One of the most common wrist injuries is a sprain. It may not particularly be a medical emergency, but it still requires treatment nonetheless. A sprained wrist is more often than not caused by a fall, sports injury, or overuse.
But, no matter how painful or burdensome the injury is, the first thing people ask is, “How long does a sprained wrist take to heal?” However, the answer to that is a little complicated.
Despite the toll a wrist sprain takes on your health, there are quite a few factors that affect its recovery. To learn more about all the symptoms, causes, and healing time of a sprained wrist, keep on reading this blog.
Sprained Wrist Symptoms
You can tell you’re dealing with a sprained wrist if two or more of the following symptoms arise together:
- Sharp stabbing pain in the wrist.
- Difficulty moving wrist or fingers.
- Swollen wrist.
- Bruising or slight discoloration of the skin.
- Your wrist feels warm and tender.
- You hear popping sounds every time you move the wrist.
What Causes A Sprained Wrist
A wrist sprain typically results from physical trauma occurring to your hand. Any of the events mentioned below can be the cause of it.
- Falling in a position that impacts your wrist the most.
- Playing aggressive sports.
- Carrying something extremely heavy without safety gear.
- The wrist suddenly snaps or bends at an odd angle.
- A heavy weight falls on top of the wrist.
- Overusing the wrist in repetitive motions.
- Certain underlying healing conditions, such as an infection or arthritis.
How Long Does A Sprained Wrist Take To Heal?
Depending on the severity of the condition, a wrist sprain can take anywhere between 24 hours to 8 weeks to heal. This might seem like a huge difference, but the recovery time can vary significantly based on what caused the sprain.
For instance, if you had a minor sprain, the pain will likely disappear within a day or two and heal within 2 weeks. On the other hand, in case of a severe injury, it can take you a total of 6 to 12 weeks to recover, especially if it requires surgery.
Different Methods To Treat A Sprained Wrist
The very first thing a doctor will do is conduct an X-ray. This will help evaluate your condition, which allows for a suitable treatment option to be chosen, such as the following:
- The RICE Method (Rest – Ice – Compression – Elevation)
- Wearing A Splint or Brace
- Wrist Sprain Arthroscopic Surgery
Closing Word
Dealing with a sprained wrist is not exactly a walk in the park, but it certainly can be the cause of it.
If you recently suffered from a fall or any other type of physical trauma that affected your wrist, do not wait to see how long it takes to heal. Instead, visit Internal Medicine Diagnostic Centre at once for proper evaluation and treatment.
You can reach out to us by dialing (281) 252-8600 or visiting our clinic at either of the following locations:
- Magnolia: 18550 N. 6th Street Magnolia, Texas 77354.
- Houston: 13644 Breton Ridge Suite B Houston, Texas 77070.