| | | | | This is termed a repetitive motion injury and is really |
| Wrist and metacarpal injuries are more common in | | | | not a true sprain. Carpal tunnel syndrome is another |
| contact sports, racquet sports, and gymnastics. The | | | | common wrist injury that may occur from repetitive |
| wrist represents one of the most complicated | | | | motion. |
| regions of the musculoskeletal anatomy. It is | | | | Symptoms |
| comprised of 15 bones, 27 articular surfaces, and an | | | | When an injury occurs, pain and swelling are the main |
| elaborate system of ligaments that maintain these | | | | symptoms. The wrist may become discolored and |
| bones and surfaces in proper relation to one another. | | | | bruised. Doctors refer to this as ecchymosis. The |
| The wrist joint is formed proximally by the distal | | | | wrist may remain painful for several weeks. There |
| surface of the radius and ulna and the attached | | | | are no specific symptoms that allow your doctor to |
| fibrocartillage disc, and distally by the scaphoid, lunate | | | | determine whether a wrist ligament injury has |
| and triquetral bones. The wrist as a region extends | | | | occurred. |
| from the distal radius and ulna to the base of the | | | | Typically, there will be pain, tenderness, swelling, or |
| metacarpals. The wrist positions and supports the | | | | bruising of the injured wrist. If the injury is serious, |
| hand and therefore has to combine strength and | | | | you may have trouble moving the wrist. |
| precision with a wide range of movement with | | | | Wrist Injury Treatment |
| stability. | | | | If there is no fracture seen on the x-ray, the doctor |
| Wrist pain is common. Repetitive motion can damage | | | | may diagnose a sprain. In cases where there is |
| your wrist. Everyday activities like typing, racquet | | | | tenderness in the anatomical snuffbox, the doctor |
| sports or sewing can cause pain, or even carpal | | | | may also suspect there may be a fracture of the |
| tunnel syndrome. Wrist pain with bruising and swelling | | | | scaphoid that is not apparent on the x-rays. |
| can be a sign of injury. The signs of a possible | | | | For more severe sprains, you will likely be given a |
| fracture include misshapen joints and inability to move | | | | Velcro wrist splint that you can take on and off. Also |
| your wrist. Some wrist fractures are a result of | | | | you might be prescribed some form of pain |
| osteoporosis. | | | | medication. You should make sure that you let the |
| Causes | | | | doctor know what other medications you are taking |
| You can also have wrist pain from repetitive use that | | | | and any allergies that you have. |
| results in an inflammation of the tendons (tendonitis). | | | | |