Causes of Wrist Pain

Wrist pain is caused by damage to the muscles, tendons, bones, or other tissues that make up the wrist joint. Generally, wrist pain is caused by inflammation or injury, such as a blow to the elbow or repetitive use injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome. Wrist pain may also be caused by an infection, growth, nervous condition, or even cancer.

There are two principle reasons for wrist pain. A sudden event or an acute injury can break a bone or tear a ligament. Less apparent, but more slowly developing insidious causes of wrist pain are repeated patterns of activity, which over time may cause undue strain on the wrist.

Sudden impacts- Wrist injuries often occur when you fall forward onto your outstretched hand. This can cause sprains, strains and even fractures. A scaphoid fracture involves a bone on the thumb side of the wrist. This type of fracture may not show up on X-rays immediately following the injury.

Repetitive stress- Any activity that involves repetitive wrist motion — from hitting a tennis ball or bowing a cello to driving cross-country — can inflame the tissues around joints or cause stress fractures, especially when you perform the movement for hours on end without a break. De Quervain’s disease is a repetitive stress injury that causes pain at the base of the thumb.

Treatments

The treatment of wrist pain depends completely on the cause of the problem. Thus, it is very important that you understand the cause of your symptoms before you decide for a treatment plan. If you are uncertain for your diagnosis or for the severity of your condition, you should look for the guidance from an expert before the start of any treatment. Physical therapists of ABC Physical Therapy can help you to get relief from these kind of problems.