How do you treat a sprained wrist?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Rest it briefly, ice 15 to 20 minutes at a time (cloth-wrapped), wrap snugly, elevate above heart level, and take acetaminophen or ibuprofen - then start gentle movement after the first couple of days, because wrists stiffen fast. Get an X-ray instead if you heard a snap, cannot move or grip, see deformity, have marked tenderness in the thumb-side hollow (scaphoid fractures hide as sprains), feel finger numbness, or see no improvement after a week. A pharmacy splint is fine short-term but should not become permanent - stiffness is the enemy. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can walk you through the checks.
What to do
- Ice, wrap, elevate early: 15 to 20 minutes per icing, bandage snug but not tight.
- Start gentle movement at day 2 or 3: gradual loading heals faster than prolonged rest.
- Check the snuffbox: deep thumb-side tenderness after a fall means rule out scaphoid.
- X-ray the exceptions: snap, deformity, no grip, numbness, or no progress in a week.
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