Wrist sprain — soft-tissue injury advice
How to look after your wrist, what recovery to expect, and when to seek help.
You have been assessed and no fracture requiring treatment was identified today. A wrist sprain causes pain, bruising and swelling because the ligaments and other soft tissues have been stretched. Most improve with simple care, although recovery can take several weeks.
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
Return to the ED or the urgent service named above if:
- Your fingers become cold, very pale or blue.
- You develop persistent numbness, increasing pins and needles, or new weakness.
- You cannot move your fingers normally.
- Pain or swelling becomes severe, rapidly worsens, or is not helped by the advised pain relief.
- A splint or bandage feels too tight and symptoms do not improve after loosening or removing it as instructed and raising the hand.
- The wrist becomes hot, red or increasingly swollen and you feel feverish or unwell.
- There is new deformity, an open wound or another significant injury.
If tenderness at the base of the thumb (the ‘snuffbox’) persists, or pain and function are not clearly improving after 7–10 days, seek review even if the first X-ray was normal. A small scaphoid fracture may not show on the first X-ray and can need repeat assessment or further imaging. Keep any fracture-clinic appointment you have been given.
For the first 48–72 hours
- Protect the wrist from heavy use, but keep your fingers, thumb, elbow and shoulder moving.
- Remove rings from the injured hand in case it swells.
- Raise the hand above heart level when resting.
- Apply ice wrapped in a damp cloth for up to 15–20 minutes at a time. Do not put ice directly on the skin.
- Wear the splint or support exactly as advised. Remove it for washing and exercises only if the ED team said this is safe.
- Use the pain relief advised by the ED team or pharmacist. Follow the packet or dispensing label, and check it is suitable for your age, pregnancy and your other medicines or conditions.
Getting your wrist moving
- As pain and swelling settle, gently bend the wrist up and down, turn the palm up and down, and move it side to side.
- Move into mild discomfort, not sharp pain. Little and often is better than forcing it.
- Gradually return to normal activities. Avoid heavy lifting and sport until movement and strength are comfortable.
- Most sprains improve over several weeks; more significant sprains may take 6–12 weeks.
If it is not improving
Contact your GP, NHS 111 or the service named in Your care details if pain, swelling or function is not clearly improving after 7–10 days, or if symptoms persist beyond the expected recovery period. Seek advice earlier if you are worried.