Sprained Wrist

The 3 Categories of Wrist Sprain

Grade 1 is minor damage to the ligament and some pain. Grade 2 is more severe damage to the ligament, looseness of the joint and even some loss of function. And Grade 3 is very severe looseness of the joint and loss of function and a completely torn ligament.

Treatment Options

Rest for the first 48 hours and ice your wrist every 2-3 hours for several days following your initial injury. This will reduce a lot of your pain caused by swelling. Elevating your wrist will also reduce the swelling and encourage optimal blood flow and healing to the sites of injury. With the help of a support product or brace during times you are not at home resting, you will keep the site warm, with optimal circulation and prevention of over-use or further damage or contact injury. You may want to use this apparatus beyond healing, just to prevent injury from occurring again. It’s also a great product to have around if you’re an athlete and/or are prone to these types of injuries.

Types of Support Products Available

Unlike a rigid brace that you might wear while sleeping to keep the wrist in a neutral position during rest, a wrist support is a softer sport material that allows for ease of movement. Think of an athletic sleeve for an elbow. This product is much like that in the way that it keeps the joint warm and reduces swelling during use.

Your Future Wrist

Healing time has a wide range dependent on the initial trauma and the patient. It could take 2 weeks. It could take 12 weeks. It’s important not to use your wrist, hand or fingers too much during healing to prevent permanent damage. You can resume activity once you are experiencing neither pain when you grip objects or in comparison to your non-injured side. If pain persists beyond 3 months, you and your doctor can discuss further treatment options such as surgery or physical therapy/strengthening exercises.