wrist pain

Wrist pain is a condition that causes pain and discomfort in the wrist. It can be caused by a sprained wrist, repetitive use of the wrist for a long period of time, a fractured bone from an accident, median nerve compression in the wrist, or other illnesses such as gout. Wrist pain can be treated with cold compresses, physical therapy, or surgery, depending on the doctor’s diagnosis and the severity of the symptoms.

Wrist pain

Wrist pain can occur in many forms depending on the cause. For example, it can be a dull ache similar to a toothache if it is caused by arthritis, or a pins and needles if it is caused by carpal tunnel syndrome due to nerve compression in the wrist area.

Sometimes, wrist pain may occur along with other symptoms, such as:

• There is pain, numbness and tingling in the hands,especially at night.
• Difficulty in clenching or picking up objects
• A stabbing pain in my hand
• Swollen fingers, swollen and red wrists
• Feel warm in the joint near the wrist.

Patients should see a doctor immediately if the following symptoms appear:

• Symptoms that are signs of septic arthritis include a warm, red wrist and fever.
• Unable to move wrist
• Wrist deformity

Causes of wrist pain

Wrist pain can be caused by a number of things, such as:

• Wrist injuries, such as continuous use of the wrist without resting, such as long-distance driving, using the hand to support a fall, or a fractured wristbone from an accident, etc. Wrist pain from injury may appear together with swelling and bruising.
• Arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, etc., wrist pain from arthritis may appear along with pain, swelling, and joint stiffness.
• Other medical conditions that may cause wrist pain include carpal tunnel syndrome, Kienbock’s Disease or carpal tunnel syndrome, gout, pseudomembranous spondylitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

In addition, wrist pain can be caused by other risk factors, which can happen to anyone, especially those in the following groups:

• People who play sports that heavily use their wrists, such as tennis, bowling, or golf.
• People who have to do activities or work that require heavy use of the wrists or use the wrists continuously for a long time, such as weaving or haircutting, etc.
• People who are sick or in other conditions that put them at risk of having neuropathy,such as pregnancy, being overweight, or having diabetes, etc.

Diagnosis of wrist pain

Diagnosis of wrist pain may vary depending on the doctor’s discretion, as follows:

Physical examination

A physical examination is the initial method for diagnosing wrist pain. The doctor may use different methods depending on the case, such as:

• Watch for swelling or deformity of the wrist.
• Tap on the area above the median nerve at the wrist to see if there is pain.
• Bend the patient’s hand forward for 60 seconds to check for numbness.
• Have the patient move their wrist to observe for limited movement.
• Assess the ability to grasp and hold objects

Diagnostic imaging

Your doctor may use this method in conjunction with other tests to find the cause of your wrist pain.

• X-rays are used to look for abnormalities in bones and joints.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan to look for fractures of bones and joints that may not be visible on X-rays.
• The use of radio waves in combination with a strong magnetic field ( MRI Scan) to take pictures of the tissues and bones of the wrist.
• The use of high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to find abnormalities in tendons, muscles, ligaments, or cysts.

Other methods

Your doctor may also use the following methods to diagnose wrist pain:

• Arthroscopy to find the cause of chronic wrist pain
• Electromyography (EMG) is used when a doctor suspects a patient has hand-to-hand neuropathy to check muscle and nerve responses.
• Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) test to detect nerve damage
• Urine and blood tests to look for other diseases or conditions that may be causing your wrist pain.

Treatment of wrist pain

If the wrist pain is not too severe, the patient may be able to treat themselves by applying a cold compress or supporting the wrist with an elastic bandage. However, if the symptoms are quite severe or chronic, the patient should consult a doctor for appropriate treatment. Because at present, there are many methods of treating wrist pain, which vary according to the age and overall health of the patient, the cause, the severity, the type, and the location of the wrist pain.

The methods for treating wrist pain are as follows:

• Wear a wrist brace to support your wrist and prevent further injuries.
• Apply a cold compress by placing a cold gel pack or ice wrapped in a cloth on the injured area for 2-3 minutes to reduce pain and swelling.
• Medications Certain medications can help relieve wrist pain, including over-the-counter ibuprofen and paracetamol ,or other prescription medications.
• Physical therapy. A physical therapist may be able to help evaluate other factors that may be contributing to your wrist pain and recommend appropriate treatments and exercises to help you recover after wrist surgery or to relieve other wrist and tendon injuries.
• Surgery: Some conditions or diseases that cause wrist pain may require surgery to improve wrist pain, such as surgery to attach metal to bones, surgery to remove some of the fascia to reduce pressure on nerves in the wrist, or surgery to repair damaged or ruptured tendons.

Preventing wrist pain

Although wrist pain can sometimes be caused by unpredictable and preventable accidents, self-care in various ways can help prevent wrist pain. You can do it in the following ways:

• Avoid overusing your wrists, such as when typing for long periods of time. Rest your wrists or move them to other positions. You can use foam or gel to support your wrists while typing to reduce pressure on your wrists.
• Wear shoes that fit properly and are comfortable for your feet, including shoes that are comfortable to walk in, to prevent accidents from losing balance or falling and injuring your wrist.
• Wear wrist protection. When playing sports or doing activities that require a lot of wrist use, choose to wear a soft cloth wrist brace or a hard wrist brace.
• Installing handrails Handrails on stairs or in the bathroom can help prevent accidents like falling down stairs or slipping and injuring your wrist.
• Strengthen bones to prevent fractures. Adults should consume about 1 gram of calciumper day. Women over 50 years old should consume at least 1.2 grams of calcium per day. They should eat foods high in calcium in appropriate amounts. If they want to take calcium supplements, they should always consult a doctor first.
• Take care of your health to prevent illnesses that may cause wrist pain, such as drinking plenty of water, reducing alcohol consumption, and eating the right amount of protein.