Wrist Pain

Wrist Sprains and Strains

The definitions of sprains and strains are similar, and both tend to result in pain and swelling. A sprain is the stretching or tearing of a ligament, which attaches the muscle to the bone; a strain is an overstretching or tearing of a tendon or muscle, which can be partial or, in severe cases, complete.

Sprains to wrist ligaments are often caused by falls - or "catching" oneself from a fall, by sudden or abrupt movements or from contact while playing sports. Strains result from activities that cause the muscles to suddenly stretch or contract, such as lifting a heavy object - especially if the muscle is not warmed up. Be sure to determine what caused the sprain/strain and discontinue that activity - and be seen by a Health Care Professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

The R.I.C.E. protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) is often recommended immediately after sustaining a mild to moderate sprain or strain, perhaps accompanied by an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen. But if the sprain or strain is more serious, your Health Care Professional may prescribe immobilizing the wrist with a splint or brace.

If your wrist sprain resulted from a fall, poor balance may have been involved. You may be advised to help reduce your risk of injury (or of re-injury) by committing to an overall physical conditioning program that includes a focus on balance, stretching and strengthening exercises. If you have injured your wrist it pays to pace yourself as you return to your regular activities or add new ones.

This is where the "P" for protection comes into the emerging P.R.I.C.E. protocol. Protect your wrist while healing from an injury, and for some time afterwards by supporting the injured wrist with a brace, wrap, taping or bandaging.

Arthritis of the Wrist

Of the several varieties arthritis - or inflammation of the joints - osteoarthritis is the most common. It is characterized by the degeneration of the cartilage of the joint, and is often caused by wear and tear over time. There are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, including rheumatoid, psoriatic, and arthritis caused by infection.

When arthritis occurs in the wrist, the primary treatment goal is to alleviate pain in order to help you remain active, helping to slow the progression of the disease. Always consult your Health Care Professional for a proper diagnosis, treatment and pain management recommendations.

If you are under the supervision of a physical, occupational or hand therapist, you are probably engaged in exercises designed to flex your wrists and fingers, and strengthen the muscles of your lower arm. And it may be suggested that you wear a wrap - perhaps made of neoprene - designed to support your wrist and maintain warmth.

Heat is a natural antidote to help ease arthritis pain, relax tense, painful muscles and increase the flow of blood to the area. The application of heat can be especially helpful prior to exercise - which is considered my many to be an important pain management strategy for those with arthritis. As your Health Care Professional will tell you, don't use heat if you have poor circulation or skin sensation

If you occasionally have a flare-up of your arthritis, the application of cold during the first couple of days may help dull the pain, but be careful not to overdo it. If you have poor circulation or numbness, do not apply cold

Post-cast / Post-operative Pain

The wrist is the most commonly fractured bone in people under 65, and casts are commonly used to immobilize the wrist as it heals. As with any other injury requiring a cast, a period of time and some rehabilitation may be required once the cast is removed and before returning to full activity.

During this post-cast period, when immobilization is no longer required, Health Care Professionals often recommend wearing a splint or brace to protect and provide added support to the wrist, and to help maximize healing.

A lot of talk about "post-wrist surgery" appears in the sports pages and on blogs where fans carefully follow the recovery of their favorite professional athletes as they "return to the game" with varying degrees of success. The rehabilitation period following wrist surgery, is an important part of successful healing. Some of the tools used by rehab specialists are: braces to support and protect the wrist while it continues to heal, carefully applied cold packs to help reduce swelling and heat to soothe the area.