Wrist pain can be a frustrating problem, especially if it inhibits your day-to-day activities. While many people develop wrist pain at some point in adulthood, it can range in severity.
If you’re struggling with wrist pain, getting to the root cause of your pain can help you achieve relief. Possible causes of wrist pain include:
Arthritis
Arthritis refers to inflammation in a joint. There are several different types of arthritis, and the majority of them can impact the wrist joint. Typically, arthritis is chronic and may lead to significant joint damage if left untreated.
Out of all of the types of arthritis, these three are the most likely to affect the wrist:
- Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis occurs as a result of wear and tear on the joint, often from the body’s natural aging process. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones degenerates over time, which causes pain and stiffness in the joint.
- Posttraumatic arthritis
Posttraumatic arthritis can occur after an injury. Specifically, you may be at risk of developing posttraumatic arthritis if the injury damaged the cartilage or caused the bones in the joint to move differently, eventually wearing down the cartilage.
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means that it causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue. Generally, rheumatoid arthritis first affects smaller joints, like the wrist, causing pain and inflammation.
Tendinosis
Tendinosis occurs as a result of chronic overuse. With this condition, the collagen in the affected tendons degenerates, causing the tendons to swell. With tendinosis in the wrist, you may experience pain down the thumb side of the wrist. Oftentimes, pain from tendinosis is at its worst with gripping, grasping, or turning motions of the wrist.
Wrist Instability
Wrist instability is a condition that occurs when the ligaments in the wrist become damaged. Specifically, wrist stability occurs when the injured ligaments are crucial to the mechanics of the wrist. With this condition, you may feel pain in the wrist, especially when it’s bearing weight, tenderness, clicking, and/or the sensation that the wrist is giving out.
If you’re suffering from chronic wrist pain, stem cell therapy and other regenerative treatments at the Regenerative Orthopedic Institute could help you attain lasting relief. Schedule a free consultation to learn more today!