Wrist complaints

Symptoms of hand and wrist complaints

With hand and wrist complaints, you have pain around or in the wrist joint when you move or strain your wrist, and sometimes also when you keep the wrist still. Sometimes the pain radiates from the wrist to the fingers in the form of pain or tingling, or towards the elbow. This often says something about the type of condition that underlies the wrist problems. The pain complaints in your wrist can greatly hinder your daily activities and your sport or work.

How does pain in the wrist and hand arise?

Pain in the wrist can arise suddenly or gradually. It often concerns a condition of the tendons or nerves that run in the wrist. Wrist complaints are almost always caused by overload or an incorrect position of the wrist joint. This can result in, for example, swelling in the carpal tunnel (also called carpal tunnel syndrome). Overpressure then arises due to an increase in fluid in the wrist joint, which results in the radiation of pain and tingling. In particular, making the same movements for a long time or leaning on the wrist can worsen the complaints. For example, think of mountain biking or computer work. The exact cause of the wrist pain can often be determined by your physiotherapist.

What could be the cause of hand and wrist complaints?

Often there is a combined and complex problem. Pain in the hand and wrist can have many causes. It is important that you make an appointment with the physiotherapist so that he or she can diagnose the underlying condition. Certain conditions such as tendonitis or nerve compression in the wrist have a specific pattern of complaints. For example, your physiotherapist can identify one of the following problems;

• Tendonitis in the wrist
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
• Dupuytren

Other causes are;

• Osteoarthritis of the wrist or fingers
• Bacterial infection
• Bruising of the wrist joint or fingers
• Fracture

Tendonitis in the wrist

There are many tendons in the wrist. These tendons have to bend and stretch the fingers (and wrist). These tendons are generally relatively vulnerable and lie close together. Many of the tendons in the wrist also pass through the carpal tunnel. A tendonitis in the wrist is very annoying and can be caused by a lot of repetitive movement or structural leaning on the wrist. When there is an abnormality in the position of the wrist, this can also cause a tendonitis because there is less space left for the tendon. A tendonitis in the wrist can also occur in the tendon sheath. We then speak of a tendon sheath inflammation. This form of tendonitis often calls for the production of a lot of fluid, which can lead to a carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

When the above occurs, an overpressure in the wrist can arise due to fluid between the tendons and the overlying capsule ligaments. The overpressure in the wrist causes a nagging pain and if the pain lasts longer, it can also cause tingling in the fingers. In the long term, even loss of function can occur. You then drop things more easily and may have difficulty writing. If you suspect Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it is advisable to visit your physiotherapist as soon as possible for a diagnostic examination. They will then see whether treatment is possible. Shockwave therapy tackles the cause where possible, causing fluid production to decrease and the excess pressure in the wrist to decrease.

m. Dupuytren

When the above occurs, excess pressure in the wrist can arise due to fluid between the tendons and the overlying capsular ligaments. The excess pressure in the wrist causes a nagging pain and if the pain lasts longer, it can also cause tingling in the fingers. In the long term, even loss of function can occur. You will then drop things more easily and may have difficulty writing. If you suspect Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it is advisable to visit your physiotherapist as soon as possible for a diagnostic examination. They will then see whether treatment is possible. Shockwave therapy tackles the cause where possible, causing fluid production to decrease and the excess pressure in the wrist to decrease.

Shockwave therapy can usually provide relief from these complaints but never make them disappear completely.

Don’t keep walking around with your complaint and make an appointment in Veldhoven or Waalre!