From our joints and bones to our ligaments and muscles, our body has all sorts of mechanisms that allow us to move in various ways. Unfortunately, as we all know, the more moving parts exist, the higher the risk of something going wrong.
Our body has plenty of moving parts, meaning we are at a relatively high risk of injuries. For athletes, hand and wrist injuries are all too common. While some of these injuries can lead to life-long disabilities, most cases can be addressed without long-term effects.
In this article, we will talk about two common types of wrist injuries, along with what you can do to address them.
Ulnar-side injuries
The ulnar side of the wrist is the pinky side. Various issues can occur on this side, usually from sports, that can cause different problems like dislocation and even ruptures. Many of these conditions are painful, but not all come with movement issues.
These types of injuries generally occur because of a repetitive action that has caused an issue to slowly grow over time. Sudden trauma can also cause such injuries and can be severe if not addressed right away.
Radial-side injuries
The radial part of your wrist is the thumb side of your wrist, opposite of the ulnar. This side is prone to problems like Oarsman’s wrist, also known as intersection syndrome. This issue is caused by the friction caused by different tendons constantly rubbing against each other, creating friction. This can lead to inflammation and pain, which can limit the movement of the wrist.
Another problem that can occur on the radial side is tendonitis. This occurs due to repeated movements and the overstretching of the wrist in various sports like volleyball. The pain occurs when the tendon itself thickens next to the carpal tunnel.
Addressing the problems
Regardless of the type of injury you have incurred, it is always crucial that you address it as soon as possible. This is because the longer you leave it untreated, the worst it will become. This can make it hard for you or a physician to treat it effectively. For that reason, you must take action right away.
With that in mind, do note the time and what you were doing when the injury occurred. This way, when you meet your physician, you can account for what you did up until the injury, which will allow the doctor to quickly diagnose the problem and come up with the correct solution to treat it.
Conclusion
Hand and wrist injuries account for a quarter of all sports-related injuries. If you run into such an injury, stop playing right away, and seek treatment immediately. Continuing to use the affected wrist will only worsen the injury and increase the risk of it becoming a life-long problem.
Once again, do not delay seeking help from a doctor. The longer you wait to get treatment, the more pain you will experience, and the harder it will be for the physician to treat your injuries!
At Hand & Wrist Center, we offer expert care to help our patients fully recover from hand and wrist injuries. If you are looking for a wrist doctor to treat an injury, make an appointment with us today!
