sprained wrist still hurts after 6 weeks sprained wrist still hurts after 6 weeks

However, it may take six to twelve months for your symptoms to settle completely, these can include pain or discomfort, stiffness, swelling, and decreased strength. A person will typically experience pain when they sprain their wrist. Dr. Miller: So you're a hand surgeon, a specialist? You can usually treat a sprained wrist at home. It may be difficult, but the best thing to do is rest and give your body the chance to heal on its own. Ligaments form the connections between the different bones in the wrist (Figure 1). Moving the fingers may help prevent them from becoming stiff. Dr. Miller: How would somebody know if they might have a wrist fracture versus a sprain of the wrist? The proximal wrist bones articulate with the radius and ulna, while the distal carpal bones connect with the metacarpals. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Your healthcare provider will probably use a wrist X-ray to take pictures of your injured wrist ligaments and check for damage to your bones. However, the sprain never fully healed. Minor sprains can heal in as few as 2 weeks. The proximal wrist bones articulate with the, The hand is of constant use for various activities. Resting the wrist by reducing normal activity using the injured arm relieve pain. However, there is a fairly significant subset of them do require surgery and in this same sense as far as time goes, it's about a six week recovery also, as far as the bones healing. Diagnosis Your doctor will examine your wrist to see where it hurts and to check how it moves. All material on this website is protected by copyright. A sprain is an injury to the ligaments that hold your bones together. Your doctor will talk with you about which option is best in your situation. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons grade sprains into three categories, ranging from mild to severe. Ignoring continued pain can lead to severe issues. Now, it's probably a 2 on the pain scale. According to one article, a doctor may be able to diagnose the issue with an examination. The muscles and tendons will return to normal over a period of several weeks. New patients can schedule an appointment online and fill out your patient information to save time. Dr. Tyser: I think the most common fracture that we see as hand surgeons and hand specialists, is a fracture of what's called the distal radius. After discussing your medical history and general health, your doctor will ask about any previous injuries to your hand or wrist. A wrist sprain occurs when the strong ligaments that support the wrist stretch beyond their limits or tear. My wrist hurts when I put weight on it, particularly when it's bent backwards. After surgery, the doctor will advise that the patient undergo physical therapy or rehabilitation. An unrecognized fracture of the scaphoid bone may be mistaken for a wrist sprain. I tried catching myself with my hand and I think my wrist stretched too far forward. Cleveland Clinic offers expert diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation for bone, joint or connective tissue disorders and rheumatic and immunologic diseases. I injured my wrist a week ago and it still hurts. What you should do instead: Perform stretches and strengthening exercises to help prevent future wrist sprains. Anyone who experiences thumb pain, particularly if it lasts longer than a few days should see a . Your provider might ask you to move your wrist to check your range of motion (how far you can move a joint). Sprains are usually painful. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of wrist tendonitis here. RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) treatment is recommended for mild sprains. In many cases a sprained wrist is a one-time event, but after you have sustained this type of injury you are at a higher risk for reinjury if you dont take preventive action, potentially leading to chronic wrist sprains. Ice and a splint or gentle wrap may be helpful for the first few days after a wrist sprain. My wrist occasionally feels painful whenever I pick up something, put pressure on my wrist or try move my wrist perpendicular. Your doctor will then carefully exam your wrist to see where it hurts and to check how it moves. Sometimes, a sprained wrist can pull off a tiny piece of bone. In this case, your surgeon will make a cut in the back of your wrist. In other words, a person should avoid using their wrist, use an ice pack regularly, compress the wrist, and keep it elevated as much as possible. Severe sprains may require surgery to repair the fully torn ligament. When I fell my right wrist hurt like crazy as well and could hardly move it or grip stuff or turn taps/bottles etc for about 2 weeks. A jammed finger causes swelling, difficulty moving the finger, and pain. The ligaments in the wrist help to keep the bones in proper position and stabilize the joint. Wrist injuries are common and can happen to anyone during everyday activities. I am afraid that it is more then just a sprain. X-rays showed no broken bones. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in less than one minute for common issues such as: colds and coughs, stomach symptoms, bladder infections, rashes, and more. Doctors typically provide answers within 24 hours. Ask your provider when you can resume physical activities or playing sports. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in a minute. There are eight (8) carpal bones in the wrist and these bones are arranged in two rows. Both types of injury can produce pain, swelling, bruising, and warmth around the affected area. As always, discuss your options with your healthcare professional. [4] For the most benefit, alternate heat and ice on your wrists. Wrist sprains are common during snowfall or ice storms. Although an x-ray will not show the ligaments themselves, it can suggest a ligament injury if the wrist bones do not line up correctly. Articular cartilage and ligaments allow the bones of the wrist to slide along each other while in a proper position. This is true of all orthopedic injuries. Existing patients, click here. A sprained wrist is often swollen and painful, especially with motion. Other symptoms may include: Even a wrist injury that seems mild with minimal swelling could still involve a torn ligament and require