Wrist Injury

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A wrist injury is when the wrist is sprained or strained. A sprained wrist is when ligaments in your wrist are suddenly stretched or torn. Ligaments are tissues that hold bones together. A strained wrist is an injury of the muscles or tendons in the wrist. Tendons are tissues that connect muscle to bone. You may have pain, tenderness, swelling, or bruising of your wrist. If the injury is bad, you may not be able to move your wrist very well. These injuries take about 6 to 8 weeks to heal.
  
  
• Sprains are usually caused by an injury or accident, like falling on your outstretched arm. Strained wrists are often caused by using the wrist too much. Your wrist may need to be x-rayed. These injuries take about 6 to 8 weeks to heal.

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Apply ice to the injury for 15 to 20 minutes each hour for the first 1 to 2 days. Put the ice in a plastic bag and place a towel between the bag of ice and your skin.
  
  
• After the first 1 to 2 days, you may apply heat to the injury to help relieve pain. You may use a warm heating pad, whirlpool bath, or warm, moist towels for 15 to 20 minutes every hour for 48 hours.
  
  
• For 48 hours, keep your arm raised above the level of your heart whenever possible to reduce the swelling.
  
  
• Wear a splint to keep your elbow from moving for as long as your caregiver suggests.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• The bruising or swelling in your wrist is getting worse.
  
  
• Your pain is getting worse.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• Your fingers below the injured wrist are swollen and very red.
  
  
• Your fingers are a white or blue color and feel cool.
  
  
• Your fingers are numb or tingling.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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