Wrist Pain and Wrist Pain Treatment
Wrist pain is a very common condition suffered by many people, especially those who work in a computer-related job, or other jobs where repetitive movements are part of their work.
The Chiropractors at Broadway AT Yew Chiropractic & Massage are starting to treat more and more patients for wrist pain related conditions as as many of us tend to spend more and more time on mobile devices and computers in general.
There’s good news though. Wrist pain can be treated and prevented.
What Are Some Of The Common Causes Of Wrist pain?
There are numerous reasons why someone might suffer from wrist pain. Here is a list of the most common causes of wrist pain we see at Broadway AT Yew Chiropractic & Massage:
Repetitive stress injuries
Repetitive stress injuries are caused by repetitive movements. For example, people who work at a computer all day use the same movements over and over again to type and mouse. This can cause issues within the wrist that often lead to a condition called Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Both men and women can develop osteoarthritis. In women, it is more common after menopause has occurred, while in men, it is more common to develop before the age of 45.
Sprains Or Strains
These injuries are usually soft-tissue in nature and result from over use or physical activity. For example, if you are using a tool such as a screwdriver that requires you to use your wrists to turn the tool with force, this can put a strain on your wrists. Most sprains and strains will heal by themselves over time.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation of the joints, in this case, the joints of the wrists. Our chiropractors successfully treat several patients for Arthritis, which can be a painful condition. Pain in the wrists and hands are common with those that suffer from Arthritis, but treatment is available and the pain can be reduced.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused when nerves in the wrists become compressed over the carpal bones. It can be caused by repetitive use of the wrists, and can cause numbness, tingling, burning and inflammation. Our chiropractors are highly experienced when it comes to dealing with this condition.
Other Causes Of Wrist Pain
Certain other diseases or conditions may lead to or contribute to the symptoms of osteoarthritis. These include diabetes, other types of arthritis, gout or the following:
TENDONITIS
Tendonitis is a condition where the tendons of the wrist become inflamed. Let our Vancouver chiropractors provide some relief!
Bursitis
Bursitis is a condition where the fluid-filled sacs in the wrists (called bursa) become inflamed. Rest your wrist and prevent further trauma.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack itself, causing pain, swelling and stiffness.
Who is At Risk Of Wrist Pain?
As noted, people who work in certain types of jobs, i.e. computer programmers, and people who do manual labor or participate in certain sports are at higher risk of experience wrist pain that can lead to conditions such as sprain, strain, carpal tunnel syndrome etc.
HOW IS WRIST PAIN DIAGNOSED?
Wrist pain can be diagnosed a number of ways. If no other illness, condition or fracture is present, it can usually be diagnosed simply by the patient providing a detailed description of symptoms and what led to them. In other situations, special tests such as X-rays, CT, MRI and Ultrasound can be used to look for fractures, inflammation, or joint issues.
HOW IS WRIST PAIN TREATED?
Depending on what is causing the wrist pain, a variety of treatment options are available, such as the following:
RICE (REST, ICE, COMPRESSION AND ELEVATION)
The RICE technique can be very helpful in alleviating wrist pain. Simple treatments that include resting the wrists, applying ice packs, wearing special splints or braces, and raising the arm while resting can all reduce pain.
CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENTS
While it may seem surprising that Chiropractic therapy can help wrist pain, the fact is, issues with the wrist can be the result of issues elsewhere in the body. For example, some of the nerves in the neck lead into the arms and wrists, so if there are problems with the neck, it can affect the hands. Additionally, issues with the shoulders, elbows and forearms can cause pain in the wrists.Chiropractic therapy that includes spinal adjustments, and adjustments of misalignments in the shoulders, shoulders, arms and hands. The result is reduced stress on the muscles, bones and nerves of the wrists, which in turn leads to a reduction in wrist pain. Laser Therapy is used a lot on tendonitis of the wrist and treats it effectively while helping to heal quicker than it would on it’s own.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
Of times, physical therapy in conjunction with other treatments such as Chiropractic therapy, can greatly reduce wrist pain. Special exercises designed to reduce pain and increase range of motion may be prescribed. These exercises can include the following:
- Wrist flexion/extension
- Write deviations
- Finger flexion/extensions
- Wrist flexor stretches
- Wrist extensor stretches
- Supination/pronation
WRIST SURGERY
Surgery may be required for dislocations or complicated fractures. Depending on the cause and severity of wrist pain, it may also be required as a last result in treating things like carpal tunnel syndrome.
HOW CAN I LOWER MY RISK OF WRIST PAIN?
There are certainly lifestyle changes you can make both at home and at work to help reduce your risk of experiencing wrist pain or conditions of the wrist:
ERGONOMICS
Ensure that while you are at work, you practice proper ergonomics. This means ensuring that your workstation is within reach, that your work chair is an appropriate height, that you are not straining or reaching for a keyboard or mouse, and that if you work in a labor position, you wear stabilizing braces when doing work that involves the use of your wrists. Also, very important not to have your wrists bent at night when you sleep.
WRIST SUPPORTS
If you play sports such as tennis, that require lots of wrist-action, it’s important to be pro-active. This means wearing soft braces to support your wrists, and taking proper steps after a game to prevent swelling and inflammation. Allowing your wrists to rest, and applying ice, can greatly reduce your risk. Our sports chiropractors can recommend the best type of braces for the sports you play.
WHAT IS THE RECOVERY PERIOD FOR WRIST PAIN?
Recovery will depend on a number of factors including the root cause of the pain, how well you respond to treatment, and how diligent you are in practicing proper ergonomics when performing the actions that initially caused your wrist pain. If you require surgery, recovery is usually four to six weeks, during which you should not resume any normal activities until you have been given the OK from your surgeon.At Broadway AT Yew Chiropractic & Massage, our chiropractors can usually resolve your wrist pain over a series of treatments, again, dependent on type of injury and severity.
WRIST PAIN SUMMARY
At Broadway AT Yew Chiropractic & Massage, we offer a wide range of services including Chiropractic, Registered Massage Therapy, Laser Therapy Physical Therapy, and Patient Education for ways you can reduce your risk of suffering wrist pain. We offer a safe, natural, drug-free way of treating wrist pain that is highly effective.