Anyone can struggle with chronic wrist pain, but your risk is highest if you’re engaged in sports or have a job that places stress on your wrist.
If you spend your days in pain, don’t wait to consult the caring Cascade Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center, P.C. team. Even if you sought medical care and gave up when your pain didn’t improve, our expertise can help you get relief and regain optimal wrist function.
Here’s a rundown of the most common causes of wrist pain and examples of treatments to restore your health.
Chronic wrist pain has many possible causes, but most arise from the following categories:
Traumatic injuries like wrist fractures and sprains are among the top causes of wrist pain. Though most fractures heal without further problems, an estimated 16% of people develop ongoing wrist pain.
Spraining your wrist results in chronic pain when pulled or torn ligaments don’t fully heal. As a result, you have enduring wrist weakness, ligament instability, and chronic pain.
Overuse injuries occur when you keep making the same movements with your wrist, hand, or fingers. Frequent repetition stresses the soft tissues (tendons, nerves, ligaments, and muscles), causing inflammation, scar tissue, and tears.
The most common overuse injuries affecting your wrist are carpal tunnel syndrome (the nerve gets pinched in the tunnel) and tendonitis (swollen, inflamed tendons).
Unlike traumatic injuries, overuse conditions develop gradually, causing pain that’s mild at first and then keeps getting worse. You may also have tingling and numbness if you have a pinched nerve.
Your wrist is vulnerable to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis develops as the bones’ protective cartilage wears away. Rheumatoid arthritis causes joint inflammation and bone damage when the immune system attacks the joint.
Both types are incurable, progressive diseases causing chronic pain, stiffness, and the increasing loss of wrist movement.
No matter what causes your wrist pain or how long you’ve struggled with it, our team can help.
We customize your therapy based on your diagnosis, the type and extent of your symptoms, and whether you had any prior treatments. The following are a few examples of the treatments we often use to relieve chronic wrist pain:
Many chronic pain conditions, especially overuse injuries, improve when we immobilize your wrist. This approach works by giving the tissues time to heal.
The type of immobilization and how long you need it depends on your diagnosis. For example, in the early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome, you may only need to wear a brace at night.
Physical therapy is essential for virtually every type of wrist pain because it accelerates healing, reduces inflammation, rebuilds strength, and optimizes wrist and hand movement.
Your therapy may also include ergonomic training or rehabilitation to restore the function needed to return to sports or your job.
Inflammation causes chronic pain, which means anti-inflammatory medications are often part of your initial treatment.
We may recommend joint injections of corticosteroids, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), or hyaluronic acid. Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory medicines, and PRP is a regenerative treatment that accelerates healing.
Hyaluronic acid is a treatment for wrist osteoarthritis. This injection lubricates the joint, easing pain and improving mobility.
We have extensive experience performing wrist arthroscopy to diagnose the cause of your chronic wrist pain and repair the underlying problem. For example, we may stabilize a fracture, remove pressure inside the carpal tunnel, or repair a torn ligament.
Don’t wait to seek help for persistent wrist pain. In addition to needing a healthy wrist to get through daily life, you shouldn’t put up with pain, and waiting longer only aggravates the problem and increases the pain.
Call the nearest Cascade Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center, P.C. office in Hood River or The Dalles, Oregon, today or connect online to request a wrist evaluation.
