Hand and wrist pain caused by injuries can cause a lot of trouble and delay with the tasks that a person needs to carry out which is why medical attention must be sought at the first appearance of signs and symptoms. Common causes for injuries may be sprain and strain. A person experiences sprain when ligaments are overstretched or torn. When this happens to your muscles and tendons, the term becomes strain. Typically, the treatment consists of rest, ice, compress and elevation of the affected area. A person experiencing sprain or strain may manifest signs and symptoms such as pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising, redness on the affected area and limited movement. It is important to go and see a physician when moving the affected area can cause intense pain or when the area becomes numb.

Treatment depends on the severity of the injury. It can be as simple as an over the counter pain reliever to surgical procedures. Medications usually prescribed are those to relieve pain. It may be ibuprofen or acetaminophen. However, for severe injuries, surgery might be recommended to repair the damaged muscles, ligaments and tendons. When medical attention is not accessible for the moment, you can start relieving the pain felt because of the injury. Let the affected area rest and as much as possible immobilize it so that further damage can be prevented. If you are working in the office and typing on a computer most of the time, take a break. Continuing what you are doing will only make the swelling and pain worse. Apply ice on the affected area immediately. This will help you reduce the pain, swelling and inflammation. Just make sure you do not over apply the ice. Fifteen minutes will be enough and you can just repeat it every two hours depending on the severity of pain that you feel. Compression can also be applied on the affected area. Make sure that the compression is not too tight or loose, just enough to reduce the swelling. Elevate the affected area especially at night. Gravity helps in reducing the amount of extra fluid that has the tendency to accumulate on the area thus the swelling.

Injuries can happen anywhere so it is important to be careful all the time. If you are active in sports, wear protective gear to prevent yourself from getting hurt. When you spend most of the time in the office typing, choose equipment which are suited for you and can decrease the risk of having yourself injured. Make sure that your hand, wrist and forearm form a straight line when you use the keyboard. Take breaks in between to allow your hands and wrists rest and prevent getting them overworked. It is also important to seek medical attention as soon as possible so that tests can be made. A fracture can pose as a sprain or strain in the beginning so undergoing tests can identify what condition you are having. Correct diagnosis is essential in giving the right treatment.

Author Bio: Sharon Campbell enjoys writing for Uniformhaven.com which sells landau uniform pants and landau 7602 as well as a host of additional products.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: sprain,strain,hand and wrist pain