Quick and Easy Sprained Wrist Treatment Options

A sprained wrist refers to the damage caused to the ligaments that connect the bones in the wrist. Ligaments are strong, flexible, fibrous tissues that hold bones together. When a ligament stretches beyond its normal range of motion or tears, it results in a sprain.

A sprained wrist can cause discomfort, swelling, and limited mobility in the affected wrist, and it's essential to seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Causes of a sprained wrist

The most common causes of a sprained wrist are:

• Falling: Falling on an outstretched hand can stress the ligaments in the wrist and cause them to stretch or tear.
• Twisting the wrist: Twisting the wrist forcefully can also put stress on the ligaments and cause a sprain.
• Playing sports: Sports that involve a lot of hand-eye coordination, such as basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics, can increase the risk of a sprained wrist.
• Car accidents: Car accidents can also cause sprained wrists, especially if the driver or passenger is not wearing a seatbelt.
• Work-related injuries: Some occupations, such as construction and factory work, can increase the risk of a sprained wrist due to repetitive movements or lifting heavy objects.

The severity of a sprained wrist can range from mild to severe. Mild sprains may cause pain, swelling, and bruising. More severe sprains may also cause numbness, weakness, and difficulty moving the wrist.

Symptoms of Sprained Wrist

The most common symptoms of a sprained wrist are:

• Pain: The pain may be mild or severe and worse when moving the wrist.
• Swelling: The wrist may become swollen and red.
• Bruising: The skin around the wrist may become bruised.
• Weakness: The wrist may feel weak and unable to move as well as usual.
• Numbness: The wrist may feel numb.

Easy Sprained Wrist Treatment Options

Find the most effective sprained wrist treatment here!

Treatment at Home

Many times, wrist sprains can be treated at home with standard care. Medium advice is always seeking medical treatment before treating your wrist injuries (especially if you're in a major hurry).

RICE Method

Here is a wordy abbreviation that might be useful if you've ever had joint issues. It could be your back, knee, wrist, or any other joint — but suffice to say that RICE ("Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation") can help get things back on track.

Rest

Stop doing activities or movements that hurt your wrists. A wrist splint may remind you to keep your wrist still and let it heal. Though resting can be hard, it is an incredibly important part of healing.

Heat and cold therapy

Heat and cold therapy are two complementary healing therapies that each have their own very specific uses. The first thing you should do immediately upon experiencing an injury is to place a cold therapy pack on the affected area.

This will help bring down the swelling and reduce any sort of pain you are currently experiencing. After the initial stages are over, you can use heat to aid in healing the injured area.

A Sacksythyme's Microwaveable herbal heating pad will increase blood flow to the area, improving healing time. Cold packs should NOT be left on for more than 15 minutes at a time, as it can cause your blood vessels to constrict and impede circulation.

Compression

Sprains are common in young people, especially if they go to or from school. When an injury occurs that involves the snapping or tearing of a ligament, it's called a sprain.

The main symptom of an ankle sprain is applying ice and wrapping the injured ankle in a compressed bandage. Avoid exaggeration, however; you don't want to restrict lymph flow by putting too much pressure on the area.

Elevation

Elevating your wrist is the best way to promote healing after an injury. To do this, place a few pillows under your hand on the sofa or bed so that your wrist can be lifted above the level of your heart for around 15 minutes at a time. It would be best to try to elevate your wrist soon after you've sustained the injury and when you are sleeping or relaxing.

Stretches and Exercises

One has to be careful when it comes to wrist pain. We know that you are eager to resume your regular physical activities. But you can't rush yourself.

Start with some warm-up exercises, follow that up with a good stretch, and finally, do some strengthening activity. Later on, check on how the affected area is doing, and if everything seems fine, go for a full range of motion exercises.

Wait until your wrist has healed and you're cleared for contact by your physician or physical therapist before taking part in any exercises to help build up the strength surrounding the injury.

It is also advisable to consider stretching as much as possible to help increase the blood circulation around your injured area, inhibiting any scar tissue from forming.

Painkillers

When an individual's wrist is injured, they should consider taking time to address the pain. In many cases, those suffering from a wrist sprain experience severe discomfort and can treat it easily with over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve). Speak with a physician before beginning any new medication to avoid unwanted side effects.

Medical Treatment

If you've suffered a moderate or severe sprain, there's a good chance you're also dealing with a lot of pain and swelling. However, with medical treatment, it is possible to help the ligaments in your sprain heal properly so that long-term issues don't keep popping up for you.

Below, you'll find more information about what to expect when going through medical treatment for this type of issue.

Splints and casts

When you have an injured wrist, a splint or cast will keep it immobilized for the time being and help prevent further damage to your wrist.

When ready you should gently try moving your wrists outwards to keep them from stiffening, these braces have soft fabric within the hard plastic so they won't hinder all of your movements while you're using them.

The only thing you need to be aware of is that it's recommended to wear one briefly because it can affect how mobile your muscles are and cause stiffness.

Physical Therapy

A physical therapist will do wonders for your wrists. They'll guide you through some simple movements every day to work on getting your wrists back to normal and teach you about doing specific stretches/ exercises that will help with your recovery.

If you decide on surgery, they'll be right there by your side throughout the process, helping you regain full mobility so you can start doing everything you want!

Surgery

Surgery for sprains is reserved for the most severe cases. Suppose you need to figure out whether or not you need to go under the knife. In that case, a top orthopedic specialist will review your X-rays, scan images of your injury, and determine if surgical intervention is necessary. Sometimes, a simple course of physical therapy or an athletic trainer could help speed up healing.

Preventing Sprained Wrist

Here are some things you can do to prevent a sprained wrist:

• Warm up before exercising. Warming up helps to prepare your muscles and ligaments for activity.
• Wear supportive shoes. Supportive shoes can help to protect your ankles and wrists from injury.
• Be careful when exercising. Avoid activities that stress your wrists, such as playing basketball or volleyball.
• Stretch regularly. Stretching can help to keep your muscles and ligaments flexible and reduce your risk of injury.

Recovery Tips

After you've sprained your wrist, you need to take care of it as soon as possible. That's why we put together a list of suggestions for self-care treatment and exercises to help speed up the healing process by encouraging good circulation around the body so your sprain can heal faster.

• Let your wrist rest as often as needed
• Follow your doctor’s orders
• Wear wrist protection
• Avoid painful activities and movements
• Stretch and exercise as directed

Safe and Effective Wrist Sprain Treatment

A wrist sprain is more than just an annoyance. A severe injury can harm your ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues if not cared for properly. Always talk to your doctor to determine the severity of the injury. Home treatment can cure most mild sprains, but moderate to severe sprains may need medical intervention.