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Wrist injuries can range from cuts, bites, and burns to repetitive motion disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome. Other common injuries include sprains, fractures, bursitis, and arthritis. Proper diagnosis is important for effective treatment.
Wrist injury comes in many forms. It can be as simple as getting a minor cut, bite or burn on the wrist, or as complex as repetitive motion disorders which can lead to chronic wrist pain. Understanding the injuries that can occur is helpful in diagnosing sudden wrist pain. Clearly, a correct diagnosis can lead to treatments or suggestions that can help heal or at least compensate for a wrist injury.
As mentioned, cuts, bites (animal or insect), or burns are common wrist afflictions. These must be cared for in the way prescribed for each one. A small cut or bite may need to be cleaned and bandaged for a few days. Open, blistered, or profuse burns require medical attention. Any wound that begins to feel warm, ooze pus, or has red streaks around it is potentially infected and should be consulted with a doctor to determine whether treatment with oral or topical antibiotics is needed.
Other common wrist injuries include broken wrist bones or sprains. The sprains are stretching or, in severe cases, tearing the ligaments in the wrist. Mild sprains might be swollen, but may need nothing more than rest and ice for a few days. Some people feel better if they wear a bandage or splint to keep their wrist immobilized. Any potential sprain that still involves swelling, that can’t be moved, or that involves extreme pain should be evaluated by a doctor. It is not always possible to distinguish between a sprain and a fracture without an X-ray.
Wrist fractures can involve several bones and are often caused when people fall onto an outstretched hand. A fracture is essentially a broken bone and almost always requires a cast in order for healing to begin. Children are prone to wrist fractures, and older adults may also be more likely to get them, due to weakening bone strength. They are also common among those who play many types of sports. A doctor’s attention is needed for a wrist injury that could be a fracture.
Another type of wrist injury that is increasingly common occurs from repetitive motion. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most famous of these and is typically caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist point. It can result in wrist pain and numbness or pain in the thumb, index and middle fingers, and perhaps the middle of the ring finger. A condition quite similar to this is Guyon’s canal syndrome, in which the ulnar nerve becomes compressed in the Guyon’s canal. Wrist pain and numbness, tingling, or pain in the little and ring fingers may occur. Both of these conditions have numerous treatment options, including stopping the activity involved or finding more ergonomic ways to do it. The use of braces to stabilize the wrist and possible surgery if the compression is significant are other options.
Repeated weight or impact on the wrists can cause a wrist injury called bursitis. This creates a situation where the fluid-filled pockets surrounding the joints become inflamed and painful. Changing your activities can help fix this, but getting a doctor involved is helpful for diagnosis. Joint problems, where the joints don’t maintain their stability or wear out after an injury, can also affect the movement of the wrist, and this is often called arthritis. Wrist injury of this form is also possible with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease.
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