Wrist Pain

Suppose a hand or wrist injury or condition such as arthritis interferes with work or keeps you away from your favorite sports or hobbies. In that case, our orthopedic surgeons in Manteca, CA specializing in hand and wrist pain treatment, are here to help. Our advanced imaging services at Doctors Hospital of Manteca can help accurately diagnose the problem and help guide the best hand pain treatment. Nonsurgical treatment options are always at the top of the list, including pain management, rehabilitation and physical therapy. If surgery is needed, our orthopedic doctors across Manteca may recommend a minimally invasive procedure to quickly get you back to your daily activities.

Common Causes of Wrist Pain

Wrist pain may be caused by various issues such as acute injury, carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis. The wrist is composed of eight small bones connected by joints that make it fragile. Here are common causes of wrist pain together with their symptoms:

• Sprained wrist – there may be pain, swelling, bruising, as well as difficulty gripping anything


• Tendonitis – there may be pain, swelling, stiffness at the base of the thumb and difficulty moving the fingers and the thumb, and there may be a lump in the thumb


• Carpal tunnel syndrome – there may be pain in the fingers, hand or arm that gets worse at night and difficulty and weakness in gripping 


• Ganglion cyst – there may be painful and a smooth lump in the wrist


• De Quervain’s tendinopathy – there may be pain around the wrist and the base of the thumb. The pain may ease when at rest and get worse with activity.


• Trigger finger – there may be pain and swelling in one or more fingers. Sometimes, there will be lumps under the skin


• Dupuytren’s contracture – usually affects the middle, ring and little finger; the fingers are pulled towards the palm


• Hand-arm vibration syndrome – there may be numbness, pain like pins and needles and difficulty picking up small objects


• Raynaud’s phenomenon – the fingers may appear white or waxy and, over time, may change colors


• Broken wrist – there may be a popping or snapping sound during the injury, and sudden, sharp wrist pain and swelling


• Arthritis – there may be pain and stiffness and bony lumps on the hands, especially the fingers

Wrist Pain Caused by Arthritis

Various forms of arthritis affect different parts of the hands. Arthritis is inflammation in joints and may have different causes, from genes to wear and tear.

• Osteoarthritis – the most common form of arthritis and caused by wear and tear.
• Rheumatoid arthritis – inflammatory disease arthritis where the immune system attacks joints.
• Gout – a type of arthritis caused by high uric acid levels.
• Juvenile arthritis – arthritis that is experienced by children aged 16 or younger
• Psoriatic arthritis – arthritis that affects the joints and skin
• Lupus – autoimmune disease that involves the body creating antibodies that attack healthy tissues, including joints

Wrist Pain Treatment

Hand and wrist pain treatment dramatically varies according to the cause of the pain. But whatever the cause is, we start each treatment with advanced imaging to ensure an accurate diagnosis. Our Manteca orthopedic surgeons and staff will then work together to develop a customized treatment plan.

For carpal tunnel syndrome, treatment options may include:

• Wrist brace or splint
• Hot or cold compress

Anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving medications may include:

• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy
• Surgery to repair the median nerve (for severe cases)

For gout, treatment options may include:

• Anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving medications
• Drinking water to reduce the uric acid concentration
• Shift to a healthy diet
• Medications to reduce uric acid

For injuries, treatment options may include:

• Splints
• Rest
• Mild pain reliever
• Ice packs

For arthritis cases, though there’s no definite cure yet, treatment options for symptoms may include:

• Medications
• Exercise
• Shift to a healthy diet

The goal is to treat your symptoms as conservatively as possible. We offer nonsurgical options as our first line of wrist and hand pain treatment, including pain management and physical therapy. When medications and nonsurgical approaches do not provide the relief needed, rest assured that our orthopedic surgeons across Manteca have the experience to perform minimally invasive procedures.

When to See an Orthopedic Doctor

Most cases of hand and wrist pain are not serious, and the pain usually subsides within a few days and can be eased by self-care remedies. However, if you experience pain in your fingers, hands, wrists or arms, one of our orthopedic surgeons in Manteca, CA may be able to help. While hand surgery may be a consideration, nonsurgical hand pain treatments, such as physical and occupational therapy, are also options that can help to restore movement and reduce or eliminate your pain.

You may need immediate wrist pain treatment if you experience the following symptoms:

• Severe pain
• Snap, grinding or popping noise when the injury occurred
• Inability to move your wrist and carry objects
• A deformed joint or bluish hand or fingers
• Significant bleeding in the affected area
• Fever over 100°F (37.7°C)
• Rash
• Swelling and redness accompanied by infection
• Numbness, tingling or weakness in the wrist, hand or fingers
• Muscle loss in the wrist, hand or fingers
• Pain that won't subside even with self-care treatments for two weeks

Why Choose Doctors Hospital of Manteca?

Whether you’ve broken your wrist, torn a ligament or are living with the long-term effects of a condition, such as arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome, painful hands, wrists and arms can limit your mobility and quality of life. Doctors Hospital of Manteca provides the following:

• The latest medical and surgical procedures for hand and wrist conditions and diseases, including work-related injuries, trauma, arthritis and tendonitis
• Surgical and nonsurgical wrist and hand pain treatment options
• Care delivered by a multidisciplinary team of specialized orthopedic surgeons and support personnel

The orthopedic surgeons at Doctors Hospital of Manteca evaluate, treat and rehabilitate the muscles and joints of the hand and arm. Their plan of care is designed to fit your needs and includes treatment of the following:

• Nerve compression syndromes, such as cubital tunnel syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome
• Soft-tissue sprains, strains and contusions
• Overuse and traumatic injuries, such as fractures and full and partial dislocations; degenerative and rheumatoid arthritis; tendon, nerve and ligament damage; rotator-cuff tears; and impingement syndromes of the elbow and wrist

After any hand and wrist surgery, you will need rehabilitation and physical therapy to return to daily activities without pain and stiffness.