This list of four things to avoid doing when you have a sprained wrist is a good starting point, but as with any other type of injury, follow your doctors recommendations. Orthopedic surgeon and hand specialist Dr. Andrew Tyser lends his expertise on this episode of The Specialists, and explains what to look out for when it comes to wrist injuries. Redness and warmth are often observed in recently sprained wrists. We avoid using tertiary references. And so the long-term chances of missing it, the long term consequences of missing it aren't too common to see because people do not wait that long to actually go get it evaluated. They will also ask about how the injury . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It hurts, but you're still able to move your sprained joint and bear weight in the location. Ice and a splint or gentle wrap may be helpful for the first few days after a wrist sprain. Privacy Policy. What could be the issue. Or go to the doctor for an X-ray? I saw the doctor the day after I hurt my wrist. ">, DNV GL Public Information Policy Statement. Other symptoms may include: Even a wrist injury that seems mild with minimal swelling could still involve a torn ligament and require surgery to avoid long-term problems. Healing can often take several weeks, but recovery is usually excellent. Proper diagnosis and treatment of wrist injuries is necessary to avoid long-term problems, including chronic pain, stiffness, and arthritis. 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. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. You might also need magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography (CT) scan. Is it swollen? , 19 Dec. 2018, www.emedicinehealth.com/sprained_wrist/article_em.htm#what_are_risk_factors_for_a_wrist_sprain. Pain and swelling can develop over several days and may last anywhere from a few days to six weeks. A person can sprain their wrist through sudden movements, by falling, or during contact sports. Take only the recommended amount of medication. Two of the common ones are the scapholunate ligament, in the middle of the wrist between the scaphoid and lunate bones (Figure 2), and the TFCC (triangular fibrocartilage complex) on the outside of the wrist. Dont play through the pain if your wrist hurts during or after physical activity. The pain occurs in the location of the injury and is often felt in multiple locations around the joint. These symptoms include: bruising. MRI scan and CT scan aided by an arthrogram, a special dye that can be injected into the wrist joint to assess ligament tears, can be used to obtain accurate pictures of the wrist and ligaments. After discussing your medical history and general health, your doctor will ask about any previous injuries to your hand or wrist. Wrist sprains are common during snowfall or ice storms. For non-surgical wrist sprain, recovery usually takes a short time (about 1 to 2 weeks). Theyll insert tiny instruments to repair the wrist joint and its ligaments. Can I have done other damage? 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 may not be possible to prevent all cases of sprained wrists. Anyone who experiences thumb pain, particularly if it lasts longer than a few days should see a . Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in less than one minute for common issues such as: colds and coughs, stomach symptoms, bladder infections, rashes, and more. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Arthritis in the wrist follows three general patterns. That's the typical area that breaks. 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? If symptoms do not improve after a reasonable period of time, additional imaging may be ordered to look for a more serious injury. Minor sprains can heal in as few as 2 weeks. It may be difficult, but the best thing to do is rest and give your body the chance to heal on its own. Your surgeon will make a small incision (cut) and insert a small camera (arthroscope) to look at your bones and ligaments. Dont rush your recovery. Symptoms of a wrist sprain vary depending on the extent and the location of the sprain. Ligaments of the wrist are injured with a sprained wrist. Talk to your provider before resuming physical activities or playing sports. It might be hard to move or use your affected wrist. Policy. Dr. Tyser: About six weeks. In the case of a severe wrist sprain with either a partial or complete ligament tear, it is important that the patient is referred to a specialist, particularly a hand and wrist surgeon. The purpose of the exam and x-rays is to make sure there are no broken bones, dislocated joints, or signs of a full ligament tear (Figure 3). However, in many cases the wrist looks pretty normal, maybe a little bit swollen and it's not as clear. During sports or other physical activities: Follow these general safety tips to reduce your risk of an injury: You should expect to make a full recovery after a sprained wrist. By contrast, a sprained wrist affects a persons ligaments. It usually takes a few weeks to recover from a sprained wrist. Visit a healthcare provider to make sure you didnt damage the bones or other tissue in your wrist when you were hurt. They will likely examine the persons wrist and have the person perform movement tests to check for pain and mobility issues. Appointments 216.444.2606 Appointments & Locations If you have chronic pain, you may need surgery. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. pain that worsens when you . With mild injuries, stiffness is normal once the ligament begins to heal. This is true of all orthopedic injuries. There may be bruising. See a hand specialist? Leant backward on hand holding my son.Clear X-ray day of injury. If you are overly concerned, usually your body will tell you if things are getting better or not. There's popping too. Daughters wrist swollen for 2 wks 3 days Drs said its sprain then hand & fingers swelled 2 days ago. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a person does not typically need to undergo surgery for a wrist sprain. The doctor will likely need to reassess the wrist and recommend additional therapies, such as surgery. In some individuals, the wrist will become swollen and tender with ecchymosis (bruising with blue-black discoloration). Turn on a heating pad or soak a towel in hot water. A sprained wrist happens when something stretches your wrist ligaments enough to damage them. 28F, I went snowboarding 2 weeks ago and wore wrist guards, but still fell on my hands/wrists quite a bit. Wrist injuries are common and can happen to anyone during everyday activities. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It's on the thumb side of the wrist and about an inch or so right before your wrist bends. Up-to-date information sent to your inbox. Symptoms of a broken wrist are the same in both children and adults. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. For more information, please see our Often, treatment can consist of applying ice, resting, and taking over-the-counter pain relief medications. A mild wrist sprain will start feeling better 24 to 48 hours after you start treatment. Dr. Tyser: Right where your wrist bends. 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. Diagram of the scapholunate ligament (circled), which is commonly injured with a sprained wrist. This article looks at the causes and symptoms of wrist pain, as well as risk factors and, Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. I sprained both of my wrists 4 months ago, they still continuley hurt, why is that? When I fell my right wrist hurt like crazy as well and could hardly move it or grip stuff or turn taps/bottles etc for about 2 weeks. Dr. Pietro Seni answered Orthopedic Surgery 49 years experience Need x-ray or MRI: They are several possible reasons:occult fracture, ligamentous damage, inflamed tendons.Usually diagnostic studies such as x-ras and MRI are needed to confirm a diagnosis. Suitable Most People:Palm width: 6.5cm-10cm/2.56in-3.94in. Use two hands to lift and hold heavier objects. In that case it's pretty obviously going to be a wrist fracture. How Long Does it Take to Recover From a Wrist Sprain? Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency. Full recovery time usually depends on the severity of the sprain, treatment option, age of the patient, pre-existing conditions, and rehabilitation exercises after treatment. In many cases a sprained wrist is a one-time event, but after you have sustained this type of injury you are at a higher risk for reinjury if you dont take preventive action, potentially leading to chronic wrist sprains. If more information is needed, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, computerized tomography (CT) scan, or arthrogram may also be ordered. That is, could you ice it? Many general orthopedic surgeons are more than qualified to take care of the routine, distal radius and other wrist fractures. Your doctor will then carefully exam your wrist to see where it hurts and to check how it moves. If the pain is significant, you could try some over the counter pain . Sprained finger: Everything you need to know. Most wrist sprains have a positive prognosis. A doctor will need to assess the injury and determine the best treatment options to prevent either more invasive treatment later or permanent damage to the wrist. A grade II sprain - more serious but still incomplete ligament tear, with some joint looseness. AAOS does not endorse any treatments, procedures, products, or physicians referenced herein. Using this search tool means you agree to the, 2023 American Society for Surgery of the Hand, from the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, Patah Pergelangan Sendi Tangan - Wrist Fracture.