Whether it is minor or severe, at one time or another, we have experienced pain in our wrist. Isn’t it?
But what matters the most is, for how long we are experiencing that pain. If it is seldom, there is no need to worry. As de Quervain’s tape, exercise or some rest will do a job. But if you are often experiencing severe pain, you should take care of it. Because this is something we shouldn’t ignore.
Now you must be probably wondering why?
Well, let us discuss this in detail.
In many cases, the possible reason for pain in the wrist can be an injury. This can be a minor injury or can be a fracture. This is where the problem begins. As once it is ignored it may cause serious damage that may even lead to surgery. So, you are advised to never ignore wrist pain.
There are other reasons why you should not ignore wrist pain. It is so because it is not just broken bones that require medical attention, even a minor pain in your wrist is a warning sign of something more serious.
The thing is with an increase in the usage of smartphones, repetitive motion of typing on the keyboard, games, sports activities, and so on put extreme pressure on your hand and wrist. This can cause severe pain or lack of motion.
On the other hand, people that are usually involved with construction work that involves active and prolonged use of hands might experience even fingers or wrist locks. In this case, they experience both pain and swelling. This can possibly be De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis.
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis:
It is a disease that is named after the Swiss surgeon, who first identified it in 1895. This disease is marked by pain and swelling on the thumb side of your wrists. Thus it makes it difficult to make fists or grasp objects. It also limits your thumb movement and causes swelling near its base.
When we talk about its exact cause, it is not known so far. But as per experts, the possible cause can be damage to the tendons due to repetitive motions like typing, playing guitar, playing video games, etc for a prolonged period of time. In other words, any activity that involves active use of your hand for a prolonged period of time can cause De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis.
If you experience the same, you can undergo the Finkelstein test. In this test, your hands and fingers will be positioned in such a way that is painful for the damaged ligaments.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
If we talk about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This is something that affects as many as 3% of all working-age Americans. This brings up to 8 million people under its direct influence in America alone.
This is a type of condition which is named after the carpal tunnel in your wrist. Carpal tunnel acts as a passage for your median nerve. This is the very nerve that controls feeling and movement in your thumb and fingers.
The thing is when you are working with your arms on a downward slant, leaving the hands below your wrist and that too in a repetitive motion. It causes the narrowing of the passage that ultimately leads to the squeezing of the nerve. This is a very painful condition and can also lead to cramping.
In extreme cases, this even results in loss of muscle mass in the hands. This results in chronic cramping and reduced strength.
Ganglion Cysts:
Ganglion Cysts is a common type of mass that appears on the back of your wrist. Although they are almost always benign, chances are there that they can grow and fluctuate in the size quickly.
The condition becomes worse when they grow large in size thus limits the wrist movement. It also causes pain whenever you try to use your wrist.
Ganglion Cysts basically come with the joint tissue and are basically filled with the fluid that is similar to fluids of our joints lubricants. It is common in women especially those aged between 15-40. It can also happen in people of all ages.
In extreme cases, your doctor may recommend immobilization or non-surgical fluid draining using a localized numbing cream. You might be recommended to go for outpatient surgery to remove the fluid.
Apart from all these, there are other possible reasons like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Kienbocks’s disease for pain in your wrist. So you are advised to not ignore it under any circumstances.
Conclusion:
There are several activities that involve the active use of our hands thus causes both pain and swelling. But in most cases, we ignore them thinking that it is normal. But as Jeremy Madvin used to say that it is essential to know that the pain and swelling in our wrist is something we should never take for granted. It can be a sign of upcoming disease, especially in the form of De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis. This is something that if detected at initial stages De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis home treatment in the form of De Quervain’s Tape and exercise will do the job.
References:
Research contributions credited to Sadia shahid MA Industrial Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad; Fatima Nasir MA healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad; Dr. Madiha Khalid Clinical Pharmacist, M. Phill. clinical pharmacy Pakistan, Jeremy Madvin, MBA International Business, University of Redlands, Redlands, Ca.