About this topic
The wrist is made up of many small bones. There are more small bones in the hand. You also have two bones in your lower arm. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that hold your bones together. There are also some muscles and tendons in your wrist. These attach to the bones and help move the wrist up, down, or sideways. Nerves and blood vessels also run through your wrist. Damage or injury to any of these structures can lead to wrist pain and problems. Some common wrist injuries are: ‚
- Broken bone
- Sprains and tears of ligaments
- Problems from using the wrist to do the same thing over and over. These often involve nerves.
- Swelling and irritation of tendons
Other health problems like joint swelling or gout can cause problems with your wrist ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Rest your wrist and hand as much as possible. Do not do motions that make your problem worse.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Prop your hand on pillows to help with swelling.
- Wear a cast, splint, or wrist brace to keep your wrist from bending too much if your doctor tells you to do this. It may be a good idea to sleep with the brace on at night.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctors may ask you to make visits to the office or clinic to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- You may also need to see a physical therapist (PT). The PT will teach you exercises to help you get back your strength and motion.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling, like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). These are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
- Help with pain, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)
The doctor may give you a shot of an anti-inflammatory drug called a corticosteroid. This will help with swelling. Talk with your doctor about the risks of this shot. ‚
Will physical activity be limited?
You may need to rest your wrist for a while. You should not do physical activity that makes your health problem worse. If you work out or play sports, you may not be able to do those things until your health problem gets better. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Loss of wrist movement and strength
- Ongoing pain or stiffness
- Long-term disability
- Injury to nerves, blood vessels, or other tissues
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Do gentle stretching exercises before doing tough movements with your wrist and hands.
- Avoid doing repeat movements with your wrist and hand, if possible. If you have to do repeat movements, take rest breaks often. If you have an assembly job, try alternating tasks, if possible.
- When picking up heavy objects, use both hands together. Bend your knees and keep your back straight. Keep your wrists in a straight position and use your shoulders and elbows to help.
- Use protective equipment and padding, like wrist guards, when playing play sports.
- If you have balance problems, use a cane or walker for safe walking.
- Be especially careful in winter weather to avoid slipping on ice.
- Keep your home clutter-free to lessen your chances of falling. Keep the house well-lit. Use shower mats to avoid slipping in a wet shower.
- If you sit at a computer, make sure your keyboard, mouse, desk, and chair are in the right positions so you do not put stress on the wrist. Think about using a special mouse and keyboard that are made to protect your wrist and hand.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Hand or fingers turn blue, feel cold, or feel numb or tingling
- More pain and swelling
- Wrist and hand gets weaker
- You have a cast, splint, or brace and it feels too tight
- Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my injured area.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have more pain or numbness and tingling or swelling.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00023 ‚
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine ‚
http://www.sportsmed.org/uploadedFiles/Content/Patient/Sports_Tips/4ST%20Wrist%20Injury.pdf ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