Wrist pain is a frequent complaint of people around the world. The present lifestyle and workload have caused many people to suffer from wrist pain.
You need to know that a seldom minor pain in a wrist is not a big issue. But if you are often experiencing sharp pain in the wrist, then you need to be worried about it.
There are many potential reasons for this sharp pain. It may be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cellulitis, De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, and so on.
When it comes to treatment there is a home treatment for de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, as well asfor others apart from medication and surgery. But for that, you must know what is the real cause of sharp pain in the wrist. This is so because it comes in many forms. So you have to spot “why”, in order to get proper treatment.
To help you out on the same here are some causes of sharp pain in the wrist.
1.Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Carpal Tunnel is the small area that is present at the palm of the wrist. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome takes place by the compression of the median nerve which passes through the carpal tunnel. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome often results in numbness and tingling in the hand. The pinched nerve causes acute, radiating pain that sometimes becomes hard to bear.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome basically happens due to the over usage of the wrist and hand. It generally involves a repetitive activity. If we see the root cause of this, then excessive computer use, driving, long-distance cycling, sewing, working in an assembly line, sudden injuries, diabetes, etc are the most common ones.
You also need to know that women are 3 times more likely to have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as compared to men. The basic reason behind this is the small size of the Carpal Tunnel in women as compared to men.
2.De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis : De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is basically marked by pain on the “thumb side” of your wrists. Thus it causes difficulty in making a fist or grasping objects. It also causes trouble moving your thumb and causes swelling near its base.
When it comes to the real cause behind this situation, it is not known yet. But in most of the cases the damaged tendons due to repetitive motions like playing an instrument, typing, playing badminton, etc are the major cause behind this situation.
When it comes to its testing, it requires the Finkelstein test. In this test, the fingers and hand are positioned in such a way that is painful enough for the damaged ligaments.
When it comes to De Quervian’s treatment options thehome treatmentis possible apart from the medication and surgery in extreme cases.
3.Ganglion Cysts: It is a mass that basically appears on the back of the wrist. Although at initial stages it is difficult to see but with time they can grow and fluctuate in size quickly. The problem arises when they grow bigger enough to limit the movement of the wrist. In this case, they cause extreme pain.
It basically comes from joint tissue. They are filled with a fluid that is somewhat similar to lubricants in our joints. The basic reason behind Ganglion cysts is repetitive movements that cause them to grow more and more.
It is most common in women ages 15 to 40. It can also happen in men and people of all age groups. Although at early stages it doesn’t harm but with time it causes severe pain. In this case, physical therapy is beneficial. But if this condition grows more, your doctor can recommend immobilization or non-surgical draining of the fluid. This is done by using a localized numbing cream. But if this procedure doesn’t work you will be asked for minor surgery.
4.Arthritis: It is basically the inflammation of joints which causes swelling and stiffness in the affected body part. This causes severe pain. When it comes to its causes, it includes normal wear and tear, aging, and power or over usage of hands.
There are many forms of arthritis among which some common are.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): This is an autoimmune disease that basically affects both wrists. This happens when your immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of your joints. This also includes your wrist. This leads to painful swelling that may eventually cause bone erosion.
- Osteoarthritis (OA): It is basically a degenerative joint disease and is common among older adults. This basically came into existence due to the breakdown of cartilages that covers the joints. The thing is, protective tissue got damaged due to aging and repeated motion. This gives rise to increased friction when the bones of the joint rub against each other. Thus it causes a lot of pain and swelling.
- Psoriatic arthritis (PsA): It is basically a type of arthritis that affects people with a skin disorder named psoriasis.
5.Wrist fracture: it is a common orthopedic injury that may occur due to an injury or bone weakness. The most common wrist fracture is a scaphoid fracture. It arises from a fall on the outstretched hand. The scaphoid bone is a curved bone that is shaped like a boat. It is located on the thumb side of the wrist.
The scaphoid fracture causes a lot of swelling, pain, and tenderness in the area that is just located below the base of the thumb. The pain starts getting worse when you get involved in activities such as pinching or grasping.
6.Sprains and Strains: A sprain is basically an abnormal stretching or tearing of a ligament especially the one that supports a joint. On the other hand, a strain is an abnormal stretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon.
Both of these are caused by repetitive activities or by a single overuse injury. They basically come with signs and symptoms of pain, swelling, and bruising. All of these signs and symptoms depend upon the grades of sprain and strain. Like, a grade 3 injury basically occurs due to the complete teardown of muscle or ligament. It causes severe pain in the affected area. This is one of the major causes of wrist pain.
Conclusion: When it comes to sharp pain in the wrist, there are many causes of the same. When it comes to treatment, in most cases the treatment is possible. What all it requires is, the real cause behind the pain. Although it is difficult to know the real cause, once it is known the treatment becomes simple and rapid. Moreover, it saves you from facing severe conditions that got worse with time.