Version July 2025
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What are common types of wrist injuries? —
Common types of wrist injuries include:
●Sprains – This is when a ligament in the wrist tears or gets stretched too much. Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that connect bones to other bones.
●Fractures – This means a broken bone. There are different kinds of wrist fractures. Some involve a break in 1 of the small bones in the wrist. Others involve a break in 1 of the forearm bones near the wrist (figure 1). A common type of wrist fracture involves the end of 1 of the forearm bones. It can happen when a person falls onto their outstretched hand.
●Repetitive use injuries – These are caused by doing the same motion over and over.
What are the symptoms of a wrist injury? —
Wrist injuries can cause:
●Pain
●Swelling
●Bruising
●Stiffness
●Weakness in the wrist or arm
●The wrist or arm to look bent
Sprains usually cause less pain and swelling than fractures, but not always.
Will I need tests? —
Probably. Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms and do an exam. They will also ask about how you got hurt, like whether you fell and how you landed. To check for a fracture, the doctor can do an X-ray. They might also do an imaging test such as a CT or MRI scan. Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.
How are wrist injuries treated? —
Treatment depends on the type of injury you have and how severe it is.
If you have a lot of pain or a severe injury, your doctor will prescribe a strong pain medicine. If your injury is mild, your doctor might recommend that you take an over-the-counter pain medicine. Over-the-counter medicines include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).
Treatment for a wrist injury can include 1 or more of the following:
●Resting your wrist
●Keeping your wrist raised above the level of your heart (when possible)
●Putting ice on your wrist – To reduce swelling, you can put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on your wrist every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin. You should put the ice (or other cold object) on your wrist for at least 6 hours after your injury. Some people find it helpful to ice longer, even up to 2 days after their injury.
●Wearing an elastic bandage (such as an ACE wrap)
●Wearing a splint – Splints can be used to limit movement after a sprain or a repetitive use injury. They might also be used while waiting for swelling to get better before putting on a cast.
●Wearing a cast – Casts are usually used to treat fractures. Before your doctor puts the cast on your wrist, they will make sure that your bone is in the correct position. If your bone is not in the correct position, your doctor might do a procedure or surgery to put your bone in the correct position.
●Surgery – Most people with a wrist injury do not need surgery. But people who tore a ligament might need surgery to fix the ligament.
●Physical therapy - After your injury has healed, your doctor might recommend that you work with a physical therapist (exercise expert). They can teach you exercises to strengthen your muscles and help your joints move more easily.
How long do wrist injuries take to heal? —
It depends partly on the type of injury and how severe it is. A mild sprain takes about 1 to 2 weeks to heal. Fractures and repetitive use injuries can take weeks to months to heal.
It also depends on the person. Healthy children usually heal very quickly. Older adults or adults with other medical problems can take much longer to heal.
How can I improve the healing process? —
Follow all of your doctor's instructions while your injury is healing. They might recommend that you eat a healthy diet that includes enough calcium, vitamin D, and protein (figure 2). They will also probably recommend that you avoid doing certain things. For example, they might recommend that you:
●Avoid doing certain physical activities.
●Avoid smoking – A fracture can take longer to heal if you smoke.
●Avoid damaging your cast or getting it wet, if you have a cast that shouldn't get wet.
When should I call the doctor? —
Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to call. In general, call your doctor or nurse if:
●You have severe pain, or your pain or swelling gets worse.
●You have numbness or tingling in your fingers, or your fingers look blue or purple.
●You damage your cast or splint or get it wet, and it's not supposed to get wet.
Patient education: Wrist fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for a splint (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your child's cast (The Basics)
Patient education: Giving your child medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (The Basics)
Patient education: Preventing falls in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Sprains (The Basics)
Patient education: Cast and splint care (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (Beyond the Basics)
