Wrist Pain: The Treatment and Therapy to Bring Relief

Wrist pain affects everything… writing, cooking, driving, cleaning, washing, and even eating. It’s no wonder, then, that discomfort in your wrist can make you feel frustrated, sick and tired, and generally exasperated at most things in life. In fact, we’ve seen countless patients give up on the things they love most due to daily, nagging wrist pain. This is not a situation we want to see you in. We understand how desperately you need relief, and that’s why this special blog post looks at why some people experience wrist pain, what is really is, and – thankfully – what can be done to relieve you of your daily soreness. We want you to start taking the right actions to get back to the pain-free life you deserve. So, let’s get started. [...]

Many people fail to ask themselves one simple question: why do my wrists hurt? When it comes to wrist pain, most individuals put it down to daily stress, working at their computers, or generally just moving incorrectly during the day. Sure, these can affect wrist health, but oftentimes it can be a little less clear. Knowing why your wrist hurts is essential in getting rid of the pain: only by knowing why you’re in discomfort can you ultimately treat the root cause of the problem. In fact, failing to find out why your wrist hurts will, in many cases, ultimately worsen the issue.

So, let’s give you some answers as to why your wrists may hurt. In fact, there are many different possible reasons for the pain. Some of the following you might find familiar contributors, but others may surprise you. Take a look: 

Repetitive Motions: Repeating motions over a long period of time may be a cause of wrist pain. If one’s motions aren’t varied, the muscles in the wrist may not be as mobile as needed, thereby causing discomfort and stress over time. Activities involving repeated motions include those found in tennis, knitting, writing, typing, texting, and driving. It is important to understand that allowing ones wrists to rest during these types of repeated motions is vital: rest allows the muscles and ligaments to recover.

Technology Stress: Repeated actions as a result of handling technological devices contribute directly to wrist pain. By repeatedly using phones, keyboards, or gaming consoles in particular ways, one’s wrists are directly exposed to injury and pain.

Unexpected Impact: For obvious reasons, falling on one’s wrist may result in serious injury and pain. Because wrists are fragile areas of the body, they are incapable of absorbing large amounts of stress or pressure. The results of a fall on one’s wrists may include anything from strains and sprains, to fractures and breaks.
Cartilage Deterioration: Individuals suffering from arthritis generally complain of wrist pain, as the cartilage in these areas is greatly affected by the affliction: it weakens and becomes brittle over time, thereby causing intense pain and discomfort. 
It seems, therefore, that there are a multitude of ways in which you can injure your wrist. But, why? Is it that the wrist is a particularly vulnerable area of the body, or are most of us just a little clumsy? The truth is that it might, in fact, be a little of both. The wrist itself is an intricate, complicated structure. Made of 8 small carpal bones in 2 rows, each of which is 4 bones wide, wrists are constructed in such a way that they are easily hurt or damaged. Yet, it doesn’t all come down to intricacy: people tend not to take care of their wrists as carefully as they should. In truth, it’s extremely important to be aware of what your wrists feel like, how they react, and how mobile they really are. It’s very important that all wrist pain is addressed immediately. 

Alright, so how do you know when you need to take action? How do you know it’s serious? Well, wrist pain varies in degree, but for the most part it can hamper daily activities. In most cases it can feel a bit like toothache: there is discomfort and pain, all of which is accompanied by pins-and-needles and tingling sensations. Of course, the intensity of the pain can vary according to the cause of the injury. The important thing to remember is this: just because you can move your wrist does not mean something isn’t wrong. Always take action… if you wait, you might find yourself worse off. It’s a common misconception to assume that the pain will disappear on its own. 

Happily, you don’t need to diagnose yourself. Because of the fragility of your wrists, it’s best to have it looked at by someone qualified to do so. Contacting a professional, hands-on physical therapist is the safest, most effective way of eradicating your wrist pain. A physical therapist will diagnose the root cause of the problem – and treat it – non-invasively, meaning you’ll finally get the answers you’ve been looking for… and, of course, you’ll be permanently rid of your pain! Moreover, professional, dedicated physical therapists offer hands-on tailor made exercises and stretches for you to do at home, thereby equipping you with the tools to maintain a pain-free life.

It’s time to take matters into your own hands… pun intended. Wrist pain doesn’t need to keep you from doing the things you love, and it definitely shouldn’t be steering you towards unhealthy quick-fixes such as painkillers and the like. With physical therapy you can confidently tackle your wrist pain and you can rest easy knowing that your health is the primary concern. 

Mobility and wrist function is absolutely vital in maintaining a good quality of life, and we understand that wrist pain gets in the way of that. We want to help. You do not have to be in pain for even a day longer – visit us now to gain access to the pain-free, mobile, active lifestyle you crave, all with the help of our specialist physical therapists. Take action this festive season and wave goodbye to wrist pain once and for all!