Pain in the wrist while bending or moving it often happens to people due to various reasons. At times it is possible that it might have been hurt without us realizing it. However if the pain persists it is recommended to seek a doctor’s help at the earliest. Apart from the injury some other common causes are carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive stress injury, gout or arthritis. Whatever the reason may be, till the time you don’t see a doctor, it is better to restrict most of the movement of the wrist to avoid further complication. You can also use an OTC pain reliever, or moist heat and ice treatment to relieve the pain till the time you get medical help.

Symptoms of Wrist Pain

• Discomfort and pain while making a fist or holding objects
• Feeling of hands falling asleep
• Swelling and pain in fingers
• Numbness and a feeling of tingling that might worsen during the night
• The pain while bending the wrist can sometimes be sudden and sharp
• Feeling of heat in the joints

Causes of Wrist Pain

1. CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME:

It is one of the most common conditions where swelling in the wrist centers or tightens near the median nerve. The swelling may occur as a result of performing repetitive tasks with hands for activities like typing, crafts work, drawing, excessive writing, or sewing, basically the activities that need too much work from one hand. It is also common among the ones who are overweight, pregnant, or going through menopause. People with diabetes, arthritis, or thyroid are also vulnerable. If CTS is accompanied by a wrist injury or a sudden trauma on the affected place then it can also lead to sprains, broken bones, and tendinitis. There can also be swelling, bruising, and disfiguration of the joints.

2. GOUT: It is a condition wherein the body either makes excessive amount uric acid or under excretes uric acid, which eventually causes wrist pain especially when one bends it. If the uric acid level is high then it leads to the formation of uric acid crystals deposit in the joints. This condition mostly occurs on specific areas such as knees, ankles, and wrists. Gout is caused due to excessive consumption of alcohol, overeating, surgical side effects, physiological trauma and effects of certain medications. It can also occur due to high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity
3. ARTHRITIS:

Another very common cause of the pain in wrist while bending it is arthritis where the joints get inflamed. It can also cause excessive swelling and stiffness. It occurs due to ageing, wear and tear muscles and overworking of the hands. Common types of arthritis include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis—this is more common among women and is an autoimmune disease usually affecting both wrists.
• osteoarthritis— this one is common among the older age group and is a disease of joint “wear and tear”
• psoriatic arthritis—this condition also includes skin disorder

4. Wrist Sprain

Pain in the wrist while bending it can be a result of a sprain in the wrist. In a sprain, the ligaments can get overstretched or torn. The smaller bones of the carpal bones can also get broken by force from the hand. The tendons can also get strained and torn especially near the wrist.

 

Diagnosis

Usually a physical examination is conducted in order to diagnose the wrist pain. It includes:

1. Bending the wrist for a minute or so to see the extent of pain, numbness or tingling.
2. Testing the grip.
3. Checking overall medical history
4. X-rays of the wrist.
5. The doctor can also check for Gout by screening the urine and blood.
6. Examination of body fluids to see check the presence of crystals or calcium.

Treatments for Wrist Pain

You can go for wrist brace in order to ease the pain and swelling or also apply hot or cold compress. The doctors usually prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs that can either be taken orally or injected. Surgery is recommended only in severe cases. One should try to rest the wrist as much as possible and also keep it elevated.