Symptoms Of A Wrist Sprain
At the time of injury, you may feel a popping or tearing in the wrist. You may have pain, redness, and swelling. You may also have some bruising. In some cases, symptoms may spread from the wrist to the hand. Until the wrist has healed, it may be hard to move or use the wrist and hand for normal tasks and activities, especially gripping and lifting.
Grades Of Wrist Sprains
Sprains are graded, depending on the degree of injury to the ligaments:
- Grade 1 sprain . The ligaments are stretched, but not torn.
- Grade 2 sprain . The ligaments are partially torn. This type of injury may involve some loss of function.
- Grade 3 sprain . The ligament is completely torn or the ligament is pulled off of its attachment to bone. These are significant injuries that require medical or surgical care. If the ligament tears away from the bone, it may take a small chip of bone with it. This is called an avulsion fracture.
How Long Does It Take For A Broken Wrist To Recover
Healing time typically depends on the overall health of a person. On average, a broken wrist takes about six weeks to heal properly. Make sure to follow all directions given by your healthcare physician in order to avoid further complications.
Now that you know how to tell if a wrist is broken or sprained, please make sure to get the appropriate medical care. Stop by Village Emergency Centers in Katy, River Oaks, Clear Creek, or Jersey Village for the quality medical care that you deserve.
- locations
Recommended Reading: Does Ginger Ale Soda Help With Gas
Types Of Wrist Fractures
A fracture and a break are considered the same thing. A wrist fracture is when one or more bones in the wrist break. Below are the most common type of wrist fractures:
The scaphoid carpal bone is just below the base of thumb and can be broken when you fall on an outstretched palm and wrist. This bone is the second most common one to be fractured. An unrecognized fracture of the scaphoid bone is often mistaken for a wrist sprain as the swelling is usually only located to the small area where the bone is, and motion of the wrist can be maintained. Other carpal bones can be fractures but are much less common.
This type of fracture often happens in addition to the distal radius fracture. The ulnar styloid is most easily identified by the bump on the outside or pinky side of your wrist.
“You should not assume that the degree of pain determines the specific problem. Although it would seem that a sprain would hurt less than a fracture, this is not always the case. “Brandon P. Donnelly, MD
Looking For A Hand Surgeon For Your Wrist Injury
If you have a wrist injury, theres no need to remain in pain any longer a hand surgeon really makes all the difference. With the right expertise, diagnosis, and treatment you can get back to doing the things you enjoy quicker.
Dont spend another minute wondering if a hand surgeon is right for you, make an appointment today by calling 393-4263 or by scheduling online. At your appointment, I, Dr. Vella, will answer any questions you have and help guide you through the treatment of your wrist injury.
Together, well create a tailored approach for your specific needs that gets your wrist healed and most of all, pain-free.
Read Also: How To Sprain Your Wrist Without Pain And Fast
Home Remedies For A Sprained Wrist
At home, you can treat a mild wrist sprain with the RICE method:
- Rest. Avoid using your wrist for 48 hours. Try not to do activities that involve your wrist, like writing with a pen.
- Ice. Apply an ice pack for 20 minutes, two or three times each day. Never use ice without wrapping it first, as this can damage your skin.
- Compression. Wrap a compression bandage around your wrist to minimize swelling.
- Elevation. Keeping your wrist above your heart will also help swelling.
What Does A Wrist Sprain And Fracture Feel Like
People often assume that the extent of the injury is directly related to the level of pain it causes. Thats why they tend to believe that a sprain would cause less pain than a fracture. However, sprains often cause severe pain and fractures can cause mild pain.
If you have wrist fracture, you are likely to feel a sharp pain that prevents your wrist movement while a wrist sprain injury causes a throbbing pain that may still allow you some range of motion. There are some wrist injury symptoms that are common for both fractures and sprains.
- Pain on moving the wrist
- Tenderness around the injured area
- Swelling in the wrist
- Inability to pick up objects or weakness
Signs of a Wrist Fracture
Some obvious signs of a fracture are deformity of the wrist, consistent pain right around the injured area and with finger movement, and numbness at the fingertips.
Signs of a Wrist Sprain
A sprained wrist is often painful and swollen that can develop over several days and may last from a few days to six weeks. You may feel a popping or tear in the wrist.
Also Check: Sciatica Heat Or Ice
When To Call Your Healthcare Provider
-
Fever of 100.4°F or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider
-
Chills
-
Symptoms that dont get better with treatment, or get worse
-
Hand or fingers that feel numb or very cold, turn blue or gray, or swell
-
Symptoms such as redness, warmth, swelling, bleeding, or drainage that occur at the incision sites. This only applies if you had surgery.
-
New symptoms
What Should You Do
If you do think you have a wrist sprain or you may have fractured your wrist, you should immediately see a doctor. Schedule an appointment to have a medical professional decide if you will need surgery, an x-ray, or specific treatment options.
If you cant see a doctor immediately, its important to remember the acronym, RICE. That stands for, rest, ice, compression, and elevation. That is what you should be doing for your wrist until you see a medical professional.
