sprained wrist still hurts after 6 weeks

How do you know if you have a sprained thumb? Educational text answers on HealthTap are not intended for individual diagnosis, treatment or prescription. They will also ask about how the injury . There are several different ligaments in the wrist that a person could sprain. Wrist sprain - aftercare Information | Mount Sinai - New York Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. It felt as if my wrist was sprained & was painful for a few days. Dr. Tyser: Exactly. Dr. Miller: And there are certain parts of the wrist that become fractured, the back, the front, one of the particular bones. from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, A feeling of popping or tearing inside the wrist. A sprain is an injury to the ligaments that hold your bones together. Icing and compressing the injured area will reduce swelling. Warm up before playing sports or working out. Dr. Miller: Now there are many bones in the hand and sometimes if you have a fracture it may not be quite obvious and I think that's one of the things you were saying. Is this a sprain? The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons grade sprains into three categories, ranging from mild to severe. Dr. Miller: If you're in an area where a general orthopedic surgeon is available but they don't have a hand surgeon, I don't imagine that some places have access to hand surgeons, is it a good idea to proceed to see a hand surgeon at some point? A wrist splint or brace can be used to immobilize the wrist joint for up to two weeks. How should i treat my sprained hand/wrist after 6 weeks it is still very painful? A wrist sprain is an injury to the capsule and ligaments surrounding the wrist joint. Prescription pain medications are not usually recommended. The muscles and tendons will return to normal over a period of several weeks. Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. It's not swollen, and she has full rom. A sprained wrist is often swollen and painful, especially with motion. Located out of the area? Last medically reviewed on December 21, 2020. Existing patients, click here. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. My wrist hurts when I put weight on it, particularly when it's bent backwards. Most sprains heal without any problems in six to twelve weeks. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other commonly abused medications. Sometimes, a sprained wrist can pull off a tiny piece of bone. 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event, (https://www.assh.org/handcare/condition/sprained-wrist). It typically hurts when you try to move the wrist, grasp objects (especially heavy objects), or with twisting motions. The scapholunate ligament that connects your scaphoid and lunate bones is the most commonly sprained ligament. Ligament sprains range from mild stretches to partial tears. Arthritis in the wrist follows three general patterns. It typically hurts when you try to move the wrist, grasp objects (especially heavy objects), or with twisting motions. Is it normal for a wrist sprain to last more than 3 weeks? The pain switches from burning to throbbing to numb in not only my wrist but also my pinky and thumb. What are the common ways that we get wrist fractures? For athletes, sprains and other injuries to the wrist or hand account for 3% to 9% of all sports . blunt trauma from a fall, hit, or other force, a popping or tearing feeling inside the wrist. Wrist Sprains: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Start by clicking on the image below. Theyre naturally very flexible and tough. Wrist sprains usually take from 2 to 10 weeks to heal, but some take longer. Wrist sprains also occur during sports, such as skating, skateboarding, and skiing. There are eight (8) carpal bones in the wrist and these bones are arranged in two rows. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies. Athletes, busy parents, and active people of all types are often tempted to shake it off or tough it out, but this is not a good idea if you want your wrist to heal as quickly as possible. Use two hands to lift and hold heavier objects. Sprained wrists are a common but very painful injury to the ligaments in a persons wrist. Often, treatment can consist of applying ice, resting, and taking over-the-counter pain relief medications. I saw the doctor the day after I hurt my wrist. A sprained wrist happens when something stretches your wrist ligaments enough to damage them. Often, the cause of a sprain is a sudden twist, impact, or movement that overstretches or pushes the wrist in a direction that it does not typically go. Whether you've strained or sprained your wrist, it hurts either way Usually in that case, if the pain subsides over the next few days, it's typically considered a wrist fracture. Dont rush your recovery. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Not sure what service you need or what injury or syndrome you may have? 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. In order to treat a wrist sprain correctly, the doctor must determine the grade or severity of the sprain. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other commonly abused medications. I think ruling out a fracture is sometimes just as important as diagnosing one. Usually, the more pain you have, the more severe your wrist sprain is and the longer it will . A sprained wrist is painful. 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. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Tell them if that movement hurts or when it hurts most. Wrist tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon within the wrist. This article covers everything a person needs to know about the symptoms, treatments, and recovery times associated with sprained wrists. Symptoms of a wrist sprain vary depending on the extent and the location of the sprain. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Get answers from Hand Surgeons and top U.S. doctors, Our doctors evaluate, diagnose, prescribe, order lab tests, and recommend follow-up care. All rights reserved. Dr. Miller: So you're a hand surgeon, a specialist? Severe (grade 3) wrist sprains may need to be looked at by a hand surgeon. Your doctor may order imaging tests to help confirm the diagnosis. In severe cases, the ligament can be partially or completely torn. Could it be more than a sprain? We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Dr. Knight may be able to help you virtually with an online virtual consultation. There are 20 ligaments in your wrist that support your eight wrist bones. 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. Dr. Tyser: That's a great question. Ligaments of the wrist are injured with a sprained wrist. X-rays are often taken. However, the sprain never fully healed. A broken wrist occurs if a person breaks one or more of the eight bones located in the wrist. A grade II sprain - more serious but still incomplete ligament tear, with some joint looseness. 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. Wrist sprains are common during snowfall or ice storms. The wrist is a joint that comprises the carpal bones. Doctoral Degree. Anyway, I sprained my wrist falling off my longboard about 6 weeks ago. 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 hand surgeon or specialist for further treatment. Once the pain went down, I discontinued the wrist brace, advised that I needed to give my wrist movement and use to rebuild muscle. Many times the sequence of events is patients suspects they have a wrist fracture, they're evaluated in either an emergency room or urgent care center. 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). However, in many cases the wrist looks pretty normal, maybe a little bit swollen and it's not as clear. Wrist sprains are common during snowfall or ice storms. Duration of complaint 2 weeks Location Any existing relevant medical issues Current medications Include a photo if relevant Hi! The doctor may recommend imaging tests to improve diagnosis. In this case, your surgeon will make a cut in the back of your wrist. Some patients have reported a popping sound in the wrist. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. A mild wrist sprain can be treated in urgent care facilities using home care treatments. 4 Things NOT to Do When You Have a Sprained Wrist Mild swelling could be visible and bruising might develop in more severe injuries. I did not injure it, though it does seem to be swollen on the read more. The scapholunate ligament that connects your scaphoid and lunate bones is the most commonly sprained ligament. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in a minute. Dr. Tyser: That's a great question. In fact, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommend using the RICE method. Its rare to need surgery for a sprained wrist. A person can typically treat a sprained wrist with minimal medical intervention. You might also need magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography (CT) scan. This is called an avulsion fracture. Now, it's probably a 2 on the pain scale. And if there is a fracture, you'd advise them to see an orthopedic hand surgeon. Get news & offers from Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine, Mayo Clinic Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. It will fully heal in 1 or 2 weeks. This type of compression brace, or taping, supports the wrist by applying additional compression at the far end of the radius and ulna to assist with preventing spreading of these two bones. Tendinitis is the inflammation of a tendon caused by repetitive overuse or injury. Many problems can cause wrist pain. http://blog.gameready.com/blog/4-things-not-to-do-when-you-have-a-sprained-wrist, durable medical equipment supplier in the US, Password must be longer than 6 characters, 4 Things NOT to Do When You Have a Sprained Wrist, The top reasons why you should wear a knee brace when biking, a complete list of injury treatments to work alongside bracing2. [3] In general, Grade 1 sprains have the least amount of swelling, whereas Grade 3 sprains trigger the most.