You use your forearm muscles more than you know. If you have a desk job, typing and texting on your phone and computer all day utilizes muscles and tendons in both your wrist and forearm – a lot. If you have a manual labor job, you probably workout your forearms even more! So how can you find relief when you start experiencing forearm pain that causes all of your work to come to a screeching halt?
At Desert Hand and Physical Therapy, we have a lot of experience with forearms, wrists, hands, upper extremities, you name it! And we want to help. Here are 4 common causes of pain in your forearm (and what you can do to relieve it).
4 Common Causes of Forearm Pain
H3: Fracture or injury to ligaments.
If you fall or sustain an injury to your forearm, you could have a fractured bone or damaged ligaments or tendons.
Overuse and muscle strain.
As we mentioned earlier, if your job requires excessive typing or daily repetitive movements, you could overuse your wrist and forearm and experience muscle strain. Plus, this strain could cause mild discomfort or a lot of pain depending on how badly it’s been strained.
Arthritis.
Arthritis can occur in the hand, wrist, and elbow. This can cause a dull, persistent ache in your forearm over time.
Compressed nerves.
Nerve entrapment or compressed nerves can cause pain, tingling, or numbness around the affected region. Also, the most common cause of compressed nerves is carpal tunnel syndrome.
Here’s how to find relief from your forearm pain.
First and foremost, if you are experiencing persistent pains or aches in your forearms, you should make an appointment with a doctor. They will diagnose the underlying issue that’s causing your discomfort and help you create a plan for treatment.
Possible treatments could include:
- Pain medication
- Rest
- Splints or a brace
- Surgery
- Physical or hand therapy
How hand therapy can make a big difference in your healing.
Physical therapy can help reduce the need for pain medication. Also, it can help speed up the healing process. Desert Hand and Physical Therapy is a physical therapy and occupational therapy provider for patients with upper extremity pain or injury (hand, wrist, elbow, forearm, and shoulder). Plus, we can work with your diagnosis and create a specific plan of healing just for you!
Additionally, a unique aspect of our therapy service is manufacturing custom splints and braces for patients with fractures, dislocations, arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and most postoperative upper extremity conditions. We proudly create over 200 splints/braces per month and pride ourselves on competitive pricing, excellent quality and same day service. So if you need help getting back to your daily activities, make an appointment with us today!
