Arms and Hands

How To Relieve Your Wrist Pain To Improve Hand Mobility

As we Know, wrist pain can be can be described as the painful sensation which affects the wrist area which experienced after hard working with your hand/s or once you move your hand suddenly.

Injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, overuse, and arthritis; as well as joint, muscle or bone problems are main causes of wrist pain. The good news is that wrist pain can be treated effectively through several different methods including the use of medications as well as natural methods.

If you want to eliminate your wrist pain, You must treat the cause of the wrist pain, not the symptom.  Doctors and therapists treat the symptoms, so they use drugs. The following are some of the treatment options for wrist pain:

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Prescription and other medication

Certain medications including NSAIDs are used to help ease wrist pain and relieve inflammation. However, the medications depend on the cause of the pain. For instance, if the joint pain is as a result of arthritis or inflammation, NSAIDs can effectively help relieve the pain. Other effective medications include:

Corticosteroids

These are fast-acting medications that help address inflammation. They are effective for joint pain resulting from inflammation and they are usually injected directly into the joint.

Analgesics

These drugs are commonly used to treat wrist pain resulting from surgery and injuries. These drugs are specifically meant to help address joint pain, including wrist pain. They are the most ideal for people who are allergic to NSAIDs or experience stomach problems upon taking them.

Gout Medication

Certain medication for treating gout are usually prescribed by doctors in order to help reduce the levels of uric acid in the blood. This is meant to help prevent joint pain including wrist pain in the future. Some other type of gout medication for acute joint pain as a result of gout or inflammation. Other foods to avoid include sugar, alcohol, and processed grains, among others.

Other commonly used drugs for treating wrist pain include:

  • Osteoporosis medications.
  • Biologic response modifiers.
  • Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Natural treatments for wrist pain:

Applying ice

Applying ice to the affected joint is known to help reduce pain as well as swelling.

Following the prescribed diet

Since certain joint pains are a result of medical conditions, following the diet that prescribed by your doctor. For instance, avoiding consuming large amounts of protein is one of the most effective ways of reducing wrist pain as a result of gout. In addition, you need to avoid additive such as tartrazine.

Performing your daily activity the right way

Doctors recommend that people who suffer from wrist pain use ergonomic accessories most of the times, including adapted computer mouse and keyboards. In addition, they should adopt the following measures:

  • Refrain from performing vigorous and repetitive activities using your hands if the activities last for more than two hours.
  • Exercises your wrist using strengthening exercises.
  • When working with your hands, ensure that they are in an ergonomic position.

Wrist Pain Relief Tips

Barring serious injury -which, of course, your doctor should tend to immediately- here’s how to get a handle on wrist pain.

Do no further harm

Protecting your wrist from further damage is often the first step in healing it. So if you’re pretty sure why your wrist is starting to hurt—for example, you’ve been tapping away at the computer keyboard on an all-nighter—ease up. If you can’t stop completely—for example, if typing is your job—some physicians recommend that you alternate the typing with your other work duties. Modify your work habits, if you can. Take frequent breaks, and try to keep your hands and wrists in a straight line, not bent up or down. The doctor may prescribe splints as a gentle reminder, though many people only wear them at night.

Chill out

Using an ice pack on the pain may be helpful, says Bogard. Apply mineral oil to the skin where the pack will be placed. Put a damp towel over the oil and place the ice pack on the towel. Cover the pack with added towels for insulation. Leave the pack in place for 10 to 20 minutes, he advises. Check your skin every 5 to 10 minutes. If the skin turns white or blue (which would indicate a potential for frostbite), remove the ice pack immediately.

Take your shots

In more painful cases, the doctor may inject cortisone directly into the carpal canal to reduce the pain and swelling.

Search for the source

To tell exactly where the injury has occurred and whether there is any nerve damage, your doctor may recommend a procedure called an electromyogram (EMG). During this test, your physician will measure the condition of your muscles in the injured area by inserting needles with electrodes into the muscles and reading the electrical signals. This helps to locate where the nerve is injured and the extent of the damage. This isn’t necessary for everybody, but it may be called for if the location of your injury isn’t readily apparent.

Consider surgery, when necessary

In more serious carpal tunnel syndrome cases, surgery may be required to relieve the pressure on the nerve and blood vessels. This is outpatient surgery—you’re in and out in a day. It usually requires only a local anesthetic, says David Rempel, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and a biomedical engineer. “The doctor makes an incision into the wrist and palm and cuts the tight ligament or band that forms the ‘roof’ of the carpal tunnel. That releases pressure,” says Dr. Rempel. “The second version of that surgery is performed with an endoscope—a tube about the thickness of your little finger. A small incision is made in the wrist or palm, and a tiny knife, like a switchblade at the end of the tube, can cut the ligament from inside your wrist. This surgery is surprisingly effective at relieving the symptoms.”

When To See Your Doctor

  • Significant wrist pain persists for more than a day.
  • There is also weakness or numbness in the hand.
  • You’ve had an accident recently, your wrist looks deformed and you’re unable to move it.
  • You also hear clicking, popping or grinding noises.

If a home remedy does not work, simply call your doctor and make an appointment. Be prepared to explain what remedies that you have tried and the outcome you got from them. They will be able to help you with further treatment after an evaluation and some tests. A diagnosis is the first step for effective wrist pain relief, so if your wrist pain continues, or if it gets worse over time, be sure to give your physician a call. Do not suffer in silence any longer. There are many ways to treat wrist pain.

Conclusion

Perhaps you have been sitting at the computer playing that new game far too long and your wrists are hurting. You are looking to find some wrist pain relief. True, it could be carpal tunnel syndrome starting to set in; however, it could also simply be that you have been typing and clicking on the computer for an extended period. Fortunately, there are many simple home remedies to try for wrist pain relief.

The first thing you should do is to stop using your wrists so much. Although this sounds simple, you would be surprised at how many people continue to pound away on the computer keyboard or engage in other wrist straining activities while experiencing pain and discomfort. The wrists simply need to rest. Other parts of your body need to rest, so why not your wrists? Living in the world of technology, part of the work routine for many is to type on the computer during the day; however, when at home, it is important to give those wrists a much-needed break.

If you believe that your wrists could be suffering from a repetitive strain injury, then it is time to break out the elastic support bandage to give your wrists some support. A stiffer brace could also be used to give wrist pain relief. When you cannot get good relief, see a healthcare professional.

Taking an anti-inflammatory medication that is available over the counter is also effective for wrist pain relief. This works quite well if you suspect that it may be arthritis flaring up. Aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen all will reduce the swelling, inflammation, and pain. Acetaminophen also works well as a pain reliever.

Drink some water. Although this sounds really too simple to work; however the fact is, it is a wonderful lubricant for the body. Whether your wrists are tired from overuse, or it’s a mild case of arthritis, all you may need is some extra water flowing through and lubricating those joints in the wrist.

Consider trying peppermint oil. Combine peppermint oil with another oil, so that the strength of the pure peppermint oil is cut down. It is going to burn the heat on your wrists if it is not cut down with vegetable or olive oil.  Mix three or four parts of olive oil or vegetable oil, to one or two parts peppermint oil as a mix ratio, and then just rub onto the aching wrists.  The wrists should feel better after the numbing from the peppermint oil wears off a bit, which usually takes only a few minutes. There are also some topical gels or creams that work well. These can be purchased at the local drug store. These include Icy Hot and Aspercreme, just to name a few.

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