Most people think of wrist pain after hand or wrist fractures, crush injuries, or falls causing sprains or strains.
But about 10% of people or more will suffer from insidious (that comes out of nowhere) wrist pain at one point or another. Especially those that tend to have jobs that demand heavier work.
It’s amazing that it’s not more considering everything we do and use our hands and wrist for. I’ve seen a lot more people coming to our clinic as people’s jobs require more sitting in front of computers.
The good news is that there is plenty you can do on your own to help yourself recover from wrist pain naturally. But there’s just as much you can do – unknowingly – to make your situation worse.
Here are some Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to wrist pain.
The Don’t
- Don’t wear braces with an undetermined stop time
braces can help initially when you have a lot of pain or after an injury. What hurts people, in the long run, is there is no plan or prescription of a wear schedule and the best time to discharge the use.
- Don’t overstretch if you have a lot of motion but feel stiff
people with insidious wrist pain tend to already have a lot of motion, so stretching can feel good at the moment but cause more pain later on. It’s important to determine that.
- Don’t wait for MRIs to decide on treatments
most insidious wrist pain have to do with muscle imbalance between the hand muscles, the wrist muscles, and others. MRIs will only look at one area – that’s the ligaments of the wrist. The limited scope can leave you empty of the answers and solutions you are looking for.
The Do’s
- Keep moving
if you didn’t fall or break anything, then don’t be afraid to move and use your hands and arms. Figuring out when it hurts gives us insight into why it hurts and gives us the ability to naturally fix the problem.
- If you have lost motion, stretching can be good
stretching is GOOD if you have lost motion. Maybe you wore the splint too long, or had a past injury that limited your wrist motion. There are so many scenarios, but stretching should feel good and the results should last.
- Talk to a hand specialist
It’s completely up to you to get rid of wrist pain without taking pills all the time, and avoid things like injections and surgery. Part of getting help is knowing it’s possible and easier than you think.
Yes, you can wait…do it yourself…or even wait for MRI’s and more invasive procedures….but if you are looking for natural ways of getting rid of wrist pain…we are here to help.
Request to speak with our hand experts and get clear on what you can do to get rid of wrist pain. If we can’t help naturally because we found something is worn and you need surgery, we’ll refer you to the best hand surgeons in the area.
Written by Hoang Tran
About the author – Hoang Tran: an expert in hand therapy
Hoang Tran is a certified hand therapist, the owner of Hands-on Therapy Services, and the 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 practice 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 or wrist condition, 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.
PS. Seven step by step tips that you can start right away to recover quicker after hand, wrist or shoulder surgery. Click for the After Surgery Guide.
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.
