What might be causing my wrist pain?
Wrist pain can occur suddenly if you suffer an acute injury or develop slowly due to overuse or joint disease. Common wrist pain causes include:
Arthritis
Arthritis has multiple forms, some common and some very rare. Osteoarthritis is the one most likely to cause wrist pain. It’s a wear-and-tear condition where years of joint use erode the articular cartilage covering the bone ends. Without protection, the bones rub and create friction, causing pain, inflammation, and stiffness.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome results from median nerve compression. The median nerve travels from your shoulder down your arm to the thumb side of your hand. It passes through a bony circle (the carpal tunnel) in your wrist. Thickened ligaments in the carpal tunnel put pressure on the median nerve, causing wrist pain, weakness, poor grip, and numbness.
Sprains and strains
Sprains are injuries where ligaments connecting a joint’s bones overstretch or tear. Strains are similar but affect the tendons — connective tissues attaching muscles to bones.
Overuse injuries
Wrist overuse injuries occur when you frequently make the same motions with your hand, causing irritation and the build-up of tiny (micro) injuries. Overuse can affect the tendons (causing tendinitis) or bursae, the fluid-filled cushioning sacs in your joints (bursitis).
How is my wrist pain diagnosed?
To discover what’s causing wrist pain, your Breakthrough Regenerative Orthopedics provider completes a comprehensive physical exam and medical history and symptom review.
They might recommend diagnostic imaging like an X-ray or ultrasound scan to confirm a diagnosis, identify problems that aren’t clear from the initial exam, and assess the tissue damage in your wrist. This thorough process ensures your provider designs the most appropriate and effective treatment program.
What treatment might I need for wrist pain?
After making a diagnosis, your Breakthrough Regenerative Orthopedics provider may prescribe physical therapy for wrist pain. If you don’t make good progress, you might benefit from additional treatments, such as:
- Steroid injections
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
- Extracorporeal pulse activation therapy (EPAT)
- Dextrose prolotherapy
- Plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF)
- Microfragmented adipose tissue grafts (MFAT)
- Bone marrow aspirate and bone marrow concentrate (BMA and BMC)
- Focused shockwave therapy (FSW)
- Subchondral (intraosseous) bone marrow concentrate
These treatments promote healthy new tissue growth by stimulating your body’s healing response.
Call Breakthrough Regenerative Orthopedics today or book an appointment online for first-class wrist pain care.