What is wrist tendonitis?
Wrist tendonitis is characterized by pain and swelling in one or more wrists. The wrist is made up of the bones and tendons that connect the hand to the forearm. Tendons are strong fibrous cords that attach muscles to bones. Wrist tendonitis is when these tendons become stressed and inflamed from overuse. As a result, the wrist can feel tender and moving it can be painful and difficult. Often the wrist tendonitis will occur at the point where the tendon attaches to bone or where the tendon wraps around a bone or joint.
Wrist tendonitis is also referred to as Flexor Tenosynovitis, DeQuervain's Tendonitis and Extensor Tendonitis.
One of the most common forms of wrist tendonitis is De Quervain's Tendonitis. This form of wrist tendonitis causes pain in the back of the wrist at the base of the thumb. Although De Quervain's Tendonitis usually occurs in people who repeatedly grasp or pinch with the thumb, it sometimes develops for unknown reasons in pregnant women.
What causes wrist tendonitis?
In most cases, wrist tendonitis is caused by improper techniques or overuse of the wrist when performing repetitive movements. Many sports and daily activities involve the same movements of the hands and wrists over and over again such as typing, golf, tennis, bowling or sewing. According to the University of Wisconsin Sports Medicine Clinic, wrist tendonitis is the most common wrist injury related to golf.
What are the symptoms of wrist tendonitis?
Wrist tendonitis usually results in pain or ache in the wrist around the area of inflammation which worsens with forceful gripping, rapid wrist movements or moving the wrist and fingers to an extreme position. There usually is swelling around the inflamed tendon. The most common areas for wrist tendonitis are at the base of the thumb (DeQuervain's Tendonitis), on the back of the wrist and on the palm side of the wrist.
What helps wrist tendonitis?
Many people find that the following measures bring relief to the symptoms of wrist tendonitis:
- Apply an ice pack for 20 to 30 minutes every three to four hours until the pain goes away.
- Keep the wrist elevated on a pillow while sleeping. Elevate the wrist on the back of a chair or couch while sitting.
- Wear a wrist brace to immobilize the wrist or thumb. Wrist braces help the tendons heal by reducing the tendon motion and load.
- A brief period of use of anti-inflammatory medication such as Motrin or ibuprofen.
- Stretching and strengthening exercises specifically directed to preventing wrist tendonitis, especially before the activities that aggravate wrist tendonitis.
How is wrist tendonitis prevented?
Wrist tendonitis is caused from overuse and improper use of the wrist. The most important treatment for wrist tendonitis is to determine what is causing the wrist stress and to change the way you use your wrists. It is essential to learn and use proper techniques in activities such as sports and typing. You should not continue to do these activities when the warning signs of wrist tendonitis begin.
Wrist braces can be a helpful aid in reducing stress on the wrists. Especially in computer work, it's important to work with the hand in a neural position to limit the bending of the wrist and to try to eliminate dragging type of motions with the mouse.
It's important to let your body be your guide when deciding when to go back to the activity that caused the wrist tendonitis. Your injured wrist should have a full range of motion without pain and it's important not to repeat the same circumstances that caused the wrist tendonitis in the first place.
