Wrist tendonitis, also known as tenosynovitis, is a medical condition where the tendons in the wrist become inflamed. These tendons are responsible for connecting the forearm muscles to the bones in the hand, facilitating movement and support.
This condition is commonly observed in people who use their wrists repetitively, such as computer users, musicians, and athletes. Common activities that may contribute to wrist tendonitis include typing, playing sports, or manual labor. Additionally, it can also be caused by injuries like falls or sports injuries.
Seeking medical attention and taking appropriate precautions can help manage this condition effectively.
Symptoms of wrist tendonitis
The symptoms of wrist tendonitis can vary depending on the severity of the inflammation. However, some common symptoms include:
- Pain in the wrist, especially when moving it
- Swelling in the wrist
- Stiffness in the wrist
- Weakness in the wrist
- Difficulty gripping objects
- Crackling or popping sounds when moving the wrist
Wrist Tendonitis Treatment
Are you suffering from any kind of wrist pain? Understandably, it can be quite excruciating. We know this can become problematic and can make performing many tasks more difficult than they otherwise might be.
Even if you're having trouble with symptoms of tendonitis on the wrist, there are several treatment options today to help you get relief and start moving around without too much trouble!
While not every treatment works for everyone, looking at our list of treatment options below may help significantly reduce the symptoms of wrist tendonitis - especially if you have been suffering for some time!
Home Remedies
Wrist tendonitis can be a painful and uncomfortable condition, and it's essential to understand that it is often caused by a combination of factors, rather than a single cause. If you have experienced sprains, other injuries, or frequently perform repetitive motions, you may be at an increased risk of developing wrist tendonitis.
However, there are some effective home remedies that can help manage your wrist pain and provide relief quickly.
Hot and Cold Therapy
Cold therapy is a great way to reduce inflammation and pain, but hot therapy can also prove useful in many ways. For example, a hot bath or a Microwavable herbal heating pad placed on your wrist will increase blood flow and help tissues heal faster.
When it comes to using heat or cold therapy after an injury, the general rule is simple: cold reduces swelling and pain, while heat increases blood flow for faster tissue healing.
Sacksy Thyme Hot & Cold Therapy for Wrist Tendonitis:
The heat helps with pain. This is a little-known fact that you probably didn't know but has been proven by medical researchers. We're glad we brought it to your attention because it's useful information.
It makes sense, especially if you think of an injury as a break in the flow which restricts movement or performance, then increasing that flow with heat would have a healing effect.
There are many ways you can use heat to relieve pain, and one good way would be by using something like A Sacksythyme’s hot therapy relief Microwavable Heating pad featured on this site!
SACKSY THYME Hot therapy relief Microwavable Heating pad for Wrist Tendonitis:
Rest
One of the best ways to treat injured tendons in the wrist is to rest them. If you can find out which movements have caused your tendinitis, either stop doing them or modify the movements to give your wrist a break from excessive movement so that it has time to heal properly.
Many people have a hard time taking these breaks from their lives because it means they need to rest, which is often seen as slacking or missing out on things. But you should keep in mind that resting is an important treatment if you want the swelling of the inflamed tendon(s) and other related symptoms to decrease and let your body recalibrate itself so that it has a chance to heal nicely after being injured.
Stretching & Exercises
Stretching your wrists this morning will help to ensure that the entire day's tasks and challenges give you less pain and take less of a toll on you. Stretching in the morning should be done more than it is, but when given a chance, it can go a long way toward having a productive day!
Set up an appointment at your local physical or occupational therapy office because creating a stretching plan based on your individual needs is important so that everyone can remain active for longer periods with fewer aches and pains.
Strength-Building Exercises
The wrist joint comprises many different muscles, tendons, and ligaments. All the parts work together to move your hands in everyday tasks like gripping and typing. Your arm and hand joints require strength to do these activities well.
It would help if you took care of your wrists by doing regular strength-building exercises so you can perform these movements more easily while decreasing the chances of injuring yourself.
Medication
One should always consult with their doctor before starting any medication. A major factor in deciding which medication to take is figuring out whether one has a condition requiring long-term treatment or symptoms requiring short-term treatment.
NSAIDs are useful when combined with other treatments such as stretching, rest, and exercise. Before starting a new drug regimen, always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about possible interactions with other medications.
Splinting
A splint will immobilize your wrist, fully letting you still perform your regular activities without causing further damage to your wrist. You can wear a splint during the day or even at night. Some splints fully immobilize your wrist, while others allow slight movement. All splints should allow for entire finger movement. If you are still determining which splint is right for you, talk to your physical therapist or doctor.
Medical Treatment
If your wrist tendonitis isn't subsiding, you should consider seeing a doctor or physical therapist. Thankfully, in addition to home remedies, multiple treatment options (check them out below) can help with recovery.
Surgery
Surgery for wrist tendonitis is typically reserved for the most severe cases of tendonitis, where neither steroid injections nor physical therapy has worked. During the surgery, doctors will release the tendon sheath that has become too tight around the tendons and should, in theory, allow for free movement. In some cases, surgeons will also need to remove any damaged tissues and create more space in the joint to ensure comfortable recovery post-surgery.
Corticosteroid Injections
Cortisone injections are typically used to treat wrist arthritis because it decreases swelling and pain in the joint. Steroids are specifically anti-inflammatory medications that can make a huge difference in getting pain relief.
Many patients require multiple injections to recover fully, so they don't start looking too closely at the side effects. The primary concern is a weakening of the tendons, making one unable to move the hand and possibly leading to atrophy throughout the affected joints.
Physical and Occupational Therapy
Another option for treating tendon inflammation is to see an occupational therapy practitioner. O.T.s are trained in treating wrist injuries and can give you exercises and stretches to help manage your pain and swelling. If you need surgery, your therapist can also work with you while you recover from it.
Here are some tips to help prevent wrist tendonitis:
- Take breaks when using your wrists repetitively.
- Use proper technique when lifting objects.
- Strengthen the muscles in your forearm.
- Wear a wrist brace when participating in activities that stress your wrist.
- Stretch your wrists regularly.
- If you have a job or hobby involving repetitive wrist movements, take breaks often and stretch your wrists.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Wrist tendonitis is a condition commonly diagnosed and treated by a healthcare professional. In rare cases, when it's too severe, treatments are performed by a medical doctor. To prevent further damage, it's always important to get professional advice before performing any at-home treatment. Also, seek medical attention if you have any of these symptoms in your arm, hand, or wrist:
- Loss of sensation or feeling
- Loss of motion or strength
- Numbness
- Inability to grip an object
- Pain that gets better then comes back
- Severe pain
Safe and Effective Wrist Tendonitis Treatment
Wrist tendonitis is a common condition that causes pain and swelling in the wrist and hand. Treating this condition can usually be done at home with rest, splinting, and stretches, all rather simple treatments for tendon injuries.
However, if your tendonitis is severe, you will most likely need medical treatment like seeing a doctor or chiropractor. With consistent treatment, you'll be back to doing everything you love.