still able to move your sprained joint and bear weight in the location. Get news & offers from Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine, Mayo Clinic Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. A person should talk with their doctor about how long it may take for them to recover and when it is safe for them to return to their normal activities. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons grade sprains into three categories, ranging from mild to severe. If it doesn't, the injury is likely a sprain rather than a fracture, and it should heal on its own after a week or two. How to Treat a Sprained Wrist Dr. Miller: If you've fallen on your wrist and you think it may just be a strain, is there anything you should be doing between the time you decide that you need to see the doctor? Overuse wrist injuries are also common in sports, such as racquet sports, gymnastics, golf, weightlifting, etc. Alternate 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere. I went to express care and they took x rays of my wrist they said it was sprained and put me in a brace i think it is broke or fractured because it still hurts and i can kinda move my hand in the brace but it still hurts ? Pain and swelling can develop over several days and may last anywhere from a few days to six weeks. X-ray imaging will show bone fractures and wrist bones alignment. I have severe, constant pain in my thumb that has worsened. Talk to a healthcare provider before taking pain relievers for more than 10 days in a row. To learn more, please visit our. Dr Knight has appeared on CNN, The Doctors TV, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Oxygen network and more. When this happens, it is very likely that the hand or wrist bends or twists forcefully. All material on this website is protected by copyright. The doctor will likely need to reassess the wrist and recommend additional therapies, such as surgery. Pain and swelling can develop over several days and may last anywhere from a few days to six weeks. Consider immobilizing your wrist with a brace or splint to prevent movement in the joint. How do I treat my sprained hand/wrist? Sprains, Strains and Other Soft-Tissue Injuries. If the pain is significant, you could try some over the counter pain . A mild wrist sprain can be treated in urgent care facilities using home care treatments. Could it be more than a sprain? It can occur in an elbow, wrist, finger, thigh, or elsewhere. Wrist sprains are common injuries that are usually caused by falls or sports injuries. It was extremely painful for the first two weeks: a 7 on the pain scale. Visit a healthcare provider if youre experiencing wrist pain and other symptoms that dont get better after a few days of at-home treatments. In an arthrogram, a special dye is injected into the wrist joint. But wrist pain also can result from long-term problems, such as repetitive stress, arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. For mild wrist sprain involving a stretched ligament, non-surgical treatment can be administered. Attempt to keep the wrist straight during most activities. Its named after British comic Terry Thomas because the gap in the wrist bones resembles the gap between Terry Thomas front teeth. X-rays. Wrist injuries are common and can happen to anyone during everyday activities. This makes the joint and ligaments show up more clearly on an imaging study. An unrecognized fracture of the scaphoid bone may be mistaken for a wrist sprain. More severe sprains happen when you tear a ligament. Carpal ligament injuries, pathomechanics, and classification. I sprained my wrist over a month ago, I have been using a wrist splint but it still hurts extremely bad. Surgery may involve a minimally invasive procedure called arthroscopy. Could be strained/sprained, does she need to see a doc? We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. I went to express care and they took x rays of my wrist they said it was sprained and put me in a brace i think it is broke or fractured because it still hurts and i can kinda move my hand in the brace but it still hurts ? It typically hurts when you try to move the wrist, grasp objects (especially heavy objects), or with twisting motions. For non-surgical wrist sprain, recovery usually takes a short time (about 1 to 2 weeks). How do you treat sprained hands and wrists? At that point, they typically have either a reduction of the fracture, meaning putting the bone back in place and setting it and a splint placed. A person should talk with their doctor if they suspect that they have injured their wrist. These small fractures frequently do not require surgery and may heal on their own. This is true of all orthopedic injuries. Located out of the area? Dont play through the pain if your wrist hurts during or after physical activity. The doctors said it will pass and it isn't broken-just by looking at it. This information is provided as an educational service and is not intended to serve as medical advice.