Wrist Pain: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatments

If not diagnosed in a timely manner, hand and wrist pain lead to more serious conditions. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the conditions that can result from prolonged pain in the hand and wrist area. The condition usually causes numbness, pain, and tingling in the hands and arms. It is a progressive condition, and if left undiagnosed, surgery may be needed to prevent permanent damage to the nerves in the hands and arms. If you or a loved one is experiencing hand and wrist pain, go through this blog for all you need to know about the causes, diagnosis, and different treatment options for the pain.

What causes wrist pain?

Hand and wrist pain causes can be divided into two broad categories: acute and chronic causes. Let’s cover them in brief.

● Acute Causes

Acute causes of hand and wrist pain can include neurological conditions, trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, amyloidosis, and tendinopathy. A person who is diagnosed with acute causes that may lead to hand and wrist pain usually experiences various symptoms, such as motor difficulties, swelling, painful movement, and consistent pain.

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● Chronic Causes

Chronic causes of hand and wrist pain can include fractures, joint subluxation, carpal instability, and ligament tears. A person who is diagnosed with chronic causes that may lead to hand and wrist pain usually experiences symptoms that include an audible clunk when moving wrist from side to side, painful motion, unstable movement, and wrist or bony tenderness.

How is it diagnosed?

It is advisable to consult an experienced orthopedic specialist if you or a loved one are experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms. Doctors perform a number of tests to diagnose the causes of hand and wrist pain. The diagnosis includes a physical examination and imaging. We cover both the diagnostic tests in brief.

● Physical Examination

After detailed review of the patient’s medical history and symptoms, a physician performs a thorough cardiovascular and neurological examination. The doctor thoroughly examines the upper body of a patient and then the hand and wrists to rule out a more proximal problem, such as a herniated cervical disc. When evaluating the wrists, the doctor examines and looks for masses, muscle atrophy, scars, skin lesions, swelling, erythema, and contractions. The patient goes through a number of tests, such as Watsons test, Grind tests, McMurray’s tests, and Supination lift test to examine and pinpoint the hand and wrist pain causes.

● Imaging

Radiography is typically one of the first tests a doctor orders for a patient experiencing hand and wrist pain. Other imaging techniques include ultrasonography, MRI, and CT.

What are the available treatment options?

If a patient is experiencing hand and wrist pain due to carpal tunnel syndrome, it is important to appreciate that it is a gradual process that may require surgery if not diagnosed at an early stage. Broadly speaking, hand and wrist pain can be treated by way of two methods: non-surgical or surgical treatment. Let’s discuss these two treatment options.

● Non-surgical Treatment

Non-surgical treatment options to treat hand and wrist pain include rest, steroid injections, activity changes, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, bracing, and splinting. Although, most conditions that cause hand and wrist pain can be treated using such conservative measures, if a patient is diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome at a later stage, surgery may be necessary.

● Surgical Treatment

If the hand and wrist pain symptoms do not subside with conservative treatment measures, your doctor may recommend surgery. For carpal tunnel the different surgical treatment methods include carpal tunnel release and open carpal tunnel release. As the names suggest, one surgical method is an open surgery, while the other is not. Both methods aim at relieving pressure on the median nerve by cutting the ligament that forms the roof of the tunnel. If your symptoms are making your daily routine life difficult, it is advisable to search for reputable orthopedic center that can help you connect with experienced participating orthopedic surgeons.

Wrap Up

When it comes to managing hand and wrist pain, it is advisable to do your research to choose a reputable physician. Book an appointment and follow the doctor’s recommendations to help you get relief from the symptoms. Wrist pain treatment in North Texas is now easily available with a simple web search.