Wrist pain can stem from various causes, ranging from sudden injuries to long-term conditions. Diagnosing the exact reason requires careful evaluation, but here are some common possibilities:
-
Sudden Injuries:
- Sprains: These occur when ligaments, which connect bones to each other, are stretched or torn. This can happen due to a fall or a sudden twisting motion.
- Fractures: A break in one or more of the bones in your wrist, often resulting from a significant impact, such as a fall onto an outstretched hand.
-
Long-Term Problems:
- Repetitive Stress Injuries: Repeated motions, like typing or assembly-line work, can inflame tissues in the wrist, leading to pain.
- Arthritis: Different types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, can affect the wrist joints, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: This condition occurs when the median nerve, which runs through a narrow passageway in your wrist called the carpal tunnel, gets compressed. This can cause numbness, tingling, and pain in your hand and wrist.
-
Other Possible Causes:
- Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons in the wrist.
- Ganglion cysts: Noncancerous lumps that can develop along tendons or joints in the wrist. These cysts can sometimes press on nerves, causing pain.
- De Quervain's tenosynovitis: Affects the tendons on the thumb side of your wrist.
- Kienbock's disease: A rare condition in which one of the small bones in the wrist (lunate) loses its blood supply and collapses.
To determine the specific cause of your wrist pain, it's essential to consult a doctor. They can perform a physical exam, order imaging tests (like X-rays or MRI), and recommend the appropriate treatment plan.
