Why Does My Wrist Hurt?

Repetitive stress, natural wear and tear and an awkward movement are common causes of wrist pain. It could be because of a sudden injury or a long-term gradual damage to wrist muscles and bones plus the surrounding area.

Specifically, injuries as well as arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome are the usual suspects. For example, carpal tunnel syndrome can make it hard to grasp things as well as perform modern daily functions such as typing on a keyboard or writing on a paper. Even slight movements can be discomforting and worrying for us and it can make it difficult to focus on the task at hand.

In the case of an injury (perhaps due to an awkward movement during exercise or sporting activity), often swelling and bruising comes along. It’s the body’s natural inflammation response and a precursor to self-healing. After some rest and enough healing, the pain will go away on its own along with the swelling.

What about arthritis?

Aside from the pain, the wrist might also become stiff thereby restricting your movements and perhaps stopping you from certain daily activities. Arthritis is often a long-term condition which is why coping, ongoing treatment and lifestyle adjustments are often the only solution to this problem. After all, arthritis is the natural result of ageing and long-term wear and tear. For example, in osteoarthritis the cartilage wears away which results to bones rubbing together. The result is pain and swelling plus stiffness which limit  mobility. On the other hand, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which attacks healthy tissue. Both wrists are often affected and this is more common during middle age. In other words, there are things outside our control that result in wrist pain. Whether we like it or not and no matter how careful we are, the pain and discomfort is always just around the corner.

Does this mean there’s nothing we can do?

We can still delay the onset by adopting a healthy lifestyle and paying attention to our daily activities. For instance, ergonomics plays a huge part because we work each day and often for long hours. If we can take an hourly break from typing on a keyboard or from a sitting position, we do ourselves a huge favour and we give our bodies a rest and boost.

It’s also crucial to pay attention to our own bone strength and exercise and sporting activities.

If we are strong in the first place, we prevent most of the injuries because our bones and muscles are able to handle more weight and stress. Whether it’s while doing a push-up or getting a sudden fall, the body is more equipped to handle the sudden impact. It’s still best though to prevent falls and slips in the first place to completely get rid of the risk.

If you need more information about the pain you’re feeling in your wrist, you can visit us here at Peak Health Services. We can pinpoint the exact cause of the pain and then we’ll create a tailored treatment plan for you.