The wrist is the joint between the hand and forearm. It allows you to perform a wide range of movements with it, like bending, straightening, and rotating the hand. Despite always being taken for granted, our wrists make most of our day-to-day activities possible through gripping, lifting, and twisting. Without taking care of them, our wrists can become weak and more liable to injury, stiffness, and pain.
Health Conditions Related to Wrist Pain
There are many reasons why you may be experiencing wrist pain. Sometimes, it is easy to detect the reason for wrist pain, while at other times, it is quite tricky. If you are experiencing wrist pain, the best thing to do is see an orthopedic doctor. They have the qualifications and skills to accurately diagnose your condition.
Some of the most common causes of wrist pain include:
- Osteoarthritis A type of arthritis that causes deterioration of joint cartilage (the soft tissue that covers the bone part of the joint). It is most commonly caused by wear and tear, as well as injuries to joints. As the cartilage deteriorates, bones come in direct contact with each other, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) An autoimmune disorder that shows symptoms first in small joints, such as the hand and wrist joints, usually on both sides of the body. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms most often include inflammation of multiple joints at the same time, unlike osteoarthritis, along with joint disfiguration in later stages.
- Gout A type of arthritis, gout causes joint inflammation, resulting in joint pain, swelling, and tenderness. The affected joint may be warm to the touch. It develops due to increased uric acid levels in the blood. High levels of uric acid result in crystal formations that travel to joints, causing joint pain and inflammation.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome A common problem associated with pain, numbness, and weakness in the affected hand and arm. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve gets compressed. The median nerve sits in the small hollow passage in the wrist called the carpal tunnel. This nerve is responsible for the movement and sensation of the hand.
- De Quervain’s Tendinitis De Quervain’s tendinitis is a common form of tendinitis. Tendons are fibrous connective tissue structures that attach muscles to bone. It causes painful sensation on the thumb side of the wrist, as well as pain upon moving the thumb and wrist together, like making a fist, grasping an object, or turning the wrist.
When to See Your Doctor
It is easy to ignore mild to moderate pain, especially if it isn’t constant. However, it is important to see a doctor when the right signs come about. You should contact your physician if any of the following apply:
- You are unable to move your wrist, hand, or fingers
- You feel persistent pain (longer than two weeks)
- You feel a tingling sensation when moving your arm up or down
- There is redness and/or warmth in your fingers, hand, wrist, or forearm
Wrist Specialists in Bismarck, North Dakota
When your wrist hurts, trust only the best healthcare providers to give you the necessary treatment. Here at The Bone & Joint Center, we treat all kinds of musculoskeletal issues – from arthritis to sprains, torn ACLs to torn menisci, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome. We have skilled orthopedists who are always ready to serve patients at locations across North Dakota.
If want to know more, you can contact us today by calling (800) 424-2663, or you can fill out our online appointment request form now. We look forward to helping you find relief from your wrist pain, so you can get back to enjoying the activities you love!
