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.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

• The most important part of treating a wrist injury is resting your wrist. This will lessen swelling and allow the injury to heal. When the pain decreases, begin normal, slow movements. Caregivers may tell you to remain pain-free as you use your wrist more.
  
  
• Ice causes blood vessels to constrict (get small) which helps lessen inflammation (swelling, pain, and redness). Put crushed ice in a plastic bag and cover it with a towel. Put this on your sprained wrist for 15 to 20 minutes every hour as long as you need it. Do not sleep on the ice pack because you can get frostbite.
  
  
• You may need to wear a splint or elastic bandage (ace wrap). This keeps your injured wrist from moving too much while it heals. Needing a splint or ace wrap depends on how bad your wrist was sprained. Wear a splint to keep your elbow from moving for as long as your caregiver suggests.
  
  
  • You may remove the brace each day to bathe and exercise your wrist. Put your brace back on as soon as possible.
    
    
  • You can loosen or tighten the splint or ace wrap to make it comfortable. It should be tight enough for you to feel support. It should not be so tight that it causes your fingers to be numb or tingly. If you are wearing an ace wrap, take it off and rewrap it once a day.
    
    
  • Move your fingers several times an hour to prevent joint stiffness.
  
  
• Keep your arm raised above the level of your heart for the first 48 to 72 hours. This helps lessen both pain and swelling.
  
  
• Medicines:
  
  
  • Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. If you think it is not helping or if you feel you are having side effects, call your caregiver. Do not quit taking it until you discuss it with your caregiver.
    
    
  • Keep a written list of what medicines you are taking and when you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregiver(s). Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicines.
    
    
  • You may use ibuprofen (i-bew-pro-fin) or acetaminophen (uh-c-tuh-min-o-fin) for your pain. These may be bought as over-the-counter medicine. Do not take ibuprofen if you are allergic to aspirin.
    
    
  • If you have been given a tetanus shot, your arm may get swollen, red, and warm to touch at the shot site. This is a normal reaction to the medicine in the shot.

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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