Wrist pain affects everything… writing, cooking, driving, cleaning, washing, and even eating. It’s no wonder, then, that discomfort in your wrist can make you feel frustrated, sick and tired, and generally exasperated at most things in life. We’ve seen countless patients give up on the things they love most due to daily, nagging wrist pain. This is not a situation we want to see you in.
We understand how desperately you need relief, and that’s why this special blog post looks at why some people experience wrist pain, what it really is, and – thankfully – what can be done to relieve you of your daily soreness.
We want you to start taking the right actions to get back to the pain-free life you deserve. So, let’s get started.
Many people fail to ask themselves one simple question: why do my wrists hurt? When it comes to wrist pain, most individuals put it down to daily stress, working at their computers, or generally just moving incorrectly during the day. Sure, these can affect wrist health, but oftentimes it can be a little less clear. Knowing why your wrist hurts is essential in getting rid of the pain: only by knowing why you’re in discomfort can you ultimately treat the root cause of the problem. In fact, failing to find out why your wrist hurts will, in many cases, ultimately worsen the issue.
So, let’s give you some answers to why your wrists may hurt. There are many different possible reasons for the pain. You might find some of the following familiar contributors, but others may surprise you. Take a look:
Repetitive Motions
Repeating motions over a long time may cause wrist pain. If one’s motions aren’t varied, the muscles in the wrist may not be as mobile as needed, causing discomfort and stress over time.
Activities involving repeated motions include those found in tennis, knitting, writing, typing, texting, and driving. It is important to understand that allowing one’s wrists to rest during these repeated motions is vital: rest allows the muscles and ligaments to recover.
Technology Stress
Repeated actions resulting from handling technological devices contribute directly to wrist pain. By repeatedly using phones, keyboards, or gaming consoles in particular ways, one’s wrists are directly exposed to injury and pain.
Unexpected Impact
For obvious reasons, falling on one’s wrist may result in serious injury and pain. Because wrists are fragile areas of the body, they are incapable of absorbing large amounts of stress or pressure. As a result, the results of a fall on one’s wrists may include anything from strains and sprains to fractures and breaks.
Cartilage Deterioration
Individuals who have arthritis generally complain of wrist pain. The affliction greatly affects the cartilage in these areas: it weakens and becomes brittle over time, causing intense pain and discomfort.
It seems, therefore, that there is a multitude of ways in which you can injure your wrist. But why? Is the wrist a particularly vulnerable area of the body, or are most of us just a little clumsy?
The truth is that it might be a little of both. The wrist itself is an intricate, complicated structure. Made of 8 small carpal bones in 2 rows, each of which is four bones wide, wrists are constructed so that they are easily hurt or damaged. Yet, it doesn’t all come down to intricacy: people tend not to take care of their wrists as carefully as they should.
In truth, it’s extremely important to be aware of what your wrists feel like, how they react, and how mobile they really are. In addition, all wrist pain must be addressed immediately.
Alright, so how do you know when you need to take action? How do you know it’s serious?
Well, wrist pain varies in degree, but for the most part, it can hamper daily activities. In most cases, it can feel a bit like a toothache: there is discomfort and pain, accompanied by pins-and-needles and tingling sensations. Of course, the intensity of the pain can vary according to the cause of the injury.
The important thing to remember is this: just because you can move your wrist does not mean something isn’t wrong. Always take action… if you wait, you might find yourself worse off. It’s a common misconception to assume that the pain will disappear on its own.
Happily, you don’t need to diagnose yourself. Because of the fragility of your wrists, it’s best to have it looked at by someone qualified to do so. Contacting a professional, hands-on Occupational Therapist is the safest, most effective way of eradicating your wrist pain.
An Occupational Therapist will diagnose the root cause of the problem – and treat it – non-invasively, meaning you’ll finally get the answers you’ve been looking for… and, of course, you’ll be permanently rid of your pain! Moreover, professional, dedicated physio therapists offer hands-on tailor-made exercises and stretches for you to do at home, thereby equipping you with the tools to maintain a pain-free life.
It’s time to take matters into your own hands…pun intended. Wrist pain doesn’t need to keep you from doing the things you love, and it definitely shouldn’t be steering you towards unhealthy quick fixes such as painkillers and the like. With Occupational Therapy, you can confidently tackle your wrist pain and rest easy, knowing that your health is the primary concern.
Mobility and wrist function is absolutely vital in maintaining a good quality of life, and we understand that wrist pain gets in the way of that. We want to help. You do not have to be in pain for even a day longer – visit us now to gain access to the pain-free, mobile, active lifestyle you crave, all with the help of our experienced therapists.
Written by Hoang Tran
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 occupational therapy practice in the Miami area 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.
