Wrist Pain

Wrist Pain services offered in Wasilla, AK

Wrist pain can strike at any time, making routine activities like writing, driving, and brushing your teeth uncomfortable. Although most instances improve with rest and over-the-counter medication, wrist pain that continues for more than a few days may indicate an injury or underlying medical condition. At Pioneer Peak Orthopedics in Wasilla, Alaska, the board-certified surgeons provide high-quality care for wrist pain using a conservative, minimally invasive approach. Call the office today to schedule wrist pain treatment. Patients are also welcome to drop into the practice’s orthopedic walk-in clinic.

What is wrist pain?

Wrist pain is any discomfort or aching that affects one or both of your wrist joints.

The wrists contain bones, muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels. A condition like carpal tunnel syndrome or a problem with any of these tissues can cause pain, affecting your mobility and quality of life.

Most instances of wrist pain are mild and improve on their own. However, if your pain is severe or prevents you from routine tasks, identifying the cause is crucial to prevent it from worsening.

What’s the difference between radial and ulnar wrist pain?

Oftentimes, wrist pain is categorized by where it’s located. Your provider might say you have:

Ulnar wrist pain

This type of wrist pain occurs on the side of your wrist closest to your pinky finger. It’s called ulnar pain because it’s on the same side of the ulna –– a bone in your forearm.

Radial wrist pain

This type of wrist pain affects the side of the wrist that your thumb is on. It’s called radial pain because it’s on the same side of your wrist as the radius, another bone in your forearm.

When should I see an orthopedic doctor about wrist pain?

Make an appointment at Pioneer Peak Orthopedics if you have wrist pain that doesn’t improve after a few days of home treatment, like ice, rest, and anti-inflammatory medication. That’s especially true if the pain is severe, makes it difficult to move your hand, or occurs alongside numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness.

How is wrist pain diagnosed?

Your Pioneer Peak Orthopedics provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes an examination. They gently press on your wrist and the surrounding skin to identify sensitive places, test your wrists’ range of motion, and order diagnostic imaging, like X-rays, to check for broken bones or damage to the wrist’s soft tissues.

After identifying the cause of your wrist pain, your provider makes personalized treatment recommendations.

How is wrist pain treated?

The Pioneer Peak Orthopedics team takes a conservative, minimally invasive approach to treating wrist pain. They could suggest:

Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (the RICE protocol)
Taking anti-inflammatory medication
Wearing a wrist splint or brace
Referral for physical therapy
Corticosteroid injections

Most wrist pain improves with some of the above treatments, but if your symptoms continue or worsen, surgery might be necessary. Surgery can be used to remove a growth, fix broken bones, repair torn ligaments, or replace damaged joints. The team uses an arthroscopic approach whenever possible, which uses smaller incisions to speed up healing.

Call the Pioneer Peak Orthopedics office today to schedule wrist pain treatment or visit its walk-in clinic.