Having a broken or sprained wrist can also limit your ability to drive places or see a doctor. If that happens, you can speak with us remotely by contacting us here.
You May Like: Does Lidocaine Work For Nerve Pain
Childrens Health: Is It A Sprain Strain Or Break
- /
- Childrenâs health: is it a sprainâ¦
Whether its a slip up on the baseball field or a fall in the backyard at home, young children are prone to injuries. And the type of injury your child has depends on whether the trauma involved a ligament, muscle or bone.
Board certified pediatric sports medicine specialist, Rachel Brewer, MD of Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children in Denver, Colorado says that if you think your child has a sprain, strain or break, it is best you head to your healthcare provider for proper testing. An X-ray can rule out or confirm a broken bone, and a doctor can help detect other injuries like sprains or strains.
If kids arent using an arm or leg, or theyre limping, theyre telling us that they have an injury that needs to be evaluated, says Dr. Brewer.
But how do you know what type of injury it is? Brewer explains the different injuries, the common causes of each injury, signs to watch out for and treatment options.
Hairline Wrist Fracture Cast Or Splint
Immobilization may require a custom splint or a cast. For workers or athletes who need to continue their activity while healing, an ActivArmor cast may be an option. ActivArmor is the latest technology in casting. This allows 3D scanning and printing of a hard plastic custom cast. This allows the fractured area to get wet and protects against potential forces.
Hairline Fracture Wrist Cast in ActivArmor
Also Check: Pregnancy Symptoms Abdominal Cramps
Recommended Reading: Is Heat Or Ice Good For Nerve Pain
How Long Does It Take To Recover From A Broken Arm Or Wrist
In most cases it takes around 6 to 8 weeks to recover from a broken arm or wrist. It can take longer if your arm or wrist was severely damaged.
You will need to wear your plaster cast until the broken bone heals. The skin under the cast may be itchy for a few days but this should pass.
The hospital will give you an advice sheet on exercises you should do every day to help speed up your recovery.
Your arm or wrist may be stiff and weak after the cast is removed. A physiotherapist can help with these problems, although sometimes they can last several months or more.
Symptoms Of A Sprained Thumb
One of the most common thumb injuries is a sprain which is what happens when you injure one of the ligaments. This can occur when hitting your thumb forcefully against a hard surface causes the ligaments to get stretched beyond their normal range. Other common causes include playing sports, breaking a fall with outstretched arms, or bending your thumb too far back. There are three types of sprains:
- Grade 1 This is a mild sprain, where the ligaments are stretched but have not experienced any tears.
- Grade 2 This is when there is a partial tear to a ligament. A telltale sign is a limited range of motion.
- Grade 3 This is when the ligament is completely torn or pulled off the bone. To repair, surgical care is necessary.
-
Symptoms of a sprained thumb can vary in intensity. They often include:
- Pain and discomfort at the base of the thumb
- Bruising at the base of the thumb
- Swelling at the base of the thumb
- Stiffness
- Tenderness of the thumb, towards the palm of your hand
- If the ligament is completely torn, the end of the torn ligament may cause a lump on the thumb
Don’t Miss: Can Belly Fat Cause Stomach Pain
Treating Sprained And Broken Wrists At Fastmed Urgent Care
Come to a FastMed Urgent Care clinic for an X-ray if you suffer a wrist injury. Visiting one of our clinics is typically faster and cheaper than a trip to the emergency room. With on-site X-ray technology, our medical professionals will diagnose your wrist pain and determine the appropriate treatment.
Whether you have a sprained wrist or a broken wrist, dont delay in getting the treatment you need. FastMed Urgent Care accepts all major insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, so check out our Insurance page to confirm that your plan is accepted.
Our patients have great things to say about the compassionate care they receive at FastMed Urgent Care. Linda S. said, I rushed in your doors at closing time with my daughter. She had quite a gash that needed medical treatment with multiple stitches. You did an excellent job and her wound and stitches have healed beautifully!
–
Broken Hand Symptoms: How Do I Know If I Have A Broken Hand
Approximately 6 million people suffer a broken bone every year in the United States, and broken fingers are very common. The location and severity of the hand fracture will determine the symptoms the patient experiences and the available treatment options. So what does a broken hand feel like? Lets take a look at a few of the most common broken hand symptoms.
Fractured hand symptoms involving the metacarpals include pain, swelling, general tenderness along the site of the injury, and bruising. These metacarpal fractures symptoms may be more pronounced as the patient makes a fist or even loosely grips items. Metacarpal fractures may also give the involved fingers a shortened appearance. For example, Boxers fracture symptoms may include the knuckle appearing indented or crushed inward due to displacement along the neck of the metacarpal. Broken finger symptoms include pain, decreased range of motion, swelling, and sensitivity to even the lightest touch. Fractured finger symptoms may also include bruising, and its possible for the finger to appear deformed or misaligned. Broken thumb symptoms include swelling, bruising, sensitivity to the touch, and decreased range of motion. Some patients also report numbness or feelings of cold around the injury. In some cases, the hand or fingers may change colors, becoming pale or even blue, after a fracture of the hand. Patients may also notice other tactile sensations, such as tingling.
