Pain is experienced via a spectrum, with some people feeling just mere discomfort while others have a severe ache. This is true for almost any body part, and the wrist is not an exception to that. Luckily, ѕіgnіfісаnt progress has been made in the field of orthopedics over the years, making the diagnosis and treatment of the problem more accurately.
For some people, wrist pain may be a result of an isolated incident that has nothing with their daily activities, with people only experiencing it for a couple of days. Others might have just overused their wrist due to writing, computer work, or other activities that require the use of the fingers.
When the pain is persistent and long-term, then an individual might have to go to a wrist doctor and explore the reason for the pain further to tackle the issue. Here are the possible causes of having wrist pain:
1) Arthritis
The first possible reason why one might be experiencing pain on the wrist is arthritis. This is a degenerative disease that mostly affects the cartilage of the wrist, ultimately resulting in pain that gets worse over time. It might be more than just arthritis if one is experiencing a loss of mobility of the finger and thumb joints.
2) Wrist Injury
Another possible reason why a person might be experiencing wrist pain is due to a wrist injury. This might be a result of a fall or accident, acute inflammation, or a sprain. During the healing process, pain tends to worsen when a person uses their wrist again. It’s important to take it easy and see what would eventually relieve your wrist pain.
3) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Another possible cause of wrist pain that is more complicated is carpal tunnel syndrome. This is a disorder in which the median nerve is being compressed due to the narrowing of the tunnel that the median nerve passes through. It іѕ often caused by repetitive wrist motion, most especially in people who do a lot of work using a computer.
4) Gout
Gout is a medical condition that occurs due to the overproduction of uric acid. It is also characterized by joint inflammation. This condition can be very painful and it might be best to seek professional advice if the pain grows to be more unbearable.
5) Ganglion Cysts
A ganglion cyst is the result of an injury to a joint. It is a soft tissue that can burst and become infected, leading to severe swelling and sharp pain in the wrist. The lump might be as big as a golf ball and be filled with pus. This tissue damage is best handled by a wrist doctor.
6) Kienbock’s Disease
Kienbock’s disease occurs in the small bones of the hands, particularly in the thumb. It is a rare disease that is the result of osteonecrosis of the lunate bone in the wrist of an individual. This is a relatively rare condition and should be treated with the utmost care by a specialist.
Conclusion
It is important to understand the plausible causes of wrist pain, especially when severe. Identifying the cause will be helpful for you and your medical professionals to know the administration of the recovery process.
In need of a wrist doctor? Led by Dr. Richard D. Curtis and Dr. Jose Baez, North Florida Han & Wrist Center is committed to providing patients with the absolute best care possible in Jacksonville, FL. Get in touch with us today!