Wrist Pain: Causes & Treatment Options
Dr. Ritu Sethi
Oct 3, 2024•3 min read
Facing intense wrist joint pain? Well, it is seen affecting people of all age groups. Wrist pain causes are usually a traumatic injury, repetitive strain, or various types of underlying medical conditions. This is one such condition that could momentarily reduce the quality of your lifestyle. Knowing some of the possible wrist pain symptoms and treatment options will help you to handle the discomfort in a more optimal manner.
Causes Of Wrist Pain
The reason for wrist joint pain can be either from injury to chronic conditions. Below are some of the most common wrist pain causes:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome arises from pressure on the median nerve caused by compression through the carpal tunnel in your wrist. The nerve controls sensations for your thumb, index finger, and part of the middle finger. The repetitive motion of the hand, including typing or using a mouse, causes carpal tunnel syndrome. Numbness and a tingling sense may precipitate wrist pain.
Wrist Injury
Injuries such as sprains, fractures, or strains can be extremely painful for the wrist. A wrist sprain results when the ligaments in the wrist are overstretched or ruptured, often due to falling on an outstretched hand. In the case of a fracture, one or more bones within the wrist will have cracked, thereby producing sharp pain, swelling, and bruising. The other type is strain or overstretching of muscles or tendons that may further contribute to wrist pain and limited mobility.
Gout
Gout is an arthritis which arises when the uric acid crystals start collecting in the joint, bringing unbearable pain, and inflammation. Even though gout attacks mainly the big toe, it can sometimes occur in the wrist. Symptoms of gout attacks consist of absolutely quick and acute pain in the wrist, swelling, redness, and tenderness.
Arthritis
There are two types of arthritis affecting wrist joint pain - osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition where the cartilage in the joints progressively wears down, causing stiffness and pain. Rheumatoid arthritis is autoimmune and affects the lining that surrounds the tendons that move the joints: causing the wrists to be inflamed and painful, symmetrically. If you’re wondering about how to manage arthritis, check out the different kinds of three60 arthritis care combo. Some of the combos are Rapid Pain Relief & Joint Mobility Combo and Daily Joint Care & Pain Relief Combo. They help ease wrist joint pain, quickly and effectively, so get yours now!
Ganglion Cysts
Ganglion cysts are non-cancerous, swelling lumps developing near a joint or tendon in the wrist. Fluid-filled sacs can be painful, especially when they compress nerves. Although pain is not always present, larger cysts may provoke aching pains and weakness in the wrist and limited movement of the wrist.
Wrist Tendonitis
Tendonitis of the wrist occurs when tendons, which are connecting muscles to bones, become inflamed due to overuse or repetitive stress. This disease is prevalent among athletes, laborers, and people who engage in repetitive motions involving the wrist. Pain, swelling, and a grinding feeling in the wrist are symptoms of tendonitis in the wrist.
Kienbock’s Disease
Kienbock's disease is a rare condition in which one of the small bones in the wrist-the lunate-loses its blood supply and leads to its necrosis, or breakdown over time. The patient may face pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility of the wrist in most cases. Thus, early diagnosis followed by timely treatment can help avoid permanent damage to the wrist.
Symptoms Of Wrist Pain
The wrist pain symptoms can differ with the reason of wrist joint pain, but few of the common symptoms are:
- Pain or aching: It can be dull in nature or sharp, stinging feeling, constant, or intermittent.
- Swelling: The wrist appears swollen especially right after certain injury, or during flare-up of an arthritic condition like gout
- Weakness or numbness: If there is a nerve compression as in the case of carpal tunnel syndrome, then there is a weakness, or the feeling of numbness running down the hand or the fingers.
- Limited range of motion: Pain or stiffness in the wrist prevents you from doing the usual stuff you need or want to do.
- Grinding or clicking: Grinding or clicking at the joint when you move it can be one of the sensations you feel along with the pain.
Treatments for Wrist Pain
Wrist pain treatment options depend upon the cause and self-care treatments are usually accompanied by medical therapies to offer effective relief from the pain. Some of the common treatment procedures are listed below:
- Rest and Immobilization: Most of the time, it forms the primary line of treatment as giving the wrist some time to heal is mostly regarded as the first major step. The immobilization of the wrist through a splint or brace helps prevent overstrain or injury of the wrist area in question.
- Ice Pack: Applying ice packs on the painful area reduces inflammation, and narcotic agents can be used especially after a direct injury or at the time of flare ups by conditions such as tendonitis or gout.
- Pain killers: Prescription and over-the-counter available medicines such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and diclofenac could help reduce pain and inflammation; relatively powerful drugs might be prescribed for acute cases with a doctor.
- Physical therapy: With the aid of physical therapy, your wrist muscles can be built up to achieve long-term relief through improving the flexibility of the muscles and restoring range of motion. Specific exercises for your condition can prevent future injuries and allow you to heal.
- Steroid injections: For some cases, corticosteroid injections are recommended to reduce inflammation, and this may help alleviate pain temporarily from conditions such as arthritis and tendonitis.
- Surgery: Sometimes, surgery might become the way out; usually, only if the other treatments do not alleviate the problem or in the case of serious tissue damage. So, examples include surgery aimed at lowering pressure from the median nerve which might be due to carpal tunnel syndrome or repairing torn ligaments or fractures.
-Ayurvedic treatments: Ayurveda provides a more holistic approach in treating wrist pain, including anti-inflammatory herbs, oils, and therapeutic massages. Ayurvedic supplements can also help alleviate the inflammation and health conditions of the joints.
Conclusion
Wrist joint pain might be caused by various factors, from acute injuries or chronic conditions. It would be possible to determine the appropriate course of treatment if you identify the symptoms and know why your wrist hurts. Whether you rest at home or visit your doctor for physical therapy or medical intervention, the sooner you do this, the better! Instead of trying self-care measures, seek immediate medical help from a doctor for professional diagnosis and plan of treatment. In some cases, unless treated properly, the lack of pain may lead to serious long-term complications, including permanent loss of mobility.
Joint pain and inflammation can be alleviated by using three60’s arthritis care combos, which will help soothe your wrist joints. They are the best natural remedies for pain and healing, making them great alternatives for people who don’t want to try allopathy. So, are you ready to take control of your wrist pain and improve your joint health? Cause we don’t want wrist joint pain to hold you back!
FAQs
1) What can cause wrist pain without injury?
Wrist pain can be caused by several medical conditions that are not necessarily related to an injury, for example carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, gout, or tendonitis. In addition, wrist pain can often be traced back to repetitive motions and overuse.
2) How do I know if my wrist pain is serious?
Go see a doctor if your wrist aches badly, doesn't improve in a few days, or is accompanied by swelling, numbness, or that you can't move your wrist properly. Assess with a medical professional pain associated with a fall or trauma that involves a deformity, weakness, or numbness.
3) What deficiency causes wrist pain?
At times, the pain in the wrist may be due to deficiencies in other essential nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, or vitamin B12. The weakness of the bones and nerves can cause the aching and discomfort in the wrists and other bony parts of the body.
4) Will wrist pain go away on its own?
Wrist pain often resolves with rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain relievers. If the pain does not go away, becomes worse, or recurs often, you should seek the attention of your doctor so your condition can be assessed and not become something more severe.