Wrist sprain is a common injury in most types of sports. One momentary loss of balance is all it takes to sprain the wrist. Falling on an outstretched hand can lead to stretching of the ligaments that connect the wrist & hand a little too far. This may result in tiny tears or even a complete break of the ligament.
While falls are the most common cause of wrist sprains, they may also occur when you get hit in the wrist or exert too much pressure on the wrist or twist the wrist.
Wrist sprains are often seen in athletes involved in basketball, baseball, skateboarding & gymnastics. However, they can happen to anyone who has a fall & gets injured on the wrist.
How to identify a wrist sprain?
In general, you may have the following symptoms when you sprain your wrist.
- ✔ Pain
- ✔ Inflammation
- ✔ Warmth, tenderness or redness
- ✔ Bruising
- ✔ Loss of motion
- ✔ Weakness
Wrist sprains are often classified into three grades based on the extent & severity of the damage. Grade 1 refers to pain with minor damage to the ligament. Grade 2 indicates pain with severe damage to the ligament, mild looseness of the joint & some loss of function. Grade 3 refers to pain, completely torn ligament, loss of function & complete looseness of the joint.
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To diagnose a wrist sprain, your orthopedic doctor would first conduct a physical examination. He or she may also recommend the following tests
- ✔ X Ray
- ✔ MRI
- ✔ Arthrogram or
- ✔ Arthroscopy
Most minor wrist sprains can heal on their own. To speed up the process, you can do the following:
- ✔ Rest your wrist for a couple of days
- ✔ Ice it to reduce pain & swelling
- ✔ Compress the wrist using a bandage
- ✔ Elevate the wrist above the heart as often as possible
- ✔ Consider taking pain killers
- ✔ Practice stretching & strengthening exercises.
If your wrist sprain does not heal within a few days, consult an expert orthopedic surgeon. At Elite Orthopedics, we offer the best treatment for wrist pain. Our doctor