Conditions of the Wrist
Wrist:
Your wrist is the joint between the two bones of the lower arm (radius and ulna) and the five bones of the hand and is made up of eight carpal bones. The muscles and tendons attached to all these bones allow you to rotate your wrist, as if screwing in a lightbulb, and bend and flex your wrist, as if bouncing a basketball. Because of the complexity and frequent use of the wrist joint, injuries are common.
Arthritis: A disease that slowly destroys the cushioning cartilage surrounding a joint, causing inflammation, pain and stiffening as bones rub against one another. Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease is advanced arthritis that begins to break down the bones of the joint.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:A painful condition caused by overuse or repetitive bending and flexing of the hand and wrist. This causes the tendons and the tendon sheaths (which protect the tendons) to become swollen. The swollen tendons place pressure on the median nerve, often resulting in numbness.
Strains: When tendons (which connect muscle to bone) become inflamed, often because of repetitive or overuse. If untreated, the tendons can tear away from the muscle, leading to tendonitis.
Tendonitis:A strained, inflamed or slight tear of the tendons from the muscle, commonly due to overuse. Symptoms include tenderness, nagging pain and mild swelling.
Sprains:When a sudden forceful twist or blow forces the wrist beyond its natural range of motion. This movement causes stretching and / or tearing of the ligaments around the wrist joint, resulting in pain, swelling and bruising. The degree of sprain can range from mild (slight stretching) to severe (complete tearing).
Fracture:The breaking of a bone due to excessive force. This can range from a simple crack in the bone to multiple breaks. The most common wrist fracture, the Colles’ fracture, usually occurs when the hand is used to break a fall.
After Cast Removal:Often, after cast removal, additional wrist stabilization is necessary during the healing and physical therapy process, especially if the wrist and / or hand is severely weakened.
Your wrist is the joint between the two bones of the lower arm (radius and ulna) and the five bones of the hand and is made up of eight carpal bones. The muscles and tendons attached to all these bones allow you to rotate your wrist, as if screwing in a lightbulb, and bend and flex your wrist, as if bouncing a basketball. Because of the complexity and frequent use of the wrist joint, injuries are common.
Arthritis: A disease that slowly destroys the cushioning cartilage surrounding a joint, causing inflammation, pain and stiffening as bones rub against one another. Osteoarthritis or Degenerative Joint Disease is advanced arthritis that begins to break down the bones of the joint.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:A painful condition caused by overuse or repetitive bending and flexing of the hand and wrist. This causes the tendons and the tendon sheaths (which protect the tendons) to become swollen. The swollen tendons place pressure on the median nerve, often resulting in numbness.
Strains: When tendons (which connect muscle to bone) become inflamed, often because of repetitive or overuse. If untreated, the tendons can tear away from the muscle, leading to tendonitis.
Tendonitis:A strained, inflamed or slight tear of the tendons from the muscle, commonly due to overuse. Symptoms include tenderness, nagging pain and mild swelling.
Sprains:When a sudden forceful twist or blow forces the wrist beyond its natural range of motion. This movement causes stretching and / or tearing of the ligaments around the wrist joint, resulting in pain, swelling and bruising. The degree of sprain can range from mild (slight stretching) to severe (complete tearing).
Fracture:The breaking of a bone due to excessive force. This can range from a simple crack in the bone to multiple breaks. The most common wrist fracture, the Colles’ fracture, usually occurs when the hand is used to break a fall.
After Cast Removal:Often, after cast removal, additional wrist stabilization is necessary during the healing and physical therapy process, especially if the wrist and / or hand is severely weakened.