Don’t Miss: Does Ginger Ale Help Stomach Pain
Treatment For A Broken Wrist
If you believe youve sprained your wrist, you should treat it with ice, stabilize it with a brace or splint, and keep it elevated. Nevertheless, if youre concerned that you may have fractured it or the pain and swelling intensifies, apply ice, and then see a hand specialist as soon as possible.
Many wrist fractures do not require surgery, and can adequately treated in a cast or brace. Sometimes it does require the bones to be set or put back in alignment. Open surgery is usually reserved for fractures with significant displacement, or recurrent displacement after attempted reduction and immobilization.
Wrist Sprain Vs Broken Wrist: Signs To Tell Which Happened
Is it BROKEN or SPRAINED?There are eight small bones in your wrist. Any of them can break and cause severe damage to your wrist.
Depending on the break, your wrist could take anywhere from weeks to months to heal.
Maybe you broke one of these eight wrist bones, but youre unsure if its a break or a sprain. How do you tell the difference?
Heres a guide on the difference between a wrist sprain and a wrist break that can give you insight on if you should see a doctor and the treatment options available to you.
You May Like: Is Heat Or Ice Good For Nerve Pain
Support For A Wrist Fracture
When you first break your wrist, one of the most important things for your doctor to do is immobilise the joint. Immobilisation helps to prevent the broken bones from moving out of place, which could otherwise prevent correct healing, or even cause more serious injuries.
The apparatus used to immobilise your wrist is often referred to as a support, as it supports the joint and helps to keep it in place. Some of these supports can include a plaster or fibre glass cast, and a splint. A cast is a sturdier support for a broken bone but can take longer to apply and must be completely replaced if they become loose or damaged as swelling reduces. A splint is also known as a half cast, are much quicker to apply, and can be loosened or tightened depending on the patients needs.
It is important to ensure that you take care of your support, and not allow it to become wet or damaged while you are healing. It is also important to be aware of excessive pain in your broken wrist while in a cast or splint. You should also be aware of further swelling, discolouration or numbness in your fingers while wearing a support, as this could be a sign of further infection, nerve damage or loss of circulation. You should notify your doctor immediately if you notice any of those symptoms, as urgent treatment may be required.
Recommended Reading: Can Blueberries Cause Stomach Pain
Symptoms Of A Sprained Wrist
The most common symptoms of a sprained wrist are pain and swelling. The nature of the pain can differ. It can be a dull ache that comes and goes or a constant sharp pain. Pain from a sprained wrist typically goes down within a few days. Activities such as moving your wrist, lifting something with your hand, gripping things, and twisting a doorknob may cause you pain until your wrist heals completely.3
A sprained wrist can appear swollen due to collection of fluid in the area around the injured ligament. The swelling tends to be more obvious when the wrist sprain is severe, so much so that it can change the shape of your wrist.1,3 There may be a black or blue discoloration of the skin, similar to a bruise.1
weakness , and warmth around the wrist. These symptoms gradually improve over time. Some people with a sprained wrist experience a popping or tearing sensation in the wrist.4
You May Like: Ice Or Heat For Shoulder Pain
Bruised Wrist Or Wrist Contusion
Bruised wrist or wrist contusion is the condition which is caused when there is a bruising in the wrist along with the underlying tissues and the skin due to a direct blow. Bruising leads to rupture of the small capillaries that assist the blood to infiltrate tendons, muscles and other soft tissues which force the blood to come out of the ruptured small capillaries.
Treatment For A Sprained Wrist
For a sprained wrist, the best treatment is to use the RICE method:
Rest: An injury needs healing, a sprained wrist wont heal in motion. Avoid moving your hand as much as possible.
Ice: Ice will help with the swelling because it helps remove excess heat from your wrist which presents itself after an injury. Ice will also decrease swelling and pain.
Compression: Wrapping up your wrist provides support and prevents swelling from building up.
Elevation: Keeping your wrist in an elevated position will help your body absorb the extra fluid that gets caused by excess swelling. You should place your calf on an arm sling. Your wrist should be at an equal level with your heart. Your wrist should also be free and not compressed while elevated.
Read Also: How Long Does Sciatica Pain Last
Common Wrist Fractures And Sprains
A fracture is the medical term for a broken bone. The most common type of wrist fracture is a distal radius fracture, which is a fracture at the end of the long radius bone of the forearm.
See Diagnosing and Treating Scaphoid Fractures of the Wrist
Sprains occur when ligamentsthe fibrous bands of tissue that connect bones to each otherare stretched or torn. Wrist sprains are frequently caused by injury of the scapholunate ligament, which is a very important ligament that connects the scaphoid and the lunate carpal bones.
https://www.knowmypain.com/wp-content/uploads/young-athlete-center-its-just-a-wrist-sprain.jpeg
https://www.knowmypain.com/is-my-wrist-broken-or-just-sprained/
https://www.knowmypain.com/wp-content/uploads/young-athlete-center-its-just-a-wrist-sprain.jpeg
https://knowmypain.weebly.com/know-my-pain/is-my-wrist-broken-or-just-sprained
No comments:
Post a Comment