Going home after your visit
Wrist sprain — soft-tissue injury advice
How to look after a sprained wrist, and what to watch out for as it heals.
You have a soft-tissue wrist injury (a sprain). The x-ray did not show a broken bone. Most wrist sprains settle over a few weeks. Please read this and keep it handy.
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
this Emergency Department your nearest A&E other:
none needed
Come back to A&E or an urgent treatment centre if any of these happen
These can be signs of a more serious problem and need checking.
- Pain and swelling that is severe, or not settling after a few days
- Your fingers feel numb, tingling, pale or cold
- You cannot move your wrist or fingers
- Pain over the bone at the base of the thumb that is not improving
- The wrist becomes hot and red, with a fever
CALL 999 Pain at the base of the thumb can be a small fracture missed on the first x-ray — please get it checked.
For the first few days
- Rest the wrist, but keep your fingers moving.
- Put ice wrapped in a cloth on it for 15–20 minutes, a few times a day.
- A wrist support or bandage can help, and raise your hand to ease swelling.
- Take off any rings in case the hand swells.
- Avoid heat, alcohol and massage for the first couple of days.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you can take them.
Getting better
- Gently start moving the wrist as the pain settles.
- Most sprains improve over 2–6 weeks.
- If it is not improving, see your GP or a physiotherapist.