You are not alone. Hand and wrist pain are one of the most common physical ailments, affecting over 20% of the population.
Whatever your reason for wanting to eliminate your wrist/hand pain, there are ways to do so with simple treatments.
In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about these treatments, including what causes wrist pain and how it’s often treated.
What causes hand and wrist pain?
- Sprained wrist – trauma to ligaments in wrist which causes swelling, bruising, and pain.
- Wrist pain – pain in the wrist due to strain, overuse or trauma.
- Carpal Tunnel – nerve compression or pressure on your median nerve. Causes pain,
numbness and tingling. - Tendonitis- pain that develops in the wrist tendons due to trauma or overuse
- Sprained finger – caused by trauma to finger. Causes damage to ligaments leading to pain, swelling and stiffness in finger joints.
- Sprained thumb – ligaments get injured or strained causing swelling, weakness or pain.
- Fractures- breaks in the bone which are usually caused by trauma
- Tendon Injuries-pain that develops in the wrist tendons due to trauma or overuse
- Nerve Injuries- trauma to the nerves which can cause burning, tingling, and numbness in the wrist and hands
- Ligament Injuries-injuries to the ligaments which provide stability in the wrist and hand. These injuries can be caused by trauma and overuse.
- Arthritis- inflammation of the joints which can lead to pain, swelling, and stiffness.
- Osteoarthritis – pain, stiffness and swelling of the joints in your fingers. Can create difficulties in moving fingers or picking up objects.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis – autoimmune disease which causes painful inflammation of joints in fingers.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of a hand and wrist injury can include pain, swelling, stiffness, and decreased strength.
How do I relieve the hand and wrist pain until I can see you?
If the injury occurred recently (within the past 2-3 days), it is important to control inflammation and allow for proper healing to begin. Early treatment should include rest, ice, compression, and elevation of the injured wrist.
After the acute healing phase, you can begin performing range of motion and gentle strengthening exercises for the wrist/hand in order to restore function. If these problems persist, you should be evaluated by a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Why is it important to take care of my wrists?
The wrist is a very important joint which we use thousands of times per day during our daily activities. Failure to take care of one’s wrist will significantly limit the ability to participate in work and recreational activities.
Now that you know how to relieve your wrist pain, put the information into practice. Don’t just read about it – take care of yourself!
Do you have questions about your first visit or insurance? You can schedule an appointment by calling or completing our HIPAA compliant appointment form.
