Wrist pain is a common symptom that can have a variety of causes.
The wrist plays a pivotal role in how we use our hands and fingers. Pain or injury in the wrist can have significant negative effects on what we can do with our hands, which can affect our work, hobbies, and quality of life. If you suffer from wrist pain, there could be a variety of causes behind it. Let’s take a look at some of the more common causes of wrist pain.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In this condition, the median nerve is compressed in a narrow passageway in the wrist. This can be caused by an inflamed tendon in the area, nerve swelling, or repetitive use. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include pain, numbness, or tingling in the fingers that can extend to the hand, wrist, and forearm.
- Injuries are the most common cause of wrist pain. Wrist injuries can happen from incorrectly lifting objects, overexertion during exercise or falls and car accidents that involve blunt force trauma to the wrist. When an injury happens, wrist pain can either be temporary or long term. Short-term pain goes away in a few days, and you can resume full functionality of the wrist without any issues. Long-term pain lasts for a significant time period and is often a sign of an underlying issue that needs to be treated or otherwise addressed.
- Repetitive Motion Syndrome. Take a guess as to what causes repetitive motion syndrome. If you guessed repetitive motion, you got it! When a motion is repeated over and over again, it can overwork the joint in the wrist and end up causing injury. If you have a job or hobby that involves you repeating the same motion for several hours at a time (typing on a keyboard, gripping things tightly, handling heavy items with your hands and arms), you may develop repetitive motion syndrome.
- Osteoarthritis is a joint condition that involves inflammation at the joint and deterioration of joint cartilage. Cartilage is a rubbery material that covers the ends of bones meeting at a joint. It allows the bones to smoothly glide against each other without causing irritation. Osteoarthritis causes this buffer to break and wear away. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, including the joints located at the wrist. Individuals with a family history of the condition are more likely to develop osteoarthritis.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis that involves inflammation at the joints of the body. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks healthy cartilage at the joints. Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis experience pain, inflammation, and reduced range of motion in multiple joints that can include the wrists.
- Wrist tendonitis happens when the tendons in the wrist are inflamed, irritated, or develop tears. Symptoms include pain, swelling, heat, and a lump forming along the tendon. Tendonitis can happen in a variety of body parts including the elbow, finger, or ankle. Wrist tendonitis most often happens due to repetitive movements or overuse of the wrist.
Wrist pain can significantly limit the use of your hands and prevent you from doing the things that are important to you such as work, chores, and hobbies. If you are experiencing wrist pain, talk to an orthopedic physician who specializes in wrist conditions to get the right diagnosis and effective treatment options.
At Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, you will find high-quality patient care from board-certified orthopedic and plastic surgeons with expertise in treating myriad health problems affecting the shoulder, arm, wrist, elbow, and hand. If you are experiencing wrist pain or any other type of musculoskeletal problem in the upper extremities, the highly experienced doctors and surgeons of Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder would love to help. Call (410) 296-6232 today to make an appointment. You can also request an appointment online.
