About this topic
The wrist is made up of many small bones. There are more small bones in the hand. You also have two bones in your lower arm. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that hold your bones together. There are also some muscles and tendons in your wrist. These attach to the bones and help move the wrist up, down, or sideways. Nerves and blood vessels also run through your wrist. Damage or injury to any of these structures can lead to wrist pain and problems. Some common wrist injuries are: ‚
- Broken bone
- Sprains and tears of ligaments
- Problems from using the wrist to do the same thing over and over. These often involve nerves.
- Swelling and irritation of tendons
Other health problems like joint swelling or gout can cause problems with your wrist ‚
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What are the causes?
- Trauma from a fall, direct hit, accident, fight
- Overuse or doing too many repeat motions
What can make this more likely to happen?
Wrist injuries are more likely to happen if you use your wrist a lot. Having a job or hobby that uses repeat hand movements may be one reason. Knitting or typing may cause you to have problems with your wrists. Having loose joints and poor overall strength and physical condition are others. If you have weak bones or have had a earlier wrist injury, you are more likely to have more wrist problems. They are also more likely to happen if you play sports where you use your hands a lot. Gymnastics, tennis, golf, and baseball are examples of these. Other sports where there is a higher chance of getting hurt can raise your chance of having a wrist injury. Some of them include football, hockey, wrestling, and skateboarding. Some health conditions, like diabetes or lupus, also make a wrist injury more likely. ‚
What are the main signs?
- Pain, swelling, soreness, or stiffness
- Bruising or bleeding
- Trouble moving the wrist or gripping objects
- Numbness or tingling in the wrist or hand
- Weakness in the wrist or hand
- Fingers feel cold
- Clicking noise when moving the wrist
- Soft lump or hard lump under the skin near the wrist
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
Your doctor will feel around your wrist and hand. Your doctor may have you try to move your wrist and fingers. Your doctor may push or pull on your wrist, arm, and hand to test strength and how stable the wrist is. The doctor may order: ‚
- X-rays
- Ultrasound
- CT or MRI scan
- Nerve conduction test
- Electromyelogram (EMG)
- Bone scan
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
- Rest
- Ice
- Keeping the wrist raised
- Cast, splint, or brace to keep the wrist from moving or for support
- Exercises for stretching and strengthening
- Aspiration to remove fluid from a cyst
- Surgery
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling, like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). These are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
- Help with pain, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)
The doctor may give you a shot of an anti-inflammatory drug called a corticosteroid. This will help with swelling. Talk with your doctor about the risks of this shot. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Loss of wrist movement or strength
- Ongoing pain or stiffness
- Long-term disability
- Injury to nerves, blood vessels, or other tissues
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Do gentle stretching exercises before doing tough movements with your wrist and hands.
- Avoid doing repeat movements with your wrist and hand, if possible. If you have to do repeat movements, take rest breaks often. If you have an assembly job, try alternating tasks, if possible.
- When picking up heavy objects, use both hands together. Bend your knees and keep your back straight. Keep your wrists in a straight position and use your shoulders and elbows to help.
- Use protective equipment and padding, like wrist guards, when playing play sports.
- If you have balance problems, use a cane or walker for safe walking.
- Be especially careful in winter weather to avoid slipping on ice.
- Keep your home clutter-free to lessen your chances of falling. Keep the house well-lit. Use shower mats to avoid slipping in a wet shower.
- If you sit at a computer, make sure your keyboard, mouse, desk, and chair are in the right positions so you do not put stress on the wrist. Think about using a special mouse and keyboard that are made to protect your wrist and hand.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00023 ‚
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine ‚
http://www.sportsmed.org/uploadedFiles/Content/Patient/Sports_Tips/4ST%20Wrist%20Injury.pdf ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