surgery to avoid long-term problems. Prevention. Mild wrist sprains will usually improve with home treatment that includes the RICE protocol: Additionally, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can help reduce pain and swelling. This list of four things to avoid doing when you have a sprained wrist is a good starting point, but as with any other type of injury, follow your doctors recommendations. When this happens, it is very likely that the hand or wrist bends or twists forcefully. Cool down and stretch after physical activity. See a hand specialist? Located out of the area? Could you take ibuprofen or aspirin? A grade III sprain - completely torn or ruptured ligament. Avoid activities or sports that might cause trauma to the wrist. What could be the issue. Dr. Tyser: Right where your wrist bends. The X-ray is a fairly simple, quick, easy thing to do and will tell us usually one way or the other if you have a fracture or not. Tendinitis is the inflammation of a tendon caused by repetitive overuse or injury. Welcome. Dr. Tyser: About six weeks. An x-ray showing a gap between the scaphoid and the lunate from a sprained wrist (right) and a normal x-ray of the opposite wrist (left). (2020). I saw the doctor the day after I hurt my wrist. It is important for your doctor to evaluate even a mild wrist injury if it does not improve quickly. Wrist pain may feel sharp, dull, achy, or like pins and needles. Dr. Tyser: And we see that quite a bit in our clinic as well as in the emergency room or urgent care centers. But eventually that could create problems. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other abusable medications. While ice is best right after an injury, heat can promote healing and reduce pain a day or 2 after the injury. For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service. All rights reserved. What would you recommend? It might be hard to move or use your affected wrist. It definitely hurts and there will be prolonged pain and swelling. Where is that? I am able to bend my hand back all the way to my arm. Tell them if that movement hurts or when it hurts most. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency. It hurts, but you're still able to move your sprained joint and bear weight in the location. Because so many factors can lead to wrist pain, diagnosing the exact cause can be difficult. I think it's important to know that wrist fractures in general are very common as are wrist sprains. If symptoms do not improve after a reasonable period of time, additional imaging may be ordered to look for a more serious injury. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a person does not typically need to undergo surgery for a wrist sprain. Use our free, interactive tool to help you understand more about what you are experiencing. Dr. Tyser: I think typically for people that do have a wrist fracture who initially don't realize it, they'll come to realize that within the first few days, within a week I would say. And the first question is, this hurts, is it broken or not? There are 20 ligaments in your wrist that support your eight wrist bones. Overview. You should see a doctor if your pain started after a fall or other traumatic event, if the joint is hot or swollen, if you have trouble moving the wrist, or if your pain persists after stopping the aggravating activities. They will likely examine the persons wrist and have the person perform movement tests to check for pain and mobility issues. Try not to do activities that involve your. sprained wrist typically heal well, with minimal or no long-term symptoms. Dr. Miller: And how would you get that fracture? What you should do instead: Rest your body, especially your wrist, and stop any activity that causes pain. It was extremely painful for the first two weeks: a 7 on the pain scale. However, in many cases the wrist looks pretty normal, maybe a little bit swollen and it's not as clear. A mild wrist sprain will start feeling better 24 to 48 hours after you start treatment. This makes the joint and ligaments show up more clearly on an imaging study. Home remedies for a sprained wrist At home, you can treat a mild wrist sprain with the RICE method: Rest. Symptoms such as pain, swelling, bruising and loss of strength or stability are common with mild (grade 1) to moderate (grade 2) wrist sprains. Surgery is followed by a period of rehabilitation that includes exercises to strengthen your wrist and restore range of motion. Surgery involves reconnecting the ligament to the bone or using a tendon graft to reconstruct the injured ligament. I can't use the wrist/hand to support weight, like I can't use it to support my weight if I were trying to get up from a sitting position. Once the pain went down, I discontinued the wrist brace, advised that I needed to give my wrist movement and use to rebuild muscle. In some individuals, the wrist will become swollen and tender with ecchymosis (bruising with blue-black discoloration). A thumb may become sprained when the joint is stressed or overextended. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other abusable medications. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. It hurts, mildly, if I bend it in any direction. I have severe, constant pain in my thumb that has worsened. Knowing what to do, and what not to do, after sustaining this type of injury may help you heal faster and help prevent future injuries. There may be bruising. (iced in the 3rd week)? Carpal ligament injuries, pathomechanics, and classification. If not a lot better in 7-10 days seek medical attention and demand an xRay. Or should they? Ligaments are bands of tissue that help connect bones, joints and organs and hold them in place. The length of the recovery process and your outcomes will depend on the severity of the sprain. That is, could you ice it? This article covers everything a person needs to know about the symptoms, treatments, and recovery times associated with sprained wrists. A doctor will assess the wrist, looking for swelling, bruising, deformity, tenderness, pain in movements, etc. Request an appointment using our secure online form. Other tests. Find a doctor or location close to you so you can get the health care you need, when you need it. AAOS does not endorse any treatments, procedures, products, or physicians referenced herein. That is, could you ice it? But a sprain is still frustrating and painful. In this weather condition, the ground is slippery and the chance of a slip is high. I sprained my litle finger six weeks ago and its still swollen and hurts my whole side of hamd till wrist when I use it. Staying in the game: Preventing common hand and wrist injuries in basketball [Blog]. Sprains can range from a stretch or tiny tear in the fibers that make up the ligament to a complete tear through the ligament or through its attachment to the bone. Falling on an outstretched hand pretty hard typically. A person may not easily be able to tell the difference between a sprain and a fracture, or break. Some specific causes of sprained wrists can include: blunt trauma from a fall, hit, or other force twisting the wrist suddenly or too far stretching the wrist too far According to the. 1 of 2. Sprained wrists are a common but very painful injury to the ligaments in a persons wrist. