What happens if you sprain your wrist

Another sign to consider is if you are completely unable to move your wrist either because you have so much pain or because of the swelling. If you have a wrist sprain, you may be able to move the wrist in a range of motion.

It may be painful, but you will still be able to do it. Another sign of a wrist sprain is that there are swelling and redness around the sprained area of the wrist. If you think you broke or sprained your wrist, you should immediately schedule an appointment to see a doctor. If you are experiencing significant pain around your wrist, you can always take Ibuprofen or Aspirin to help alleviate the sprain.

Another treatment option is to rest. If you want more advice on how to treat your sprained or broken wrist, you can always visit our website that has useful tips. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:.

Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Care Instructions Your wrist hurts because you have stretched or torn ligaments, which connect the bones in your wrist. How can you care for yourself at home?

Ligaments form the connections between the different bones in the wrist Figure 1. Ligament sprains range from mild stretches to partial tears.

There are many ligaments in the wrist that can be sprained. Two of the common ones are the scapholunate ligament, in the middle of the wrist between the scaphoid and lunate bones Figure 2 , and the TFCC triangular fibrocartilage complex on the outside of the wrist. Sometimes, a sprained wrist can pull off a tiny piece of bone.

This is called an avulsion fracture. A sprained wrist is usually caused by a fall or sudden twisting motion. The wrist is usually bent backwards or into an abnormal position. A sprained wrist is often swollen and painful, especially with motion. There may be bruising. Pain and swelling can develop over several days and may last anywhere from a few days to six weeks. Your doctor will examine your wrist to see where it hurts and to check how it moves.

X-rays are often taken. The purpose of the exam and x-rays is to make sure there are no broken bones, dislocated joints, or signs of a full ligament tear Figure 3.