Wrist pain is a fairly common ailment among people, although the causes can be different. Often it is due to a sprain of the ligaments caused by minor trauma, but the suffering can have other origins, for example repetitive motion stress, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, gout and fractures. Since the etiology is so wide and varied, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis to determine the most effective type of treatment; however, home treatments for wrist pain are similar, regardless of the cause.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Home Treatments
Step 1. Rest the injured wrist
If you experience pain in one or both wrists, you need to take a break from activities that can aggravate the situation and rest for a few minutes, hours, or even days, depending on the trigger. In addition to resting, the affected wrist should be raised as high above the level of the heart as possible to prevent swelling and inflammation from developing.
- If you're doing a repetitive activity, like working the checkout or typing on a computer continuously, a 15-minute break may be all it takes to reduce irritation.
- More serious occupational or sporting injuries require more rest and a medical examination (as described further below).
Step 2. Change the workplace
A significant proportion of mild or moderate wrist pain cases result from repetitive tasks at home or at work; Carpal tunnel syndrome is an example of repetitive strain on the wrist, which irritates the main nerve running through the hand. To prevent this from happening, you need to make changes to your work environment, for example: lower the keyboard so that your wrists don't have to extend too much upward as you type at the computer, adjust the chair to allow your forearms to stay parallel floor, use a pad to rest your wrists, a separate mouse and keyboard, all of which are ergonomic.
- Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include aching, burning, numbness or tingling sensation in the wrist and palm of the hand, as well as weakness and reduced motor ability.
- People who work a lot on computers, sew, paint, write and work with vibrating tools, cashiers, athletes who play sports using rackets are at high risk of suffering from this syndrome, as well as other injuries due to repetitive strain.
Step 3. Put on a brace
Another method to prevent and relieve most types of wrist pain is to wear an aid made specifically for this type of problem, which can be a splint or a support. You can find these braces in different sizes and in different materials, but all with the purpose of relieving pain. Depending on the type of work or lifestyle you maintain, you should start by wearing one that is slightly constricting (made of neoprene, for example) and that allows more freedom of movement, compared to other more rigid models that offer more support and immobilize the wrist.
- To protect your wrists, simply wear the brace during the day while you work or train at the gym.
- However, some people also need to wear it at night to keep the joints well stretched, thus preventing possible irritation to the nerves and blood vessels; usually, this need is more common in patients suffering from arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
- You can buy this type of orthosis at pharmacies or orthopedics stores; sometimes the doctor is able to provide some at no cost.
Step 4. Apply ice to the most painful area
Pain generated by sudden trauma, such as falling on a hyperextended hand or lifting an object that is too heavy, can be immediate, as can inflammation and potential hematoma. To effectively relieve this discomfort, you should apply a cold pack as soon as possible to reduce / prevent swelling and soothe the pain.
- To take advantage of the cold therapy you can use either crushed or cubed ice, a cold gel pack or even a bag of frozen vegetables or fruit that you can take directly from the freezer.
- For best results, place the cold pack on the most sore and inflamed part of your wrist for about 10-15 minutes at a time, every hour, for the five hours following the injury.
- Regardless of the type of compress you have chosen, do not place it directly on the skin, but wrap it first in a thin cloth or towel, to avoid possible chilblains.
Step 5. Take over-the-counter medications
In case of both acute pain (due to a sudden injury) and chronic (lasting more than a few months), you can take medicines on sale to control the suffering and allow greater functionality and range of movement of the wrist. Active ingredients such as ibuprofen and naproxen are often more effective in acute pain, because they fight both pain and inflammation; otherwise, other analgesic drugs, such as acetaminophen, are more suitable for chronic ailments such as arthritis.
- It is recommended to take over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and painkillers for short periods (less than two consecutive weeks), to avoid typical side effects, such as stomach irritation, intestinal disorders and reduced organ function (liver, kidney).
- Do not take the two categories of drugs at the same time and, to ensure your safety, always follow the instructions on the leaflet regarding the dosage.
Step 6. Do some stretching and strengthening exercises
Unless your wrist is broken or severely inflamed, you should do flexibility and strengthening exercises every day to prevent and combat pain. By increasing flexibility, as well as strengthening the ligaments and tendons of the wrists, you can better withstand the wearying effects of work and training; Also, if you suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, stretching allows you to release pressure on the median nerve that radiates to the hand muscles.
- An effective exercise for extending the wrists is to place the hands in the prayer position, with the palms joined together; then raise your elbows until you feel a pleasant stretch in your wrists. Hold for about 30 seconds and repeat 3-5 times a day for best results.
