Emergency and Urgent Care - Wrist Injury Advice

What is a wrist sprain?

A wrist sprain is an injury that stretches the ligaments and soft tissues that support the bones in the wrist. Common causes of this injury are due to falls onto outstretched hands, sporting injuries where the wrist is bent backwards, or lifting heavy objects.

What are the symptoms?

• Mild ache to sudden pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Inability to move the wrist normally

How is it treated?

P - Painkillers: it is important that you take regular painkillers to reduce the pain and help you keep moving around. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are effective painkillers if they are taken regularly and can be taken at the same time. These medications can be easily purchased over the counter at supermarkets and pharmacies. Please carefully read the instruction leaflet with the medication and only take the recommended dose; there may be reasons why you cannot take these medications, a pharmacist will be able to help you with this.

R - Rest: will help prevent further injury and allow the healing process to begin. For the first 2 days reduce the amount of use of your wrist; gently exercise your wrist to prevent stiffness. Avoid forceful and strenuous activity, such as lifting and gripping until you can do this without it causing pain.
 
I - Ice: can help reduce swelling and reduce pain. Make an ice pack by wrapping a small bag of frozen peas or some crushed ice cubes in a damp towel – DO NOT put ice pack directly onto skin. Put the ice pack on the wrist for up to 20 minutes every 2 hours for the first 3 days after the injury. Then use the ice pack 3 times a day until the swelling has gone down. DO NOT eat food that has been thawed and refrozen.

M - Mobilisation: early movement has been shown to help sprained wrists to heal more quickly. Using the exercises in this leaflet will help you to regain movement and build up strength in your injured wrist.

E - Elevation: keeping your injured wrist raised above the level of your shoulder for the first 2 days after your injury. This will help to decrease the swelling and pain. Try resting your affected arm on one or two pillows, or rest your affected hand on the opposite shoulder.

Compression: We no longer offer compression bandages for sprains, because they appear to have no beneficial effect on how quickly or fully you recover.

What to avoid

H - Heat: hot baths, saunas and heat packs will increase swelling and bleeding.
A - Alcohol/Smoking: reduces healing and increases swelling and bleeding.
R - Rench: lifting and pulling heavy objects too soon can worsen pain and prolong healing.
M - Massage: may increase swelling and bleeding.

Recovery

Healing of the ligaments normally takes about 6 weeks, although everyone recovers from injuries at different rates. Healing time is related to how severe your injury is and any other medical problems you may have.

As healing gets underway, it is important that you begin a series of exercises to help you get back the full use of your wrist by improving its flexibility and strength. This will help to reduce the risk of further sprains.

Returning to physical activity

• Returning to sport and work will depend on the demands of your job or chosen sport
• Recovery is faster if you stay at work, or go back to work as early as possible
• You may need to gradually return to work, do light duties initially, or have regular breaks
• Once you have regained movement and strength you can slowly start to increase your activity back to your previous level

Driving

It is important that you contact your insurance company to let them know about your injury. You may be able to drive once you are able to perform an emergency stop safely and fully operate your vehicle.

Exercises:

• Exercising your hand and arm will help reduce any swelling and help ease the pain from stiff joints
• These exercises will be most effective if completed “little & often”, and can help speed up your recovery
• They can be done every 2 hours
• Start exercising slowly and smoothly, build up the repetitions and range of movement gradually until you have reached full range of movement
• Try to carry out 10 repetitions of each exercise
• Pain can increase initially but will soon settle down within a few days of starting the exercises

• Bend and straighten your elbow fully
• Repeat 10 times

• Lift your arm above your head
• Place your hand behind your head
• Place your hand behind your back
• Repeat 10 times

• Bend your fingers to touch your palm
• Then fully straighten your fingers
• Repeat 10 times
• To add a stretch, push the fingers into the palm using your other hand and hold for 5 seconds

• Take your thumb and touch the tip of each finger.
• Then take your thumb and touch the base of your little finger
• Repeat 10 times

• Keeping your fingers relaxed and your forearm supported over the edge of a table
• Bend your wrist downwards as far as possible
• Lift your wrist upwards as far as possible
• Repeat 10 times

• Keeping your fingers relaxed and your forearm supported over the edge of a table
• Bend your wrist downwards as far as possible
• Then add a gentle stretch using your other hand and hold for 5 to 10 seconds
• Lift your wrist upwards as far as possible
• Then add a gentle stretch using your other hand and hold for 5 to 10 seconds
• Repeat 10 times

• Either with your hand flat on a table, or with your forearm supported on the edge of a table
• Bend your wrist towards your thumb and then towards your little finger
• Repeat 10 times

• With your elbows on a table place your palms together (as in prayer)
• Slide your elbows apart but keep palms pressed together
• Hold for 5 seconds for a gentle stretch
• Repeat 10 times

• With your elbow tucked into your side
• Turn your palm upwards
• Turn your palm downwards
• Repeat 10 times

Physiotherapy

If you are unsure about what to do and feel you need support with your rehabilitation, then you can always go to see a Physiotherapist.

If you live in the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale area, you can refer yourself by using the following link:
www.physiodirect.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Work

If you do not feel capable of working either due to pain or reduced movement/mobility, you are able to self-certify sickness for the first 7 days.

You must complete a self-certification form found on the government website and give this to your employer. This entitles you to statutory sick pay from your employer for up to 7 days.

To access the self-certification form follow this link:
https:// www.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-sickpay- employees-statement-of-sickness-sc2

If you feel you need longer than 7 days off work, you must contact your GP for a sick note. The Urgent Treatment Centre does not issue sick notes.

Possible complications

If follow up has been arranged, you should attend this.

If your injury does not require, follow up you will have been given an approximate recovery time during your visit to the Urgent Treatment Centre.

If the pain is ongoing despite treatment and analgesia.

You experience tingling/change in sensation to the arm please contact Rochdale Urgent Treatment Centre on 01706 517023 or return to the department.