2. Icing the thumb is another tip to treat a sprained thumb.
Ice will reduce the pain and swelling. Apply the ice as soon as you notice that your thumb is a sprain. Apply the ice to the sprained thumb for 20 minutes at a time. It can be applied every hour.
It is a good idea to not place the ice directly onto the skin because you could get frostbite. It is a good idea to have a clean cloth and place the cloth onto the sprained thumb. Put the ice on the cloth and let it stay there for 20 minutes. Keep the thumb as still as possible when icing.
There is no need to keep moving the ice to see if the swelling has gone down. It will take a while before swelling will go away. When you finish icing, leave the thumb in a resting position since you want to limit the amount of movement.