What is Causing My Wrist Pain?

Any pain or discomfort can make it hard for you to function correctly. Unfortunately, pain in your hands or wrists is extremely common. Many issues can be the culprit of your wrist pain. When you’re struggling with wrist pain, our team at Island Sports Physical Therapy will help you. We can determine the cause of your pain and create an appropriate treatment plan. 

Wrist Pain

Countless factors can lead to wrist pain. Wrist pain can originate in your joints or muscles and result from genetics, trauma, or overuse. This pain can make it nearly impossible to use your hands, which makes life difficult to navigate. The following conditions can be associated with wrist pain:

• Wrist Injury – Any wrist injury can cause pain. Wrist injuries can include tendonitis, broken bones, and sprains. 
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Carpal tunnel syndrome is a highly common condition that occurs when the median nerve inside the forearm is pinched. Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause weakness in your thumb and first three fingers. Wrist swelling causes compression in the carpal tunnel. This condition is generally caused by performing repetitive tasks, arthritis, pregnancy, or being overweight. 
• Arthritis – Arthritis is a condition that can affect the wrist. A few variations of arthritis can cause wrist pain, including gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis. However, osteoarthritis of the wrist is uncommon and usually occurs there as a result of prior injury. 
• Tenosynovitis – Tenosynovitis is a term that is often used interchangeably with tendonitis. Tenosynovitis causes the tendon sheath to become inflamed and painful. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a specific type of this condition that causes wrist pain in the thumb that moves into the arm. This condition is often found in women. 
• Ganglion Cyst – Ganglion cysts are growths that cause wrist pain and swelling. This cyst is benign and often painless but can cause pain when it presses on a nerve. Ganglion cysts will typically appear over the back of your hand and feel smooth and rubbery. 
• Wrist Fracture – Wrist fractures are a prevalent orthopedic injury. A specific type of wrist fracture is a scaphoid fracture, which occurs when an individual falls on an outstretched hand. 

Treating Wrist Pain

If you are dealing with wrist pain, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent your symptoms from worsening. Treatments for pain in your wrist can vary based on your injury’s location, type, and severity. Physical therapy can be an effective form of treatment for wrist injuries and tendon problems. Our team can introduce strengthening and stretching exercises to improve your range of motion and strength after an injury. We help patients with rehabilitation after surgery, and we can provide an ergonomic evaluation to help determine if certain workplace factors are contributing to your pain. Sometimes injuries can occur unexpectedly, but the following tips might help you avoid injuring yourself:

• Improve Bone Strength – Getting the right amount of calcium can increase your bone strength and help prevent fractures. 
• Fall Prevention – The leading cause of most wrist fractures is falling on an outstretched hand. If you are prone to falling, try removing hazards at home and wearing sensible shoes. If necessary, you can install handrails in your home. 
• Use Protective Gear – When participating in athletic activities, wearing wrist guards can reduce your risk of injury. 
• Ergonomics: If your work revolves around a computer, take regular breaks. Keep your wrists in a neutral position, and use an ergonomic keyboard or wrist support to help. 

Contact Us

If you are someone who is struggling to get through life with wrist pain, you don’t have to go through this alone. At Island Sports Physical Therapy, you can be sure that you are receiving some of the best physical therapy care on Long Island. Our team is dedicated to providing you with a quality treatment plan to improve your quality of life. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!