The tendons in your wrist are thick, fibrous bands of tissue that connect your forearm muscle to the hand. They can become irritated or inflamed due to various reasons, such as repetitive motions related to your job or hobby. It can also stem from an injury. People who work on computers, play sports, or do a lot of housework can suffer from wrist tendonitis.
Wrist tendonitis can cause pain, tenderness, and swelling, and restrict movement of your hands and fingers. The goal of wrist tendonitis treatment is to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, which is possible with the use of non-surgical methods.
Let’s talk about how you can ease pain and other symptoms associated with wrist tendonitis.
Non-Surgical Options
- Immobilization through splinting and bracing can relieve symptoms of wrist tendonitis by keeping the wrist in a neutral position, thus preventing movement and providing support.
- Pain medication can temporarily relieve symptoms of wrist tendonitis. Over-the-counter (OTC) medication such as ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®) and naproxen sodium (Aleve®) helps reduce inflammation by lowering the levels of prostaglandins in the body, which is associated with pain.
- Topical anti-inflammatories are another option for those who want to reduce the risk associated with NSAID use. The delivery system of gels, liquids, and patches carries a much lower risk than the oral route. When applied directly to the skin on the hands and wrist, it can reduce pain signals. Diclofenac is the active ingredient found in topical anti-inflammatories and requires a prescription.
- Corticosteroids, when injected around a tendon, can relieve symptoms of tendonitis. The steroid acts to reduce inflammation, and the effects can last for months.
- Physical therapy for wrist tendonitis is not all exercise. A physical therapist (PT) can assess your posture and how you move and do your tasks to identify and avoid what contributes to your condition. In addition, the PT can teach you how to correctly perform tasks with proper form and technique to prevent wrist tendonitis and other injuries. For physical therapy that focuses on the hands, seek out hand therapy, which is a highly specialized type of rehabilitation.
Surgical Options
If symptoms persist, the doctor may recommend wrist tendonitis surgery. During the procedure, the surgeon will access the wrist tendons and remove scar tissue that has built up, which restricts motion. If there is damage to the tendons, the surgeon can also do repairs such as suturing them. To get the best surgical outcomes, patients must follow postoperative instructions and be committed to their rehabilitation program.
Wrist Tendonitis Treatment Near Me in San Antonio, TX
If you want relief from wrist tendonitis pain, put your trust in our hand surgeon at the Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Dr. Michael L. Jones. Dr. Jones is fellowship-trained in surgeries of the hand and can treat even the most complex hand disorders. In addition to providing expert medical treatment of your hand condition, we also offer a superior hand therapy program led by a certified hand therapist (CHT).
To schedule an appointment with us, call our office today at (210) 692-7400 or use our appointment request form.
