All rights reserved. Surgery is more likely when a person has sustained a complete ligament tear. The American Society for Surgery of the Hand suggest that people keep their fingers moving throughout recovery from a wrist injury. If you have chronic pain, you may need surgery. This might happen during everyday activities, but frequently occurs during sports and outdoor recreation. I sprained my wrist over a month ago, I have been using a wrist splint but it still hurts extremely bad. It usually takes a few weeks to recover from a sprained wrist. Learn. While ice is best right after an injury, heat can promote healing and reduce pain a day or 2 after the injury. updated: May 18, 2018 Dr. Knight is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Fellowship trained. They can range from mild to severe, depending on how much damage there is to the ligaments. Often, the cause of a sprain is a sudden twist, impact, or movement that overstretches or pushes the wrist in a direction that it does not typically go. For an accurate diagnosis of a wrist sprain, the primary care doctor must obtain a detailed medical history, and occupational or work history on the patient. This information is provided as an educational service and is not intended to serve as medical advice. How do you treat sprained hands and wrists? I sprained my litle finger six weeks ago and its still swollen and hurts my whole side of hamd till wrist when I use it. Dont play sports or do any activity that can put more stress on your wrist. Taking too much medication may also dull the pain to the point that your symptoms are masked. Because so many factors can lead to wrist pain, diagnosing the exact cause can be difficult. Some specific causes of sprained wrists can include: According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, outdoor activities and sports are common causes of injuries to the wrists. The proximal wrist bones articulate with the radius and ulna, while the distal carpal bones connect with the metacarpals. Over-the-counter pain medicine like NSAIDs or acetaminophen can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. If you have a moderate or severe injury, recovery might last 6 to 8 weeks. Talk to your provider before resuming physical activities or playing sports. Consultant Cardiologist. According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the two most common ligaments that people sprain are the scapholunate ligament (which is located in the middle of the wrist) and the triangular fibrocartilage complex (which is located near the outside of the wrist). Daughters wrist swollen for 2 wks 3 days Drs said its sprain then hand & fingers swelled 2 days ago. originally published: April 3, 2016. Tell them if that movement hurts or when it hurts most. If it's not, that may be a good time to get evaluated. Surgery involves reconnecting the ligament to the bone or using a tendon graft to reconstruct the injured ligament. Dr. Knight may be able to help you virtually with an online virtual consultation. HealthTap uses cookies to enhance your site experience and for analytics and advertising purposes. Immediate pain,couldnt move.4 days later can move but still very painful to touch and bit swollen. A wrist sprain is often characterized by pain, tenderness, swelling, and stiffness of the wrist joint. A grade II sprain - more serious but still incomplete ligament tear, with some joint looseness. Make sure your home and workspace are free of clutter that could trip you or others. Under certain weather conditions, such as during ice storms or after a snowfall, a wrist sprain is commonly caused by a fall in which a person lands on outstretched arm. It typically hurts when you try to move the wrist, grasp objects (especially heavy objects), or with twisting motions. The injury may take longer to heal if you suffer from diabetes or if you smoke. However, recovery following surgery can take about 8 to 12 weeks or months (6 to 12 months) for a full recovery. This is especially important if the injury causes persistent wrist pain. Many general orthopedic surgeons are more than qualified to take care of the routine, distal radius and other wrist fractures. The length of the recovery process and your outcomes will depend on the severity of the sprain. After evaluating the hand and reviewing symptoms, the doctor will determine if the patients can continue treatment in an urgent care facility or be referred to a hand surgeon or specialist for further treatment. So he diagnosed a sprained wrist. That said, this time frame can change based on the severity of the injury or tear. Staying in the game: Preventing common hand and wrist injuries in basketball [Blog]. Sprains are usually painful. More severe injuries may require open surgery. All rights reserved. Athletes, busy parents, and active people of all types are often tempted to shake it off or tough it out, but this is not a good idea if you want your wrist to heal as quickly as possible. Wrist pain is often caused by sprains or fractures from sudden injuries. For example, a person may wish to squeeze a stress ball or other semisoft ball for 1520 seconds and repeat this three times per day to help strengthen the wrist. If pain and swelling persist for more than 48 hours, however, see a doctor. Rest: Move your thumb as little as possible to keep the sprain from getting worse. It is important for your doctor to evaluate even a mild wrist injury if it does not improve quickly. Or go to the doctor for an X-ray? I did not injure it, though it does seem to be swollen on the read more. A mild wrist sprain will start feeling better 24 to 48 hours after you start treatment. Surgery may involve a minimally invasive procedure called arthroscopy. Avoid using your wrist for 48 