Pain in the Wrists | Cause, diagnosis, symptoms, exercises and treatment

Do you have wrist pain? Here you can learn more about pain in the wrists, as well as the associated symptoms, cause, exercises and various diagnoses of wrist pain. Follow and like us too Our Facebook page for free, daily health updates.

Wrist pain can have a number of different causes - but before we dive deeper into the various diagnoses, it is important to establish that the most common cause of wrist pain is congestion and so-called functional diagnoses (when the pain is due to muscles, joints, tendons and nerves ).

Muscles, ligaments and tendons can become both irritated and painful if they are strained beyond their capacity. Referred pain from the forearm and shoulders is actually among the most common causes. Carpal tunnel syndrome is perhaps the most well-known diagnosis when it comes to wrist pain - and is simply a pinch of the median nerve that runs through the front of the wrist. Pain in the wrists can also occur acutely, for example due to a fall or other trauma, where one may experience damage to a ligament in the form of the ligament being stretched, partially torn or completely torn. In the case of ligaments and tendon injuries, it is characteristic that the pain persists even long after the trauma itself.

If you have long-term pain in your wrists, we strongly recommend that you consult a public health professional, such as a physician, physiotherapist or modern chiropractor for examination and any treatment.

If you want to know more about carpal tunnel syndrome, you can read extensively about this in this review article below - or later in the article. This article here is primarily dedicated to an overview of various causes and diagnoses that can cause pain in the wrists, but we also cover median nerve pinching in the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome).

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Wrist structure

The wrist is not a single joint. It is made up of a number of smaller joints where the legs in the hand attach to the forearm. In order to stabilize the smaller bones in the wrist we have a number of ligaments and tendons. In addition to this we have nerves and muscles that are also part of the anatomy of the wrist.

If any of these structures become damaged, irritated or overloaded, then wrist pain may occur. A quick overview of some of the most common causes of wrist pain:

Joint pain
Muscle pain, myalgia and myoses in the forearm muscles (most often the wrist stretchers and flexors)
Nerve cramps in the wrist (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Guyon's Tunnel Syndrome)
Nervous nausea in the neck (for example, due to neck prolapse, may pinch nerves that send signals to the forearm, wrist and hands)
Overload due to excessive use of hands and wrists
Referred pain from elbow, shoulder or neck
Injury to one or more ligaments that stabilize the smaller joints of the wrist (may occur after a fall or trauma)
Tennis elbow / lateral epicondylitis (may refer pain from elbow to wrist)

This is just a brief overview, and you will find even more causes in the next section - where we will go into more detail on why you have pain in the wrists and what diagnoses may be the cause of it.

Causes and diagnoses: Why do I have pain in my wrists?

As mentioned earlier, there are a number of causes that can be involved, in part or in whole, in your wrist pain. Now we are going to go through a number of possible diagnoses that can give or contribute to you being affected by pain in the wrists.

Trauma / injury

Trauma and injuries can occur both acutely (fall on the wrist) or due to prolonged incorrect loading (for example, load injuries due to repetitive loading - such as daily use of a screwdriver and tools). Some examples of acute wrist injuries are, for example, a fall on the hand or twisting of the wrist during martial arts. In a trauma, as mentioned earlier, damage to ligaments, muscle fibers or tendons can occur.

Prolonged wrist injuries occur because the strain of everyday life exceeds your capacity. When we talk about capacity, we are primarily talking about the load being too one-sided and repetitive and that one often forgets to strengthen the forearms, as well as keep them mobile and elastic through stretching and strength training. Hands, forearms and wrists train - like the rest of the body - regular maintenance and movement.

If you suspect a wrist injury or are struggling with long-term wrist pain, we also strongly encourage you to have this investigated. Never let pain persist over time without getting a clinician to look at this - it's a bit like ignoring the warning light on the car; not fooled in the long run.

The most common causes of wrist pain: Overload and trauma

We have already gone through one of the most common causes of wrist pain - namely trauma. But in the same boat we also find overload in muscles and tendons as a very common cause of wrist pain. In most cases, pain in the wrists is a functional diagnosis rather than a structural diagnosis - where the first means that the pain often comes from associated muscles or malfunction in the hand, elbow, shoulder or neck. The majority of patients have a very good effect of musculoskeletal treatment in combination with adapted training in the form of home exercises.

Muscular pain in the wrists

In the subsequent section, we will give you an overview of how muscles locally in forearms and wrists, as well as more distal muscles in the shoulder and scapula can give you pain in the wrists.

