It’s no secret that early diagnosis and treatment is the key to a successful recovery from any injury. The earlier you start, the sooner you can return to your everyday routine. This is especially true for sprained wrists, one of the most common injuries people experience.
If you have recently injured your wrist or are looking to be proactive about your health, consult with an orthopedic doctor for available treatments. Let’s discuss some of the best ways to heal a sprained wrist, how to prevent wrist injuries, and where you can go in North Dakota for comprehensive orthopedic care.
What Is a Sprained Wrist and What Are the Symptoms?
A sprained wrist is a common injury that can occur when you fall or twist your wrist. Sprains happen when ligaments, or special connective tissue that supports joints, are torn or over-stretched. This is different from a “strain,” which is an injury to the muscles rather than ligaments.
How Do You Know If You Have a Sprained Wrist?
There are a few ways to tell if you have a sprained wrist. Pain, swelling, and stiffness are the most common symptoms. If you can’t move your wrist or hand easily, or if you experience any tingling or numbness, you will likely have a sprain.
Sprains come in “grades” or different degrees of severity. A mild sprain is when the ligament is only stretched. A moderate sprain is when there is a combination of tearing a stretching, and a severe sprain is when the ligament is completely torn.
What Are the Causes of a Sprained Wrist?
There are many things that can cause a sprained wrist. Falling is one of the most common causes, such as bracing your fall by putting your hands out and landing hard on your wrist. You can also injure your wrist by twisting it awkwardly. Both of these things are common when playing sports, so it is important to stretch before sports or exercise to prevent injury.
How To Heal a Sprained Wrist
Sometimes, a sprain can be healed at home. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, it’s time to see a doctor
- severe pain
- swelling that doesn’t go down after a few days
- inability to move your wrist or hand
- bruising on the skin
- tingling/numbness in your fingers
If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is important to see an orthopedic physician because these symptoms can also indicate a broken bone. Your doctor will perform physical tests like examining your range of motion as well imaging tests like X-rays or MRI to see exactly what is injured and how badly.
Once your physician determines the extent of the injury, they will prescribe rest and ice for the first day or so after your injury. The PRICE method is a great method to follow: protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
As your sprain starts to heal, your doctor may also prescribe physical therapy to regain muscle strength that may have been lost as you were healing and to keep muscle strength up to support your wrist and prevent injury in the future.
Sprained Wrist Treatment at The Bone and Joint Center
Sprains can be painful and slow to heal, so that’s why at The Bone and Joint Center, we are here to help. Our board-certified orthopedic physicians have years of experience treating all kinds of sprains, including wrist sprains. We also have physical and occupational therapists in our facilities, so you can see your doctor and attend physical therapy in the same location.
To schedule an appointment with us today, call us at (800) 424-2663 or request an appointment here. We look forward to helping you feel better!