hours. Your provider might suggest you wear a brace or splint on your affected wrist. There are several different ligaments in the wrist that a person could sprain. For more information, please see our Even a small slip or fall onto an outstretched hand can injure your wrist, but just how bad is it? The scapholunate ligament that connects your scaphoid and lunate bones is the most commonly sprained ligament. In most cases, a sprained wrist will heal on its own and you can treat it at home. If your wrist starts to hurt or swell long after a break, see your doctor for an evaluation. The pain occurs in the location of the injury and is often felt in multiple locations around the joint. In this weather condition, the ground is slippery and the chance of a slip is high. It is very important that the doctor rule out confounding diagnosis since wrist sprain shares similar symptoms with other hand injuries. A sprained wrist is often swollen and painful, especially with motion. Doctors typically provide answers within 24 hours. Ice and a splint or gentle wrap may be helpful for the first few days after a wrist sprain. 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. Your provider will diagnose your injury and suggest treatments thatll get you back to your usual activities as soon as possible. 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,. Surgery is followed by a period of rehabilitation that includes exercises to strengthen your wrist and restore range of motion. Seek immediate attention if you have numbness or circulation problems. Is this a sprain? Anyone seeking specific orthopaedic advice or assistance should consult his or her orthopaedic surgeon, or locate one in your area through the AAOS Find an Orthopaedist program on this website. Dr. Tyser: Right where your wrist bends. This is risky because it allows you to use your wrist when you should be resting it, potentially making the injury worse. However, there are some steps a person can take to reduce their risk of injury. When the cast comes off, it is very common to have significant weakness and stiffness. The wrist may look like it's not straight. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Many people choose to take over-the-counter medications to help relieve the pain and swelling caused by a sprained wrist. Although an x-ray will not show the ligaments themselves, it can suggest a ligament injury if the wrist bones do not line up correctly. Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies. Dr. Miller: How would you know? (iced in the 3rd week)? This type of compression brace, or taping, supports the wrist by applying additional compression at the far end of the radius and ulna to assist with preventing spreading of these two bones. A person will typically experience pain when they sprain their wrist. This is especially true for athletes who do repetitive motions or other activities that strain the wrists. It might be hard to move or use your affected wrist. All Rights Reserved. Sometimes people that are skiing or participating in other sports that take a hard fall unexpectedly have that fracture. When a sprain occurs, a person will likely feel pain and may have symptoms such as swelling or bruising in the affected area. It may not be possible to prevent all cases of sprained wrists. Give your body time to rest and recover after intense activity. Can I have done other damage? Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? Diagram of the scapholunate ligament (circled), which is commonly injured with a sprained wrist. Doctoral Degree. Included are details on how to recognize a sprain from a break. 1 doctor answer 2 doctors weighed in Share Dr. Francisco Schwartz-Fernandes answered 27 years experience You need a doctor: I need more details to answer. 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. Where is that? Diagnosis Your doctor will examine your wrist to see where it hurts and to check how it moves. According to one article, a doctor may be able to diagnose the issue with an examination. We avoid using tertiary references. This makes the joint and ligaments show up more clearly on an imaging study. Which is really the most important thing., Hand and Wrist Institute. Whether you get a sprained wrist from playing volleyball or slipping on the ice, the recovery process is the same. Instead, healthcare providers sometimes call it the David Letterman sign or Madonna sign. A person should also wear a splint to help immobilize the joint. A sprained wrist is often swollen and painful, especially with motion. 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. AAOS does not endorse any treatments, procedures, products, or physicians referenced herein. If you are overly concerned, usually your body will tell you if things are getting better or not. If the injury involves the tendons that cross the wrist joint or structures deep within the joint, further imaging may be needed such as a magnetic resonance image (MRI) or ultrasound. Could you take ibuprofen or aspirin? Welcome. Your doctor will then carefully exam your wrist to see where it hurts and to check how it moves. Symptoms A jammed finger is characterized by swelling and stiffness. Dr. Miller: So you're a hand surgeon, a specialist? If more information is needed, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, computerized tomography (CT) scan, or arthrogram may also be ordered. You need to be evaluated with xrays, because several things could have happened. A physical and occupational therapist can help patients who have undergone surgery for wrist sprain to recover fully. Try not to do activities that involve your. There are a couple of other smaller bones in the wrist that also sometimes get broken, but they're a little bit less common.