Wrist pain can indicate several different conditions we commonly see in the clinic. Often wrist pain develops insidiously after doing more than your accustomed to doing, be that picking up your child/grandchild or that extra bit of maintenance in the garden.
DeQuervains Tenosynovitis
A common issue we see is a tendon overload in the wrist (thumb side). The primary source of symptoms is the tendons that border the anatomical snuffbox that extend your thumb. The condition that develops is an irritated tendon that is called ‘DeQuervains tenosynovitis’. Tenosynovitis refers to the sheath surrounding the tendon which it glides through becoming swollen. This can make you feel that your thumb stops and goes or can get stuck when moving your thumb, wrist, or forming a fist.
Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex & Scaphoid Fracture
Traumatic injuries to the wrist can happen after a fall or an incident playing sport. Pain in the wrist following trauma can indicate an irritation to the cartilage of the wrist called the triangular fibrocartilage complex or simply TFCC. This is the joint surface of the wrist beneath the ulna side or pinkie side of your wrist. Another common injury following trauma to the wrist can be a scaphoid fracture, which is the wrist bone beneath your thumb. This will be able to be identified by medical imaging and will usually require immobilization for several weeks for it to heal properly.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Other than pain in the wrist people can experience pins and needles or even numbness that develops from doing a bit too much, stereotypically, from too much typing. This can develop into the commonly known condition called carpal tunnel syndrome where the median nerve that runs through your wrist tunnel becomes irritated and no longer functions as it is supposed to. This will often feel like a numb thumb and first two fingers, typically on the palmar aspect of your hand, but is not limited to these symptoms and can often affect the entire palm and hand.
A good way of settling down an irritated wrist is to first identify the causative factors and adjust them accordingly, ice it thoroughly, and give it relative rest. If the injury was traumatic and it doesn’t settle relatively quickly with rest and ice, it would be a good idea to get it seen to by your Physio who will determine if it requires conservative management or further investigation. Once settled a strengthening program is required to prevent further issues from occurring.
- The Team at Back In Motion Brighton
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