How can I heal my wrist tendonitis?

What is Tendonitis?

Tendonitis is caused when the thick cord that attaches your bone to your muscle is swollen or irritated. This can be caused by tiny rips in the tendon from injury. The injury can be over time or happen suddenly. There are two forms of wrist tendonitis including “extension wrist tendonitis” or “flexion wrist tendonitis”. If you are repeatedly folding your wrist backward which causes irritation to the tendons, this is extension wrist tendonitis. If you are repeatedly folding your wrist the other way towards the front, this is flexion wrist tendonitis. Both versions cause very irritable swelling to your wrist. The wrist is most prone to this type of inflammation, as well as the forearm and hand, because of various reasons such as sports, housework, carrying heavy loads, some work activities, and accidents. The nerves, blood vessels, and temperature in wrists may pose a greater risk for tendonitis. Some cases of tendonitis can be very severe and need medical attention. Occupational therapy is a great non-surgical way to relieve tension or pain in your wrist. If you need occupational therapy in Oceanside, East End Occupational Therapy has great treatments to help pain. If you have any of these symptoms, you may need medical attention: 

• Numbing or tingling in the hand/forearm
• Swelling and pain in the wrist/hand/forearm 
• No mobility in wrist
• Consistent and intense swelling of the wrist

Causes of Tendonitis

• Home care: gardening, sweeping, raking, cleaning, painting, etc.
• Sports: tennis, golf, skiing, etc.
• Carpentry
• Throwing/Pitching

Some are more prone to tendonitis based on different factors. If you have a pre-existing condition you may be more at risk. This can include arthritis, thyroid conditions, gout, or reactions to medication. If you only play sports or exercise excessively on weekends, you may be more at risk for tendonitis. This is because the tendons are not accustomed to making such movements. Very rarely can an animal bite to the hand or finger cause infection and tendonitis.

Symptoms:

• Pain: The pain caused by wrist tendonitis feels like burning, a sharp stabbing pain, or a dull ache that never heals. The pain can range from the elbow to the fingers and touching or gently pressing the area can be painful. You may feel weakness in the wrist or forearm area while using your injured arm. The pain can begin after you do a physical activity or it is a constant pain you are living with that worsens when you conduct a physical activity. If you are suffering from tendonitis, you may not be able to carry any type of weight. This can range from doing push-ups, throwing heavy objects, or something simple such as opening a drawer or a window.
  
• Swelling: If the tendon is inflamed then this may cause swelling in the arm from the forearm to the fingers.
  
• Stiffness: The swelling causes the arm to be stiff and lose some range of motion.
  
• Muscle fatigue and cramping: If the injury is affecting the surrounding muscles, then this may cause cramping or fatigue.
  
• Tearing, popping, or snapping: The tendons rubbing against each other may cause these symptoms.
  
• Bruising and warmth: Increased blood flow to the wrist may cause the area to feel warmer than usual and may cause blood vessels to pop which causes bruises. 

Non-Surgical Ways to Heal Tendonitis? 

Rest is the top priority after getting an injury to the wrist. A few things you can do to help your injury are to use a sling, splint, or soft strap around the wrist. You need to avoid any activity that may be detrimental to the injury. 

Exercise or physical therapy is the next step to healing your wrist tendonitis. Eccentric exercises help extend your muscle under tension and promote healing for the tendon. This type of exercise helps collagen production and lessen heat from the tendon which minimizes inflammation. Repeating exercise with a light load is beneficial to the tendon as well instead of a larger load with less repetitions. These exercises are done to patients by a physical therapist or occupational therapist who have the knowledge to help heal the injury without furthering the damage.

Anti-inflammatory and pain-relief medications have sometimes been used to treat injuries but can be controversial for tendonitis. These medications such as NSAIDs may relieve pain and swelling in the wrist. However, some medical professionals argue that these medications may aggravate the injury’s healing. Long term use of medications may cause other complications in the heart, kidney, and stomach.

Occupational therapy in Oceanside, NY

Any kind of injury can put a pause and strain on your daily life. If you need occupational therapy in Oceanside, NY, contact us! East End Occupational Therapy is dedicated to giving their patients the finest care for their hand, arm, or wrist injuries. A kind and experienced team will create personalized therapy care to enhance your life’s quality.

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