When to see a Hand Doctor for wrist pain?
Wrist pain is common nowadays. Pain can be at rest or with motion. Often, wrist pain persists and increases despite rest. Symptoms can include swelling, stiffness, clicking, or popping. As many factors can lead to wrist pain, an accurate diagnosis is essential for proper treatment and healing.
Some causes of wrist pain include:
- Ligament Injury
- Wrist fractures
- Arthritis between bones
- Inflammation or irritation of the tendons that move the wrist
- Nerve injury or Nerve compression
- Masses (tumors), most commonly benign
Your Orthopedic Hand Surgeon will perform a thorough examination over the wrist to see where the pain is localized and how the wrist moves. X-rays might be necessary and other studies might be needed at times.
The treatment of wrist pain depends on the diagnosis. It can include various combination of activity modification, splinting or casting, hand therapy, anti-inflammatory medicine, or injections. If non-operative treatment does not relieve symptoms, surgery might be the next step for treatment.