Muscle pain from the forearm down to the wrist

Some of the most common causes of pain in the wrist come from the muscles of the forearm and elbow. Overactive muscle fibers can refer to pain in so-called pain patterns - which means that even if you have pain in the wrist, the pain can be due to impaired function in the forearms and elbows. A good example of this is the wrist extensors that attach from the elbow down to the wrist.

forearm trigger point

As we see from the picture above (where X indicates muscle dysfunction / muscle knot), knotted muscles in the forearm can contribute or be a direct cause of your wrist pain. This type of wrist pain particularly affects those who use their forearms for repetitive strain and repetitive, monotonous movements, such as craftsmen and those who work a lot in front of the computer. In recent times, of course, the use of a mobile phone - and typing on it - has led to a number of cases of what is called mobile wrist.

Symptoms of muscle pain in the forearms and wrists may include:

Pain during or after certain types of use.
Persistent pain after exercise and strain.
The muscles are pressure sore when touched.
Wrist and hand compensation complaints.
Possible redness and heat on the outside of the elbow.
Reduced grip strength (in some more severe cases).

Use of elbow compression support in everyday life and in sports is popular because it can contribute to locally increased blood circulation, as well as a faster healing time than normal. It is especially recommended for you who use your arms well over regularly - and who know that you work more than most during a normal working week.

Read more: Elbow Compression Support (opens in new window)

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Muscle pain from shoulder and shoulder blade down to wrist

Many patients are surprised when they are informed that pain in the wrist and hands may be from the shoulders and shoulder blades. Impaired mobility can lead to increased muscular activity in the muscles within the shoulder blades and contribute to pain locally, but also with referred pain down the arm towards the hand. In the picture below, we see the musculus rhomboideus - a muscle that attaches from the vertebrae in the thoracic spine and further towards the inside of the shoulder blade.

rhomboideal trigger point

As you can see, the muscle itself sits on the inside of the shoulder blade, but the pain it causes can go from the back of the shoulder blade, towards the upper arm and all the way down in the hand, as well as the wrist.

Symptoms of muscle pain in the shoulders and shoulder blades and down the wrists may include:

Constant murmur or pain in the muscles of the shoulder blade.
Local pressure soreness within the shoulder blade and shoulders.
Decreased joint mobility and a feeling that your back "stops" when you bend it backwards.
Referred pain that goes from affected area onwards towards hand, and wrist.

Pain within the shoulder blade is most often due to a combination of malfunction in both the muscles and joints of the chest. Regular use of foam roller and trigger point balls, in combination with the training of the shoulder blades can contribute to both symptom relief and improved functioning in everyday life. If you have persistent pain in the chest and inside the shoulder blades, then we encourage you to find a publicly authorized therapist for your exact problem.

Nerve pain in the wrists

Nerve cramps in the wrist: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Guyon's Tunnel Syndrome

The most common form of nerve clamping in the wrist is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The carpal tunnel is the structure that runs on the front of the middle part of the hand and down to the wrist. The median nerve runs through this tunnel - and it is if functional or structural problems arise that it can become pinched or irritated, and which can provide a basis for reduced skin sensation or reduced grip strength. The median nerve is responsible for giving signals to the thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger.

Guyon's tunnel syndrome is a lesser known nerve clamping diagnosis - but this is about clamping of the ulnar nerve and not the median nerve. Guyon's tunnel is closer to the little finger and a pinch here could cause nerve symptoms in the little finger and half the ring finger.

Research has shown that conservative treatment consisting of measures such as joint mobilization, nerve mobilization exercises, muscular techniques and intramuscular needle treatment can have a positive effect on mild to moderate versions of carpal tunnel syndrome and Guyon's tunnel syndrome. Such measures should always be tested over a longer period of time before considering surgery - as the latter can lead to errors during the operation and / or scar tissue in the operated area.

Nervous pain from the neck down to the wrist

There are three possible primary causes of nerve nausea or nerve irritation in the neck:

Spinal stenosis of the neck with referenced pain to the wrists and hands: Spinal stenosis refers to tight nerve conditions in the neck or spinal cord. Such narrow nerve conditions may be due to structural calcifications and osteophytes (bone loss) within the neck or vertebrae itself, or they may be due to functional and dynamic causes such as a disc collapse.

Cervical prolapse of the neck: A neck prolapse occurs when the soft mass of an intervertebral disc seeps out of a damaged outer wall and then puts direct or indirect pressure on a nearby nerve. The symptoms you experience depend on which nerve root ends up in a pinch - and the symptoms will then correspond to the areas for which that nerve is responsible. For example, a pinch of the C7 nerve root will involve pain in the middle finger - and nerve pinch of C6 can cause pain to the thumb and forefinger.

Scalenii syndrome and brachial neuralgia due to tight muscles and dysfunctional joints: The most common cause of nerve pain that goes from the neck down to the wrist stems from dysfunction in muscles and joints - and especially the muscles called the upper trapezius and the underlying scalenii muscles. If these muscles become significantly tense and twisted - also known as muscle knots - this can lead to irritation of the underlying nerves (including the brachial plexus) that extend from the neck and further down the arm towards the wrist.

Other wrist diagnoses

Wrist Osteoarthritis (Wear of the Wrist)

Wear and tear in a joint is known as osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis). Such joint wear can occur due to incorrect loading or overload over a longer period of time. An example may be due to trauma or injury where the person has landed hard on the wrist many times - for example in handball. It is known that such sports injuries mean that there is a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis earlier than normal.

Other possible causes are repetitive work tasks without sufficient stability muscles in the wrists and elbows. Wrist osteoarthritis is common - and the more common the older you are. The vast majority of cases of osteoarthritis are asymptomatic, but in certain cases it can cause pain and cause functional compensation problems in associated structures.

Read more: Osteoarthritis (Osteoarthritis)

DeQuervain's tenosynovitis (inflammation of the wrists and ligaments)

With this diagnosis, the ligaments and tendons that cover the thumb side of the wrist become inflamed and irritated. The condition is usually due to congestion or trauma - but can also occur without any direct cause of onset. Symptoms include a tingling sensation in the lower part of the thumb, local swelling and decreased strength in the grip, wrist and elbow.

Read more: DeQuervains tenosynovite

Ganglion cyst in wrist

A ganglion cyst is a fluid accumulation with a membrane around it that can occur in several places in the body. If a ganglion cyst occurs in the wrist, they can cause local pain on the upper side of the wrist - where they normally occur. Somewhat surprisingly, smaller ganglion cysts cause more pain compared to larger cysts.

Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Wrist (Rheumatic Arthritis)

This joint disease is a form of rheumatism in which the body's own immune system attacks its own joints. Such an autoimmune response occurs when the body's own defense interprets its own cells as enemies or pathological invaders. In connection with the ongoing response from the immune system, joints may swell and become reddish in the skin. It is important to exercise preventively if this condition has been proven.

Rheumatoid arthritis of the wrist can affect any part of the wrist. These attacks can cause wrist pain, as well as a variety of other symptoms, such as:

Swelling in the hands and wrists
wrist Inflammation
Fluid retention in hands and wrists
Reddish and pressure sore skin where the wrist is inflamed

Also read: 15 Early Signs of Rheumatism

Treatment of pain in the wrists

As you have seen in this article, pain in the wrists can be caused by a number of different diagnoses - and therefore the treatment must also be adapted. A good start to get the right treatment is a thorough examination and clinical examination by a publicly authorized clinician with expertise in muscles, tendons and joints. The three professions with public health authorization with such expertise in Norway are physiotherapist, chiropractor and manual therapist.

Common treatment methods used for wrist pain are:

Physical treatment: Trigger point therapy (muscle knot therapy), massage, stretching and stretching are all parts of the umbrella term of physical therapy. This form of treatment aims to reduce soft tissue pain, increase local blood circulation and remodel tense muscles.
Joint Mobilization: If your joints are stiff and hypomobile (not moving), then this can lead to you getting an incorrect movement pattern (for example that you look like a robot when you do something physical) and hence also irritation or pain in the associated muscles and soft tissue . A chiropractor or manual therapist can help you promote normal joint function, as well as help you with sore muscles and tendon injuries. Hypomobility in the neck and shoulder can also lead to increased strain on the elbow and wrist.
Training and training: As mentioned earlier, it is especially important to strengthen the shoulder muscles, as well as the local elbow and wrist muscles, to withstand more strain and thus reduce the chance of relapse or aggravation of the pain. Based on a clinical examination, a clinician can prepare a training program tailored to you and your muscular imbalances.

Summarizeringing

If you have persistent wrist pain, it is very important that you have it examined by a publicly authorized clinician - in order to get started with the right measures and avoid further injuries to the knees. We place special focus on increased training of the shoulder and forearm when it comes to prevention and treatment of elbow pain.

Do you have questions about the article or do you need more tips? Ask us directly via our facebook page or via the comment box below.

Recommended self help

Elbow compression support: This helps to increase local blood circulation to the elbow and forearm, thus increasing the region's healing response and repair ability. Can be used preventively and against active damage.

Read more here (opens in new window): Elbow Compression Support

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