The wrists are very complex anatomically, with lots of little bones, ligaments, muscles, and nerves running through it. It is also subject to a lot of use, particularly in our age of technology. I remeber from the old Jetson’s cartoons George Jetson used to get a big swollen finger from all the button pressing, and we’ve seen that really happening..well not so much with fingers, but more often with wrists.

If due to trauma or overuse you begin to experience acute wrist pain, it’s important to follow the RICE protocol.

Rest: try to limit motion at he involved wrist. This may be best accomplished by wearing a wrist splint, which will immobilize and protect the wrist as it heals.

Ice: Using an ice pack or performing ice massage to the affected area using ice cubes will help to reduce both pain and swelling.

Compress: compression helps to provide warmth, comfort, and protection to the wrist and limits swelling. Some neoprene splints provide compression. You may also use an ace bandage or the self adhesive ace wraps available at most drug stores.

Elevate: If there is very significant swelling, such as from a fracture, it’s important to elevate the wrist and hand above the level of the heart (after emergency medical treatment and care are administered). This will help prevent complications during healing and speed up the recovery process.

If possible, try to prevent wrist injuries by keeping the wrists in a neutral position, using good posture, and taking frequent breaks to stretch the muscles of the wrist and elbow.