- To strengthen your wrists, you can use light dumbbells (less than 5 kg) or elastic bands / tubes. Extend your hands forward with your wrists facing up, grab the dumbbells or the ends of the elastic band and then flex your wrists towards your body countering the resistance of the weights or band.
- Always do these stretching and strength exercises with both wrists at the same time, even if only one is sore, as both sides must have the same strength and flexibility, regardless of your dominant hand.
Part 2 of 2: Getting Medical Treatment
Step 1. Make a doctor's appointment
If your wrist pain lasts longer than a week or is particularly severe, you need to go to your family doctor for a visit. He can prescribe an x-ray to understand if the bone is broken, came out of its natural location, is infected or affected by arthritis; may also recommend a blood test to rule out an infection, gout, or an inflammatory form of arthritis, such as rheumatoid.
- Symptoms of a dislocation or fracture are: severe pain, noticeable reduction in range of motion, unnatural angulation (deformation), widespread swelling and hematoma.
- Fractures can involve the small bones of the wrist (carpal bones) or the distal ends of those of the forearm (ulna and radius); You can also break your wrists by falling after slipping or hitting a hard, solid object with your fist.
- Wrist bone infections are rare, but they can develop in drug addicts or can be triggered by trauma; symptoms such as severe pain, change in skin color, nausea and fever are signs of a bone infection.
Step 2. Take stronger prescription medications
If you have suffered a more severe injury or have advanced or severe arthritis, you need to take the strongest prescription medications for a long time to manage pain and inflammation. Prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include: diclofenac, phenoprofen and indomethacin. COX-2 inhibitors, such as Celecoxib, are slightly different and less aggressive NSAIDs to the stomach.
- Wrist osteoarthritis is a "wear and tear" joint problem that typically causes stiffness, pain, and grinding noises during movement; rheumatoid arthritis in the wrists is much more painful, creates inflammation, and can even be deforming.
- Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are able to fight some forms of inflammatory arthritis by suppressing the immune system.
- Biological (also called biological) response modifiers are another group of prescription drugs indicated for rheumatoid arthritis and must be injected; these medicines also work by altering the function of the immune system.
Step 3. Learn about steroid injections
Corticosteroids represent another class of anti-inflammatories that can be taken per pill, but when the pain doesn't go away after a few months, they are typically injected directly into the wrist. These drugs fight swelling and pain quickly and effectively, but can cause weakness in the tendons and bones of the wrist. therefore, treatment is usually limited to 3-4 injections per year.
- Those suffering from severe tendonitis, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, stress microfractures, and acute inflammatory arthritis are all excellent candidates for corticosteroid injections.
- The procedure is quick and can be done by the doctor; the results are often noticeable within minutes and can be noticeable, at least for a few weeks or months.
Step 4. See a physical therapist
If the pain is chronic and causes joint weakness, your doctor may recommend a physical therapist to teach you specific, personalized stretching exercises. It can also move the joints to prevent them from becoming too stiff, which is particularly beneficial in the case of osteoarthritis; Furthermore, this health professional can be very helpful in rehabilitating the wrist after a surgical procedure.
- He can also use electronic equipment to strengthen the wrist and relieve pain, such as electro muscle stimulation, ultrasound therapy, and TENS therapy (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation).
- In most cases of chronic wrist problems we proceed with 3 weekly physiotherapy sessions for a cycle of 4-6 weeks.
Step 5. Consider having surgery if needed
In more serious cases, it can be a necessary step, especially when you have to repair a rather significant bone fracture, a dislocation of the joint, tendon tears and contractures of the ligaments. When bone fractures are particularly severe, the surgeon may decide to insert metal supports into the wrist, such as plates, pins and screws.
- Most procedures are done arthroscopically, using a small sharp instrument with a camera on the end.
- When the wrist has undergone a stress microfracture it is generally not necessary to perform surgery; in these cases it is sufficient to wear a brace or splint for a few weeks.
- Carpal tunnel surgery is quite common and involves an incision in the wrist and / or hand to relieve pressure on the median nerve; convalescence usually lasts up to 6 weeks.
Advice
- Reduce the chances of falling on a hyperextended hand by wearing shoes with good grip, eliminating household hazards, illuminating living spaces, and installing grab bars in the bathroom.
- If you play a sport with a high risk of injury, such as soccer, snowboarding, and skating, wear wrist protectors or other specialized equipment.
- Pregnant women, postmenopausal women and people who are overweight and / or diabetic have a higher risk of suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Women who do not get enough calcium (much less than 1000 mg per day) run a high risk of wrist fractures due to osteoporosis.
