Wrist pain is an extremely common
complaint, and there are many common causes of this
problem. It is important to make an accurate
diagnosis of the cause of your symptoms so that
appropriate treatment can be directed at the cause.
If you have wrist pain, some common causes include:
Tendonitis
Tendonitis is a common problem that can cause wrist
pain and swelling. Wrist tendonitis is due to
inflammation of the tendon sheath. Treatment of
wrist pain caused by tendonitis usually does not
require surgery.
Sprain
Wrist sprains are common injuries to the ligaments
around the wrist joint. Sprains can cause problems
by limiting the use of our hands.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the condition that results
from dysfunction of one of the nerves in the wrist.
In carpal tunnel syndrome the median nerve is
compressed, or pinched off, as it passes through the
wrist joint.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a problem that can cause wrist pain and
difficulty performing normal activities. There are
several causes of arthritis, and fortunately there
are a number of treatments for wrist arthritis.
Ganglion Cyst
A ganglion cyst is a swelling that usually occurs
over the back of the hand or wrist. These are
benign, fluid-filled capsules. Ganglion cysts are
not cancerous, will not spread, and while they may
grow in size, they will not spread to other parts of
your body.
Fractures
A wrist fracture is a common orthopedic injury.
Patients who sustain a broken wrist may be treated
in a cast, or they may need surgery for the
fracture.
When do you
need to call your doctor about your
wrist pain?
If you are unsure of the cause of your
wrist pain, or if you do not know the
specific treatment recommendations for
your condition, you should seek medical
attention. Treatment of these conditions
must be directed at the specific cause
of your problem. Some signs that you
should be seen by a doctor include:
|
|
Inability to carry objects or
use the arm |
|
Injury that causes deformity of
the joint |
|
Wrist pain that occurs at night
or while resting |
|
Wrist pain that persists beyond
a few days |
|
Inability to straighten or flex
the joint |
|
Swelling or significant bruising
around the joint or forearm |
|
Signs of an infection, including
fever, redness, warmth |
|
Any other unusual symptoms |
|
|