The RICE method is recommended for sprain wrist treatment. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Rest is very important in the first 24-48 hours following a sprained wrist. To help control the symptoms of a wrist sprain a wrist splint can be helpful. After the first 48 hours of injury you should gradually start to exercise and stretch the sprained wrist to the toleration of pain. Ice is also most critical the first 48 hours of a wrist sprained injury to help control swelling. You should only ice 20 minutes at a time every 3 to 4 hours. If you ice longer than 20 minutes at a time you could cause more damage to the already injured ligaments. A wrist sprained will also need compression; an ace bandage should be wrapped snug but not too tight to effect the circulation. Compression also helps to reduce the swelling. Keeping your wrist elevated higher than your heart will encourage lymph flow out of the impacted area.
Sprains wrist is a very common injury, especially in icy weather because of falls. Sports like rollerblading, basketball, football, biking, skiing, and skateboarding are all common to wrist sprained injuries. Wrist sprained injuries are also common in older people that are at risk for falls.
Common symptoms of sprains wrist include:
• Swelling of the joint
• Pain when moving the wrist
• Warm to the touch
• Bruising of the skin
• Burning sensation at the injury
• Popping or tearing within the wrist
After an injury to the wrist you should get an x-ray to make sure that the wrist is not broken because the symptoms of a broken bone are similar to a sprain. Sprains usually have more swelling than a break, but you could suffer both at the same time. Wrist tendonitis is also similar; tendonitis is the inflammation of the tendon. A sprain is the over-stretching or tearing of a ligament. Ligaments are tough, fibrous tissue that connects bone to bone and tendons connect muscle to bone and are not as tough.
After the doctor diagnosis a sprain, they will grade it according to the severity of the injury. Grade I is a mild injury with an over-stretched ligament. Grade II is a moderate injury where the affected ligament is partially torn. Grade III is the worst, a severe sprain where the ligament is completely ruptured.
If the ligament is completely ruptured, surgical repair may be necessary. Surgery should be done immediately because the inflammation in the joint will break down the tissues around the injury and could cause the ligament to turn to mush. Sometimes a graft is necessary when the ligament is beyond surgical repair.
Aspirin and ibuprofen will help ease the pain and may help with the swelling. Keep in mind that sprain wrist treatment can take any where from 2 to 10 weeks to work completely.