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Wrist pain happens mainly due to repetitive movements, which leads to inflammation of the tendons in the region or local nerve compression and results in pain, such as tendinitis, Quervain's syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome, for example. example, being treated only with rest and use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
On the other hand, in some situations, pain in the wrist may be accompanied by swelling in the region, color change and joint stiffness, being indicative of more serious situations and which should be treated according to the doctor's guidance, and may be recommended wrist immobilization, surgery and physiotherapy sessions.
The main causes of wrist pain are:
1. Fracture
The fractures correspond to the loss of continuity of the bone and can happen due to falls or blows that can happen during the practice of physical activity, for example, like gymnastics, boxing, volleyball or boxing. Thus, when there is a fracture in the wrist, it is possible to feel severe pain in the wrist, swelling in the site and change in the color of the site.
What to do: It is important that the person goes to the orthopedist to have an x-ray exam that allows to check whether or not there has been a fracture of the bone. If the fracture is confirmed, immobilization, which is usually done with plaster, may be necessary.
2. Sprain
Wrist sprain is also one of the causes of wrist pain, which can happen when lifting weights at the gym, carrying a heavy bag or when practicing jiu-jitsu or another physical contact sport. In addition to wrist pain, it is also possible to notice swelling in the hand that appears after a few hours after the injury.
What to do: Just like with a fracture, the sprain of the wrist is very uncomfortable and, therefore, it is recommended that the person go to the orthopedist to have an image taken to confirm the sprain and, thus, to indicate the best treatment, which is usually done with wrist immobilization and rest.
3. Tendonitis
Tendonitis in the wrist corresponds to the inflammation of the tendons in this region, which can happen mainly when performing repetitive movements such as spending the day typing on the computer, cleaning the house, washing the dishes, using force to turn keys, tighten bottle caps, or even even knit. This type of repetitive effort causes an injury to the tendons, causing them to inflate and result in wrist pain.
What to do: The best thing to do in case of tendonitis is to stop performing these repetitive movements and resting, in addition to using anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation and thus relieve pain and discomfort. In some cases, physical therapy may also be indicated, especially when the inflammation is frequent and does not go away over time. See more details on the treatment of tendonitis.
4. Quervain's syndrome
Quervain's syndrome is a situation that also leads to wrist pain and happens due to repetitive activities, mainly requiring thumb effort, such as spending many hours playing video games with the joystick or on the cell phone, for example.
In addition to wrist pain, it is also possible to have pain when moving the thumb, as the tendons at the base of that finger become very inflamed, swelling of the region and pain that worsens when moving the finger or when performing repetitive movements. Learn more about Quervain syndrome.
What to do: Treatment for Quervain's syndrome should be indicated by the orthopedist according to the symptoms presented by the person, and immobilization of the thumb and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs may be necessary to relieve the symptoms.
5. Carpal tunnel syndrome
The carpal tunnel syndrome happens mainly as a consequence of repetitive movements and arises due to the compression of the nerve that passes through the wrist and innervates to the palm of the hand, which results in wrist pain, tingling of the hand and altered sensitivity.
What to do: In this case, the treatment can be done with the use of cold compresses, wristbands, use of anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy. Watch the video below and see what to do to relieve wrist pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome:
6. Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease whose main symptom is pain and swelling of the joints, which can also reach the wrist and lead to deformation in the fingers, for example.
What to do: Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis should be done according to the doctor's guidance and severity of symptoms, and anti-inflammatory remedies, corticosteroid injections or immunosuppressive remedies may be indicated, in addition to physical therapy sessions.
7. Wrist open
The open wrist is the carpal instability that appears in teenagers or adults, and it can cause the sensation that the wrist is sore when the palm is facing downwards, with a feeling that the wrist is open, being necessary to use something like a ' wristband '.
What to do: It is recommended to seek guidance from an orthopedist, as it is possible to perform an X-ray, in which it is possible to verify an increase in the distance between the bones, which, even if it is less than 1 mm, can cause discomfort, pain and click on the fist.
8. Kienbock disease
Kienbock disease is a situation in which one of the bones that make up the wrist does not receive enough blood, which causes it to deteriorate and lead to symptoms such as constant pain in the wrist and difficulty moving or closing the hand. .
What to do: In this case, it is recommended that the wrist be immobilized for about 6 weeks, however in some cases the orthopedist may recommend surgery to correct the position of the bones.
It occurs due to poor vascularization of the semilunar bone in the wrist causing pain. The treatment can be done with immobilization for 6 weeks, but surgery to fuse this bone with another one that is closer can also be suggested by the orthopedist.