What should you do if wrist pain lasts more than a week?

Wrist pain can be extremely debilitating and annoying. While it is common and can often be attributed to chronic pain syndrome (a condition characterized by persistent, long-lasting pain that extends beyond the normal healing period), there can be many other reasons as well.

While most cases of wrist pain are mild and go away on their own with rest and home treatment, sometimes a visit to the doctor is necessary, especially if the pain persists for more than a week. “I see many of my patients suffering from chronic wrist pain because they think it will go away on its own or they keep taking various over-the-counter medications,” Dr Prashant Kamble, Consultant Orthopaedic Officer, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, told Times Now.

“This often results in the necessary treatment being delayed, leading to the problem getting worse. That’s why it’s important to visit the doctor in time, let him figure out the exact cause and then treat it accordingly,” he added. The doctor will classify your wrist pain based on which side of your wrist it hurts.

Ulnar wrist pain

Pain on the same side of the wrist as the ulna (one of the bones in the forearm). The ulnar side of the wrist is the side where the little finger is located.

Radial wrist pain

Pain on the same side of the wrist as the radius (the other bone in the forearm). The radial side of the wrist is the side where the thumb is located.

A healthcare provider will diagnose and treat the cause of your wrist pain, no matter which side it is on.

What are the possible causes of wrist pain?

According to Dr. Kamble, some of the possible reasons why wrist conditions cause chronic pain syndrome are:

Carpal tunnel syndrome

The median nerve, which passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist, becomes compressed, causing pain, numbness, and tingling in the wrist and hand.

Tendinitis

Inflammation of the wrist tendons, often due to repetitive or overuse, can lead to chronic pain. The most common types are de Quervain’s tenosynovitis and flexor tendonitis.

Arthritis

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can cause joint inflammation, degeneration, and chronic pain. Osteoarthritis in the basal joint of the thumb is very common and one of the common causes of pain at the base of the thumb in middle-aged and older women.

Wrist fractures

Even after a fracture heals, chronic pain may persist due to improper healing, post-traumatic arthritis, or nerve damage.

Ganglion cysts

These fluid-filled sacs that form in the wrist can sometimes press on nearby nerves or tendons, causing constant discomfort.

Repetitive strain injuries

Conditions resulting from repetitive stress or strain, such as those caused by typing or manual labor, can lead to chronic pain due to microtrauma to the wrist structures.

Ways to treat wrist pain

Doctors say the type of treatment you need depends on the cause of your wrist pain. It is possible to relieve wrist pain with home treatments, some of which include: