Using the wrists and hands is something many people do every single day. In fact, you may actually use these structures more than ever if you spend lots of time on a cellphone or computer. However, overuse, falls and other issues can cause several conditions that lead to pain in the wrist and hand. Here are two conditions that can cause pain in these body structures:
1. Carpal tunnel syndrome
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage through the wrist, and it allows the median nerve to run through the wrist and into the hand. Repetitive motions like typing can irritate this nerve, and this is especially true if you’re using poor wrist posture. People who type with their hands slanting below the wrist are more likely to irritate the median nerve, and this can cause inflammation and pain in the wrist and hand. It’s common to experience numbness in the hand and a weaker grip with carpal tunnel syndrome. Impacts to the wrist during sports as well as car accident injuries can also cause this condition.
2. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
Another condition that can lead to pain in the wrist and hand is De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. This condition affects the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist, and it’s named for the Swiss surgeon who identified it for the first time in 1895. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is most often caused by repetitive movements of the hand and wrist. Texting and typing have been known to cause this condition, and writing with a pencil or pen for long periods of time can also cause it. This is because holding the pen requires a pinching movement that involves the tendons that are at the root of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
If you’ve developed this condition, the most common symptom you’ll notice is pain near your thumb and in your wrist. This pain will be most noticeable when you’re grasping an object or turning your wrist. Other symptoms common to this condition include swelling at the base of the affected thumb and a sticking feeling when you try to move your thumb.
Treat pain in the hand and wrist with help from Border Therapy Services
Border Therapy Services offers flexible treatment plans for many issues that cause elbow, wrist and hand pain. The first important aspect of these plans is the free screening. This step allows us to find out the root cause of your pain and the symptoms you’re dealing with. Once we have this information, we’ll build you an individualized therapy plan designed to treat both the root cause and symptoms of your issue, and this plan may use therapy techniques such as:
Are you ready to get our help with your pain? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.