Wrist Pain

What is wrist pain?

Your wrist is a joint that connects your hand to your forearm. It consists of tendons, ligaments, muscles, cartilage, and bones. Wrist pain could indicate you have a disease or injury requiring treatment. 

At the first sign of severe or ongoing wrist pain, see the Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine team for an evaluation.

What does wrist pain feel like?

If you have wrist pain, you may experience:

• Tenderness
• Dull aching
• Sharp pain 
• Pain with movement
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Decreased range of motion
• Weakness
• Instability
• Redness
• Warmth
• Tingling
• Burning
• Numbness

Wrist pain could be mild, moderate, or severe. You might also notice visible deformities in your wrist joint or surrounding tissues. 

What are the risk factors for wrist pain?

Wrist pain can happen to anyone, but factors that increase your risk of experiencing it include:

• Repetitive motions or stress
• Sudden impacts
• Strains or sprains
• Fractures
• Arthritis
• Gout 
• Tendonitis
• Osteoporosis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Kienböck’s disease
• Ganglion cysts
• Repetitive work
• Playing sports 
• Falling down
• Car accidents
• Some medical conditions

Pregnancy, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes increase your risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a common cause of wrist pain.

To reduce the risk of wrist discomfort, eat nutritious foods, take dietary supplements if your doctor asks you to, and strengthen tissues in and surrounding your wrist joint. Avoid continuous repetitive motions by taking breaks throughout the day.

How does my provider diagnose the cause of wrist pain?

To find out what’s causing wrist pain, the Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine team reviews your symptoms and medical history. 

They examine your wrist joint to look for signs of injury and may order blood tests, X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, or other imaging procedures, as well as nerve tests or arthroscopy in some cases.

How is wrist pain treated?

Your customized wrist pain treatment depends on the type of injury you have and how severe it is. The Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine providers could recommend ice or heat packs, resting the affected joint, physical therapy, or wearing a brace or cast. 

They may suggest you try medications, injections, or surgery — such as carpal tunnel release or tendon, fracture, or ligament repair.

To find out what’s causing wrist pain and get treated for it, call the nearest Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine office, or use the online booking tool today.