4 Common Causes of Chronic Wrist Pain

Your wrist may not seem like a complicated part of your anatomy; however, if you look below the surface, you find a complex network of bones and connective tissues working together to give your hand ultimate flexibility and range of motion. 

Unfortunately, because your wrist works so hard day in and day out, it’s constantly under attack and vulnerable to painful conditions. 

But it can be difficult to know exactly what’s going on and when it’s time to get help. Enter Dr. David Wu and our team at CurePain in Torrance, California. 

Here, we take a closer look at four of the most common culprits of wrist pain, so you can get the help you need. 

1. Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is when intense pressure and irritation affect the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel (a passageway in the palm side of your wrist). There are many risk factors for developing carpal tunnel syndrome, including repetitive use of your wrist, having a small bone structure, and chronic fluid retention in your wrist.

Not only does carpal tunnel syndrome cause pain, but you may also notice a burning, tingling, or itching feeling in your fingers, hand, and/or arm; some lose grip strength.

2. Repetitive stress injuries

Your wrist gives you a lot of flexibility to move your hand in virtually any direction, but that same range of motion jeopardizes it. Any activities that require you to make repetitive movements with your wrist or hold your wrist in an awkward position for long periods inflame and irritate the tissues in your joint and can even cause stress fractures. 

Athletes, musicians, office workers, and cross-country drivers are some of the folks most at risk for repetitive stress injuries. 

3. Arthritis

Like grease on a door hinge, cartilage helps your wrist move easily and friction-free — but cartilage doesn’t last forever. The joint in your wrist is one the first places cartilage starts to break down, a condition known as arthritis. 

There are more than 100 types of arthritis, but the most common is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that leaves your joint without the cushioning cartilage they need. The results are pain, swelling, and limited range of motion to name a few. 

4. Impact injuries

No one is immune to falling, and your risk significantly increases if you’re into contact sports. Anytime you fall and brace yourself with an outstretched hand, you can sprain, strain, or even fracture your wrist. That’s enough to put you out of commission for a while.

When to see a doctor for wrist pain

Wrist pain varies in severity, and not all cases need medical attention. Mild sprains and strains, for instance, are easy to manage with ice, rest, and over-the-counter medication. However, if your pain is severe, accompanied by a pins-and-needles sensation, and/or causes you to lose dexterity or grip strength, we recommend you come to see Dr. Wu. 

We offer a wide range of interventional pain management services that relieve your symptoms and help you prevent long-term damage. Dr. Wu and our team thoroughly evaluate your symptoms and range of motion and order imaging tests to fully understand what’s causing your wrist pain. Then, we recommend a treatment plan, which usually includes the following:

• Rest
• Activity modification
• Wearing a wrist-hand orthotic
• Corticoteroid injection

Treatment for wrist pain is much more effective if we catch the underlying cause early. If you wait too long, you risk an uphill battle against the injury or condition behind the scenes. 

Bothered by wrist pain? Don’t wait another day to get the relief you deserve. Call our friendly staff at 424-232-8930 or book an appointment online.