Do you suffer from wrist or hand pain? Because of how often we use our hands on a day to day basis, regardless of our career or lifestyle, they certainly can be quite sensitive to injury, or even damage from repetitive tasks in the long term.
The wrist is made up of 8 small bones known as the carpal bones, which are connected by ligaments. As osteopaths, we have an in depth knowledge of the musculoskeletal system and believe that the body is interconnected - often when you experience problems in the hands or wrists, this can have an impact on other parts of the body, including the back, neck and shoulders, as you try to compensate for your hand or wrist problems. Where you experience the most pain or discomfort may not be the root cause!
If you do experience pain in your hands or wrists and feel that these problems are affecting your ability to function as normal, particularly if wrist problems have led to further bodily complaints, you can visit an osteopath, who will be able to provide a diagnosis, along with a treatment plan to help reduce your pain or discomfort and bring your function back to normal.
Causes of hand and wrist pain
Some of the most common causes of hand and wrist pains include:
Carpal tunnel syndrome - this is a very common cause of wrist pain that results from the compression of the median nerve as it travels through the wrist, to the hand. Often linked to repetitive activities such as computer use and typing, writing and sewing, swelling in the wrist area can compress the median nerve, leading to symptoms including burning sensations, tingling, numbness or pain in your hand or wrist. You may also find it hard to grasp things.
Ligament strains or sprains - these complaints can occur in the wrist, particularly when it experiences force, for example, when holding out your hands to stop a fall. This extra force can sprain or strain the ligaments that connect your carpal bones to each other, and to the forearm bones. Symptoms can include bruising, swelling, loss of range of movement and pain.
Tendinopathy - tendinopathies occur when the tendon sheaths that surround the tendons become inflamed, causing pain and swelling. An example is tendonitis of the thumb tendon sheaths.
Arthritis - this is another very common cause of wrist and hand pain, particularly in older people or people that have experienced injuries. Arthritis causes pain and swelling and can limit the range of movement in your hands and wrists.
The Osteopathic approach to treating wrist and hand pain
In cases of hand or wrist pain, osteopathy can usually help to alleviate the symptoms experienced in that area, using a combination of soft tissue massage and joint mobilisation techniques. In addition to treating the hand and wrist locally, we also look at the overall functionality of the arm and shoulder, upper back and neck. This is to ensure that overcompensation for wrist or hand issues has not created a transference of poor mechanics and force, creating further pain or problems.
We can also provide advice on steps you can take to aid your recovery, including resting, icing, compressing or elevating your hand and wrist, or even exercise to carry out to help return your function to normal.
To arrange an osteopathy appointment with Fiona Passey Osteopaths, please call 0121 585 8555 (Halesowen practice) or 01902 894 894 (Wombourne). Our team will do everything we can to help relieve your pain and help you stay active.
