Sudden Wrist Pain For No Reason – 9 Possible Causes
Wrist pain is a common ailment that affects millions of people all over the world, as for wrist pain causes there are several of them. The most common sudden wrist pain causes comprise that of minor injuries and the pain usually goes away within a few days if ointments are applied. But in some cases, the reason may be far more serious and so a proper wrist pain diagnosis is always recommended. Here are a few common sudden wrist pain causes:
Wrong and/or Repeated Movements
It can be said that they are among the most common causes of pain in the wrist, together with those small daily traumas due to a slight contusion with a hard surface, the execution of sudden movements or due to the excessive effort (such as lifting weights rather heavy).
Writing on the computer keyboard or handling the mouse is an action common to all, therefore we underestimate the possible negative implications. If, in fact, these movements are repeated and performed for many hours a day they can result in fatigue, then chronic pains and predisposition for more prominent pathologies such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Sprain
sprains cause damage to ligaments in the wrist causing pain and inflammation. Follow (RICE) treatment, over-the-counter pain medication, wrap your wrist joint. Other treatment options available are Massage, chiropractor, and acupuncture. If untreated or neglected the condition worsens and results in severe pain in the wrist and the inability to use your hands.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
This syndrome happens when the median nerve is pressurized. This can lead to pain, numbness, muscle damage and restriction of movement of the hand and fingers. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome wrist pain diagnosis entails the use of anti-inflammatory medications and/or surgery.
Read: How to cure carpal tunnel syndrome naturally
Tendonitis
One of the most common wrist pain causes is tendonitis, it happens due to the inflammation of the tendon sheath.
The symptoms of the tendinitis are:
- Burning pain in the wrist joint.
- You feel a painful sensation when you gripping something.
- Swellings surrounding thumb joint
- Heat in the writs area.
By applying an ice pack and heat compress, using wrist splint, over-the-counter pain medication. Wrist pain diagnosis of tendonitis does not require surgery and can easily be treated.
Fractures
Injury to the wrist may cause fractures resulting in pain. The symptoms include swelling, loss of function and severe painful sensation when you try to move your wrist. Depending on the severity of the injury patients may be required to be treated with a cast or undergo surgery.
Multiple sclerosis
This is a rarer event, but the sudden pain in the wrist can also manifest itself in relation to this neurological pathology. It is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to the destruction of the myelin sheath that lines the nerves, sheath that allows the correct transmission of the nervous impulse to the muscles. The result is a progressive limitation of movements up to disability, and sensory disturbances including pain, tingling sensation, and numbness.
Ulnar Wrist pain
Ulnar wrist pain is a special type of pain in the wrist. When a person experiences pain on the side of the wrist opposite to the thumb it indicates ulnar wrist pain. The pain usually starts from mild and goes on to become severe, if not properly diagnosed it can leave the patient unable to do even simple tasks. Detecting the exact cause of ulnar wrist pain is difficult but with proper wrist pain diagnosis, surgery, and other methods of ulnar wrist pain can be treated.
Read: Ulnar Wrist Pain Exercises – 2 Strengthening & 2 Stretching
Formation of Ganglion Cyst
Formation of a ganglion cyst at the back of the hand or the wrist is also a cause of wrist pain. Ganglion cysts are fluid-filled but they are not cancerous, they may grow in size but they do not spread to other locations of the body.
Due to a particular location of a ganglion cyst in the wrist, it might cause more pain and variety of other symptoms such as swelling and constant ticking pain. Once such cyst starts changing its size, it is very likely to affect the nearby structures inside the wrist. It will mainly require suction or incision surgery, where a sample of it will usually be tested. Dorsal ganglion cyst in wrist turns out to be very inconvenient even if there is no pain. Located where it is, it sometimes affects the thumb movement but also the tendon function.
Ganglion cyst in the wrist will usually vary in mass but it is usually mobile. However, there are cases when the cyst greatly reminds of a bone, though it is a simple mass of cells. In most severe cases, such problem might result in inner infection, venom aneurysm, which depends on its particular location within the wrist, lipoma or sarcoma. However, these are very rare cases when ganglion cyst in wrist should turn into a true problem. Most people usually get rid of it by deciding to either go for suction with a large syringe or a small and rather painless surgery with local anesthesia.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a common cause of wrist pain and the pain can result in severe wrist pain and difficulty in performing normal day to day activities. There is nothing to worry as there are several causes of arthritis as well as several treatment options.
If you are experiencing wrist pain then it is very important that you consult with your health care provider and undergo the correct wrist pain diagnosis. Many people tend to overlook the pain and brush it off as something minor but it can have serious consequences in future. Wrist pain causes are varied and so are the methods of wrist pain diagnosis test. If you are do not know the cause of your wrist pain then immediately consult with your doctor and seek medical attention.
Sudden Wrist Pain For No Reason, Last Updated: 29/12/2107
My pain came on suddenly when I laid down to go to sleep. It is severe in the palm of my hand.
There appears to be a ganglion that got a little bigger. I can hardly bend my hand without pain.
I was on computer today and have been stressed somewhat. Any thoughts on what I need to do?