Wrist pain is a very common complaint and can have a number of different causes. Osteoarthritis is a condition that occurs naturally with age and causes a dull, throbbing ache. Tendinitis is a type of strain that cause a sharp, stabbing pain. If your pain lasts more than several days and the pain is unmanageable, or if you have swelling that worsens, see your doctor. Delaying a diagnosis or treatment can affect healing time and can even cause long-term complications.
Sprains
A sprain is an injury to the connective tissues, known as ligaments, that stabilize and connect your bones. A sprain can be caused by a trauma or excessive force. A sprained wrist is such a common injury because as you fall, you are likely to instinctively attempt to break your fall by extending your arms and wrists. While the typical symptoms of a sprained wrist include stiffness, pain and swelling, some people are only aware of a sprain when they apply pressure to their wrist -- during exercise, for example. Because ligaments do not appear on x-rays, your doctor diagnoses a sprain by pinpointing the tenderness to find the exact location of your injury and by looking for signs of ligament insufficiency. Unless your symptoms are severe, you can treat a mild sprain with limiting activities that cause discomfort.
Fracture
It's possible to have a wrist fracture and not know it if it occurs in the scaphoid bone in your wrist. The scaphoid is a boat-shaped bone located on the outside of the thumb. This type of break does not produce a visual deformity and causes little, if any, swelling. According to an article by the University of California, San Francisco, people with a scaphoid fracture often think they have a sprained wrist. It's also not unusual for symptoms of this type of fracture to subside. Doing activities that engage your wrists, including forearm exercises like barbell curls and wrist rollers can cause a deep, dull aching and marked tenderness between the tendons that lead to the thumb.
Repetitive Stress Injury
If your wrist hurts only when you engage in specific activities, you could have a repetitive stress injury, or RSI. A RSI to the wrist occurs after prolonged, repetitive hand movements. Carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis are a form of RSI. You could have a RSI if you use your computer more than two hours each day, if you have a job that requires constant computer use or one that requires continual heavy lifting. You're at risk for a RSI if you have loose joints, do not stretch your wrist enough, don't exercise enough or have other medical conditions. It's not uncommon for people with RSI to have delayed symptoms or symptoms triggered by other activities, like forearm exercises. RSI can lead to tissue damage and worsen over time. Limit activities that cause pain.
Treatment
Support braces can provide relief by supporting movement in your wrist. An anti-inflammatory medication can reduce swelling caused by conditions like tendinitis and arthritis. A cortisone injection is a stronger anti-inflammation medication for patients who do not respond to over-the-counter treatments. Apply ice to your wrist only if you have a recent injury; otherwise, apply heat to a chronic condition. Heat can relax and loosen the tissues in your wrist and stimulate blood flow. Applying heat to your wrist about 20 minutes prior to doing forearm exercises may help, but if you do start feeling pain while exercising, stop immediately.
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