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Specifically: A grade 3 tear requires medical attention. We're going to talk about that next on Scope Radio. In work-related activities, the highest proportion of people with wrist injuries are in service industries, manufacturing, construction laborers, carpenters, etc. A sprain is typically caused by a traumatic injury to the wrist, such as a fall on an outstretched hand, but can also be caused by repetitive use of the wrist such as seen in athletes who play racket sports or people who place a lot of stress through the wrist joint (boxers, gymnasts, weightlifters). For athletes, sprains and other injuries to the wrist or hand account for 3% to 9% of all sports . If you are overly concerned, usually your body will tell you if things are getting better or not. The hand is of constant use for various activities. When can I resume physical activity or play sports again? Copyright 1995-2021 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Your surgeon will make a small incision (cut) and insert a small camera (arthroscope) to look at your bones and ligaments. Healing can often take several weeks, but recovery is usually excellent. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Not sure what service you need or what injury or syndrome you may have? You can treat most wrist sprains at home with rest, ice and over-the-counter (OTC) medicine. Wrist sprains are common injuries. With mild injuries, stiffness is normal once the ligament begins to heal. If you dont, you may prolong the discomfort and possibly worsen the injury. Is it just not mobile? X-rays are often taken. For mild wrist sprain involving a stretched ligament, non-surgical treatment can be administered. Sometimes people that are skiing or participating in other sports that take a hard fall unexpectedly have that fracture. Theyll set your bones (place them into their correct position) and repair your damaged ligaments. A fall, a sudden movement, or twisting could cause either injury. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event, (https://www.assh.org/handcare/condition/sprained-wrist). pain that worsens when you move your wrist or hand. According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the two most common ligaments that people sprain are the scapholunate ligament (which is located in the middle of the wrist) and the triangular fibrocartilage complex (which is located near the outside of the wrist). Dr. Pietro Seni answered Orthopedic Surgery 49 years experience Need x-ray or MRI: They are several possible reasons:occult fracture, ligamentous damage, inflamed tendons.Usually diagnostic studies such as x-ras and MRI are needed to confirm a diagnosis. Anyone seeking specific orthopaedic advice or assistance should consult his or her orthopaedic surgeon, or locate one in your area through the AAOS Find an Orthopaedist program on this website. I sprained my wrist over a month ago, I have been using a wrist splint but it still hurts extremely bad. Diagram of the scapholunate ligament (circled), which is commonly injured with a sprained wrist. Is this still a sprain? Could be strained/sprained, does she need to see a doc? Sprains are graded, depending on the degree of injury to the ligaments: Wrist sprains are caused most often by a fall onto an outstretched hand. Simple sprains are 50-70% better in a week or 10 days. This is especially important if the injury causes persistent wrist pain. The wrist is a joint that comprises the carpal bones. People can also take steps to prevent wrist sprains by avoiding walking on icy or slippery surfaces and by wearing appropriate wrist guards when engaging in activities that may injure the joint. But wrist pain can also result from long-term problems, such as repetitive stress, . A sprained wrist happens when something stretches your wrist ligaments enough to damage them. X-rays may be obtained to rule out a fracture, joint instability, or arthritis of the wrist. It typically hurts when you try to move the wrist, grasp objects (especially heavy objects), or with twisting motions. And many of these fractures are able to be treated with conservative measures, such as casting or even splinting. We look at symptoms, treatment, and how to feel more comfortable during, Wrist pain is a common complaint that can have many causes. What feels like a sprained wrist could actually be a bone fracture or a torn ligament, both of which should be treated by a medical professional. Sprained wrist symptoms. To treat a sprain, start with ice. In severe cases, the ligament can be, After evaluating the hand and reviewing symptoms, the doctor will determine if the patients can continue treatment in an urgent care facility or be referred to a, Rettig, Arthur C. Athletic Injuries of the Wrist and Hand., Harvard Health Publishing. Or go to the doctor for an X-ray? Go to the emergency room if you experience trauma or think you have a broken bone. A person can typically treat a sprained wrist with minimal medical intervention. Dr. Knight is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Fellowship trained. This website also contains material copyrighted by third parties. Wrist sprains are common injuries. There are several different ligaments in the wrist that a person could sprain. 1 doctor answer 2 doctors weighed in Share Dr. Francisco Schwartz-Fernandes answered 27 years experience You need a doctor: I need more details to answer.