We have been getting a lot of calls lately about wrist pain!
I don’t know if people are tired of being home and starting to do more outside activities or just noticing more pain due to all the heavy rains that we are getting.
(Yes, sometimes the weather changes can make you feel your aches and pain more than usual.)
But wrist problems can be easy to ignore at first, especially if you did not fall on your hands or do anything heavy. Wrist pain tends to come and go and doesn’t interfere with your everyday work and living at first.
Here are three of the most common causes of wrist pain and what you can do to resolve it.
1. General Wrist Tendonitis:
General wrist tendonitis is characterized by pain anywhere around the side or back of the wrist – and usually, gripping or weight-bearing can cause a lot of pain. With wrist tendonitis, the source of the problem typically has to do with imbalance around the elbow area since the muscles of the wrist start at the elbow.
It’s very tempting just to wear a brace or get a cortisone shot – to reduce the inflammation caused by this wear and tear. But then you’re only addressing the symptoms.
If you truly want to end wrist tendonitis, you’ll need to find the cause of this problem.
Typically, it’s from movement habits resulting from an imbalance somewhere between your elbow and shoulder. When you figure that out, you’ll restore healthy, balanced movement in your wrist again – and reduce the aggravation at your hand and wrist.
2. De Quervain’s tendonitis:
This wrist pain is at the base of your thumb area and usually hurts when grabbing and twisting. At it’s worse, you can’t even pull your pants up and down.
Again, you can wear a wrist brace, get a cortisone shot, or wait until it’s worse so that you can become a candidate for surgery.
The most common treatment for De Quervain’s is to wear a brace for one month – but you have to get the right brace. It’s called a thumb spica and should stop the thumb from moving but not the tip of the thumb.
Worn too long or having a wrong-wearing schedule can make it worse. So make sure to come out of the splint and gently move in a pain-free range. But if you can’t wean from the splint, it might be time to get professional help.
3. Carpal tunnel syndrome:
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a very common reason people call us for wrist pain. It’s a combination of wrist pain and hand pain. But the most important component of this problem is the numbness in the tips of the fingers.
CTS usually is associated with numbness and hand/wrist pain that wakes you up at night.
One of the ways to start to treat it yourself is with an over-the-counter wrist brace. Wear it every night for one month. Then wean out of it. If it’s still causing you pain when you wake up, or you have a lot more pain during the day, it may not just be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
If you have tried:
- Using a brace
- Stretching
- Cortisone shots
….and your wrist pain is still there…consider giving us a call and requesting to speak to our hand specialist, especially if you are serious about avoiding pills, injections, and surgery.
Wrist pain usually gets worse when pills and injections don’t help. Some wrist pain is so generalized that surgery is not even an option.
So call us at 786-615-9879 or talk to our therapist for free if you have any questions about wrist pain that hasn’t gone away. We are happy to answer any questions you have about your wrist pain.
No matter if it’s been weeks, months, or years – it is possible to get rid of it as long as you figure out what’s causing it in the first place.
About the author – Hoang Tran
Hoang Tran is a certified hand therapist , the owner of Hands-on Therapy Services and author of the book “The Hands-On Approach”. She loves helping people with hand, neck and shoulder problems, because she knows how bad and debilitating they can get if not addressed and treated properly (once and for all!).
The aim of her Miami occupational therapy is to bring patients back to full functionality, without pills, injections or surgery. Occupational and Physical Therapy are both offered at Hands-On Therapy by our experienced therapists who provide a comprehensive approach to your care.
If you are struggling with hand and wrist pain, including
or any other hand, elbow or neck injuries, speak with one of our specialists for FREE by signing up for a 30-minute Discovery Visit here! Talk to our specialist first before booking any paid session. We like to ensure that we can help you before taking you on as a client.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
