A sprained wrist usually comes with pain, bruising, swelling, tenderness, or limited mobility. If left untreated, it can prevent you from performing everyday tasks, playing sports, and working. To remedy this, you may want to consider seeing a physician to have your wrist sprain checked.
Here’s how you can benefit from paying a visit to your doctor:
To Have a Proper Assessment of Your Sprained Wrist
Wrist sprains are diagnosed with a physical examination of the injured area. Your doctor may move your hand in different directions to assess your mobility and test your muscle strength. In some cases, your healthcare provider may use imaging scans to determine if you have a fractured wrist.
Sprains have three levels:
- Grade 1 (mild sprain) – one or more ligaments are overstretched but not torn
- Grade 2 (moderate sprain) – one or more ligaments are torn partially
- Grade 3 (severe sprain) – one or more ligaments are torn completely
A proper assessment helps your doctor craft a treatment that’s suited to the severity of your sprained wrist.
To Prevent the Injury from Worsening
Most symptoms of mild and moderate wrist sprains may subside after a few days. A common treatment option for these sprains is the R.I.C.E. method.
- Rest: avoid or stop using your injured hand to allow it to heal
- Ice: apply ice or cold compress on the sprained wrist to ease the swelling
- Compress: wrap your injury with a medical band, bandage, or athletic tape
- Elevate: raise your wrist to a level above your heart to reduce swelling
On the other hand, if left untreated, your sprained wrist can worsen and become more painful. Repeated movement and pressure on the injured wrist can aggravate it and cause prolonged swelling and stiffness.
Heat treatment is also discouraged because the temperature increase promotes blood flow. Increased blood flow may then increase the swelling in your sprained wrist.
To Get Access to a Comprehensive Treatment Plan
Your healthcare provider can give you a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your condition. If the pain is unbearable, they may recommend a pain reliever for you. They may also encourage you to take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication.
Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor may recommend you use the R.I.C.E method to treat your wrist sprain. For severe wrist sprains, they may refer you for surgery to repair the torn ligaments of your wrist.
A comprehensive treatment plan also includes rehabilitation, especially for severe sprains. Your doctor may endorse physical therapy to restore your mobility and strength. It will also help you get rid of the stiffness in your wrist from lack of use.
To Learn How to Avoid Wrist Sprains in the Future
Part of the rehabilitation process is learning how to avoid wrist sprains in the future. Your doctor may recommend strengthening and stability exercises for you. They may also discuss other factors with you like:
- Observing proper form and technique when playing sports
- Practicing safety precautions
- Avoiding overexertion, especially when you’re tired or experiencing pain
- Doing stretches and warmups before exercising
- Wearing proper gear
Your healthcare provider may also give you other recommendations depending on your condition and how you got your sprain. In addition, they may consider your lifestyle when they give you more tips on how to avoid another injury in the future.
Sprained Wrist Treatment in North Dakota
A sprained wrist can cause pain and a limited range of movement, hindering you from performing at your best. That’s why it’s a good idea to see a doctor: to get a proper assessment of your injury and prevent it from worsening. Bone & joint specialists can also give you a suitable treatment plan for your sprained wrist.
At The Bone & Joint Center, our orthopedic specialists and healthcare providers can give you the best comprehensive care you need. We ensure that you not only get the best care for your orthopedic problems but that you also recover well afterward.
If you want to learn more about our services, you may call us at (800) 424-2663. Meanwhile, if you would like to schedule a consultation, you may contact us at (701) 946-7400 or (866) 900-8650. You may also use our safe online appointment request form and choose from any of our clinics across North Dakota. We look forward to serving you!
