While wrist sprains can be excruciatingly painful, they are frequently treatable. A sprained wrist will usually heal on its own. There are a few things you may do to relieve the discomfort of a wrist sprain and hasten the healing process. Rest your wrist for a few days, ice it every few hours for 20-30 minutes. Take anti-inflammatory medications if needed.
The best way to heal a sprain is by resting the injured part and taking painkillers if you have them. You should try not to move or shake out the wrist too much because this could make the injury worse. Be sure to keep the arm up above your head when sleeping so that it does not pull on the wound again.
If you work with your hands often, like in a job where you use tools, then you should see a doctor before you go back to work. They may want to put some kind of brace on your wrist to protect it from further injury. Also, your doctor might suggest some exercises for strengthening the muscles around the joint in order to reduce your risk of re-injuring it.
Healing time depends on how severe the sprain is but typically it takes about four to six weeks. At first, you may experience some pain when moving your wrist, but over time this should diminish. It's important not to force yourself to move your wrist too early as this could cause additional damage to the ligaments and tendons.
Your Instructions for Care Your wrist hurts because the ligaments that link the bones in your wrist have been stretched or damaged. Wrist sprains typically recover in 2 to 10 weeks, although some take longer. The more painful your wrist sprain is, the more severe it is and the longer it will take to recover. Most patients are able to return to normal activities after 8 weeks, but some may need up to a year.
During your first week of recovery, you should rest your injured hand as much as possible and use cold packs or heat wraps to relieve pain and swelling. After the first 7 days, your wrist should be feeling better, but you should still avoid heavy tasks for an additional 3 months. If you don't follow these instructions, your wrist pain could last longer than expected or make other problems worse.
Healing time varies depending on how severe your injury is. If you're only stretching or pulling on the ligaments, then their healing process will be quicker. If you're also tearing muscle fibers, then that will take longer to repair. Regardless of the severity of your injury, you should be able to resume normal activity within four to six weeks.
If you aren't sure when you can start lifting weights again, it's best to wait until your doctor gives the all-clear.
Your wrist hurts because the ligaments that link the bones in your wrist have been stretched or damaged. Wrist ligament injuries can also be called "dislocations" if one of the bones has moved out of its normal position. In this case, you should see a doctor immediately so that any additional damage can be prevented.
In general, the ligaments in your wrist heal at the same time as other muscles and tissues in your body. However, since each wrist is different, the healing process may take place slowly or quickly, depending on the severity of the injury.
If you have suffered a wrist sprain, the first thing you need to do is seek medical help from an orthopedic surgeon or another qualified physician. A doctor will be able to give you appropriate treatment based on the cause of your injury. For example, if it's found to be related to work, you might be offered a job accommodation such as rest or modified work duties. This would help avoid further injuries while you recovered.
After the initial examination, your doctor will want to know about any other injuries you may have (such as broken bones), as well as previous problems with your wrists.
Wrist sprains should be treated as soon as possible with ice and rest. Ice should be used for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours for the first few days after an accident to alleviate pain and inflammation. Chemical ice packs should not be used directly to the skin since they might induce frostbite. Instead, use a bag of frozen peas or corn to provide similar cooling effects.
After the first few days, light activity can be resumed if the child is able to use his or her arm properly. A splint may be required to keep the injured arm in place while it heals. The doctor may recommend some simple exercises to help prevent stiffness and improve range of motion.
If your child has a sprain that has been going on for several weeks, see his or her doctor to determine the best course of action. An injury this severe may require surgery to realign the bones back into place.
You may help the healing process by doing the following: