Wrist Injury Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Options

Wrist injury is often associated with traumatic events such as falls or sporting accidents that cause sprains or fractures. However, wrist injury symptoms can also stem from chronic issues such as repetitive stress and the normal aging process. The wrists are used so frequently and often that sometimes it is difficult to differentiate aches and pains from wrist injury that requires prompt medical attention.

Symptoms of wrist pain associated with wear and tear include:

• Stiffness
• Restriction in movement
• Transient numbness

Symptoms of wrist pain that result from injury include:

• Bruising
• Swelling
• Tingling
• Persistent numbness
• Weakness or decreased strength
• Pain in the fingers or hand

It is important to be able to identify and differentiate these symptoms of wrist pain in order to prevent future damage and get appropriate treatment.

Many factors can lead to wrist injury. As a result, an accurate diagnosis is essential for proper treatment and care. The wrist is a joint with multiple components. Made up of bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons [1], the wrist is susceptible to injury in numerous places. See this image for a visual representation.

Any condition that causes stress, overuse or damage to these components can result in wrist pain and injury.

Traumatic causes:

Direct trauma to the wrist in events such as motor vehicle accidents can cause significant trauma to the wrist, but traumatic causes are varied and do not simply include car accidents.

• Falls: Falling on an outstretched hand puts direct trauma on the wrist. Bones can easily shift and break, nerves and blood vessels can be pinched and severed, muscles and ligaments can be torn.
• Sports injuries: Similar to falls, a wrist injury is a common occurrence in contact sports, such as football and hockey, and in sports that may involve falls, such as skiing, volleyball or cross-country biking.

Positional causes:

Positions such as typing and knitting that put direct pressure on the nerves in the wrist can cause chronic stress and injury [2]. These activities may seem benign but when performed often they can lead to serious wrist injury.

Inflammation:

Processes that cause swelling and inflammation of the components of the wrist, especially the blood vessels and nerves, can cause compression and pressure that results in wrist pain and injury.

• Arthritis: Arthritis is a term for multiple conditions that cause painful inflammation and stiffness of the bones and joints. Arthritic processes can affect many parts of the wrist and cause irritation that often leads to injury [3].

• Cysts: Cysts are sacs that can be filled with fluid, air or other material that can form in any part of the body. Cysts often occur in the wrist and cause pain that can lead to injury from constant inflammation [4].

If your symptoms are a result of mal-positioning, try these self-care tips and suggestions to gain relief:

• Practice ergonomics: If you spend much of your day typing at a keyboard or doing activities that put pressure on the wrist, make time for regular breaks. Keep your wrists in a relaxed neutral position when you type and consider using foam supports and keyboards that decrease tension on your wrist [5].
• Use protective gear during sports activities: Using wrist guards during activities such as snowboarding, rollerblading, gymnastics and tennis can help prevent injury.
• Hazard-proof the home: Make changes in your home that can help prevent falls. Try changes such as replacement of slippery rugs and mats, installation of handrails in the bathroom or shower, and illumination of spaces in order to prevent accidental trips.
• Apply ice then heat: Putting ice on your wrist will help reduce pain and relax sore or tight muscles. Limit application of ice or heat to 20 minutes at a time. You can do this every couple of hours for relief.
• Build up your bones: Take calcium supplements to strengthen your bones and prevent fractures.

See your doctor promptly if you have symptoms more aligned with those of wrist injury (bruising, shooting pain, numbness or tingling).

Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor may suggest:

• Physical therapy or rehabilitation: Your doctor may prescribe stretching exercises or a physical therapy/rehabilitation program to help you restore range of motion, strength and stability to your wrist. If you have a broken bone, you may need a cast or splint to help hold the fractured pieces together during the healing process. Even if your wrist injury is due to a sprain, you may need to wear a sprint to protect the wrist.
• Non-inflammatory medications: Your doctor may prescribe this type of medication to combat arthritic processes that are causing wrist pain and injury [6].
• Surgery: If at home remedies and medication options from your doctor do not provide relief, you and your doctor may look into surgical options [7].