Warning Signs: When to treat tendinitis of the wrist

We put our wrists through quite a bit of wear and tear. From simple tasks like typing on a keyboard at work to throwing a ball while playing sports, the tendons of your wrist endure a lot of stress. But sometimes that stress gets to be too much, and the tendons can develop painful inflammation in the wrist.

Tendinitis refers to tendon inflammation, which is incredibly common and often interferes with people’s ability to carry out their daily responsibilities. In fact, tendinitis results in about 70,000 people missing work on an annual basis. 

But how do you know if your wrist pain stems from tendinitis? We’re here to help you figure that out.

Read on to learn about tendinitis in the wrist, warning signs to know about and how to treat it.

The basics of tendinitis of the wrist

Tendinitis of the wrist occurs when the tendons rub against the bone and cause inflammation. It’s often the result of overuse or repetitive movements such as typing or writing. Tendinitis is known as a repetitive overuse injury, or an ROI. 

Besides overuse, tendinitis of the wrist can be caused by:

• Injury.
• Poor wrist posture.
• Arthritis.

Tendinitis can often be connected to tenosynovitis. As your wrist tendons are utilized during a task, they slide in a layer of tissue that’s lined with synovial fluid, called a tendon sheath. Tenosynovitis is the inflammation that causes the tendon sheath to thicken, decreasing the wrist’s mobility.  

5 warning signs for tendinitis of the wrist

We can all feel an ache in our wrist from time to time, like after extended periods of time on a computer or lifting a heavy object. So it’s not always easy to tell if you’re feeling tendinitis of the wrist. But there are some signs of wrist inflammation that you could be on the lookout for.

Five symptoms of tendinitis of the wrist are:

1. Pain during movements.
2. Reduced range of motion.
3. Weakness.
4. Grating or crackling sensation.
5. Swelling.

While the severity of tendinitis can range from person to person, the pain is usually described as a dull ache.

When and how to treat tendinitis of the wrist

If the tendinitis in your wrist is persistent or worsening as time goes on, then you should explore your treatment options. It’s important to manage the pain to ensure that you can restore a complete range of motion for your day-to-day tasks.

There are several different treatment options that you can try to alleviate the pain that stems from tendinitis. There are some self-care options that you can test out at home, as well as options that require further assistance from a physician or physical therapist.

• Compression — If your tendinitis has caused swelling in your wrist, then compression is essential. By using a splint, brace or compression wrap on your wrist, you can reduce and prevent swelling that can contribute to the pain.

• Hot and cold therapy — When you’re experiencing pain in your wrist, especially if it stems from an injury, using ice packs and heating compresses can help alleviate the ache. Apply ice to the wrist for 20-minute intervals every few hours to numb the area and reduce swelling. After a couple of days, you can use a hot compress to increase blood flow and help heal the tendon.

• NSAIDs — A quick and effective way to temporarily alleviate pain from tendinitis in the wrist is by taking over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Ask your doctor about taking ibuprofen or naproxen to help reduce the inflammation that’s contributing to your wrist pain.

• Exercises — One of the best ways to treat tendinitis is with exercises that increase your wrist flexibility and strength. A physical therapist can walk you through stretching exercises that will increase your wrist flexibility to increase your range of motion. They can also show you strengthening exercises that will improve your grip.

Alliance PTP is ready to connect you with top-notch PT for tendinitis in the wrist

At Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, we’re proudly bringing together physical therapy practices across the country to help people get the high-quality PT they need. 

Want to see a physical therapist in person? We can put you in touch with an Alliance PTP partner that’s close to you and that can help you address tendinitis in the wrist. 

Not keen on in-person PT sessions or not close to an Alliance PTP partner? No worries. We also offer effective and affordable virtual physical therapy through our Agile Virtual Physical Therapy platform. 

Come find help for your injury or chronic condition today!