Wrist Pain? It Could Be Arthritis

Pain in the wrist joint is an extremely common complaint, and there can be a long list of potential reasons. But, prolonged pain from a previous injury or a history of rheumatoid arthritis may have made you susceptible to wrist arthritis.

Wrist arthritis is associated with several common disorders, including post-traumatic arthritis (previous injury), wrist instability (injury to tendons and ligaments), and rheumatoid arthritis (chronic inflammatory disorder). Each condition is slightly different; however, they all result in the same symptoms: pain, swelling, and limited function—otherwise known as arthritis.

Both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options exist for wrist arthritis, which is many times easily treated with conservative alternatives.

Altering your lifestyle to avoid certain movements or activities that may encourage pain is one of the first treatment methods for wrist arthritis. Wearing a wrist splint, also called a support brace, is another option that can help you through normal activities with less pain. You can also try applying small intervals of heat to the affected wrist to help reduce pain. 

To reduce inflammation in the joint, common treatment options include anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone injections.

However, if conservative treatment options prove to be unsuccessful, there are surgical procedures that can be considered. For more information on wrist arthritis treatments, contact our wrist specialists at Southern Indiana Orthopedics by calling (812) 376-9353 or click here to request an appointment online.