Did you know that the wrist is not just one joint? Several small joints, where the bones of the forearm and hand meet, make up the wrist. If any one of these joints, bones, ligaments or tendons become injured, it can lead to wrist pain. And this pain can be recurring – wrist injuries are often due to repetitive motions that can cause inflammation. And your wrist hardly ever gets to rest.
So if you’re suffering from chronic pain in your wrist, or it just doesn’t seem to heal, here’s what you can do about it.
Common Ways to Effectively Heal Wrist Pain
Consult a Doctor
The first method might seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised at how many people avoid going to the doctor when they are sick or in pain. According to a 2015 survey of over 2,000 Americans on ZocDoc, 80 percent of them stated they delayed or swore off of preventative care.
If you’re feeling any type of pain in your muscles or joints, it’s important to see a doctor and get an exam. It could be that your wrist pain is a sign of another medical problem, or it could turn into a more serious wrist condition, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Medication
If you’re feeling some discomfort, over-the-counter medication could be what you need. Your doctor will tell you if what you have is general soreness that can be treated with Advil, ibuprofen, or other over-the-counter medication. Or they might prescribe you something stronger if needed.
Medication, however, is only meant to alleviate the symptoms, but not to fix the issue itself. That’s why we still recommend visiting a doctor who can point you in the right direction. Which leads us to our next recommendation for wrist pain: therapy.
Hand Therapy
Hand therapy can effectively help heal your sore or painful wrist. Therapy is one of the best, non-invasive, non-surgical options. A therapist will likely assess your range of motion and your pain level before customizing a plan of action for your healing journey.
Some general hand therapy services include:
- Range of motion and strengthening exercises
- Gentle stretching
- Splints to help keep your wrist stable and resting
- Ice
- Sensory re-education if needed after a severe injury
- Functional and daily living activities (which have may have been limited due to your injured wrist)
Surgery
Unfortunately, if your wrist pain is a sign of a more serious condition, your doctor might recommend surgery to fix the problem. Some wrist issues that might need surgical intervention include:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Bone Fractures
- Tendon or Ligament Repair
Wrist pain might stop you in your tracks for the moment, but it doesn’t have to be forever. The most important thing you can do is not delay visiting your doctor to ensure you receive a proper diagnosis. Once you know what’s going on with your wrist, you can use these tips to create a good plan of action towards healing.
