How do I know it is just a sprain and not a fracture?
You often cannot tell from pain alone – which is exactly the problem. The key warning sign is tenderness in the anatomical snuffbox (the hollow at the base of the thumb), which raises concern for a scaphoid fracture. Because scaphoid fractures can be invisible on early X-rays, we do not simply clear a tender wrist on one normal film – we re-examine, re-image, or use MRI/CT when suspicion is real. Getting this right prevents the classic avoidable disaster of a missed scaphoid fracture.
Why is a missed ligament tear such a big deal?
Because of what it leads to. A torn scapholunate ligament that is missed can slowly destabilise the wrist and, over years, cause a predictable pattern of wrist arthritis (SLAC wrist) that is far harder to treat than the original injury. A wrist that clicks, clunks, gives way or stays painful beyond a few weeks deserves proper investigation rather than reassurance. This is why we take persistent symptoms seriously instead of dismissing them.
How long does a simple wrist sprain take to heal?
Genuine simple sprains usually settle in about 2-6 weeks with early protection and a graded return of movement, strength and grip. More significant ligament injuries take longer and some need surgical repair, while fractures follow their own bone-healing timelines. We give you a realistic timeline once we are confident of the diagnosis – and we re-investigate any wrist that is not improving as a simple sprain should.
Should I keep my wrist completely still until it heals?
No – for a simple sprain, prolonged rigid immobilisation causes stiffness and weakness. We protect it early, then reintroduce movement, grip and wrist-stability training as the pain settles. The balance is protection early, controlled loading soon after – guided so you neither stiffen up nor overload a healing ligament.
What is a TFCC injury I have read about?
The triangular fibrocartilage complex is a structure on the little-finger side of the wrist, commonly injured by twisting loads (falls, racquet and bat sports). It causes ulnar-sided wrist pain and clicking, and it is one more reason we examine the whole wrist rather than assuming every post-fall wrist pain is a simple back-of-wrist sprain. Many TFCC injuries settle with rehabilitation; some need further treatment.
When is surgery indicated?
For the injuries hiding behind the sprain, not the sprain itself: displaced or non-healing scaphoid fractures, significant scapholunate or other carpal ligament tears causing instability, and certain TFCC tears that fail conservative care. Simple ligament sprains essentially never need surgery. This is precisely why accurate diagnosis comes first – so the few injuries that genuinely need surgical repair are identified early, and the many that do not are rehabilitated.
