ORTHOPEDICS/SPORTS INJURIES/TENDONITIS
Wrist tendonitis, known by “Tenosynovitis”, is a frequent disorder characterized by irritation and inflammation of the tendons around the wrist joint.
Wrist tendonitis frequently affects one of these tendons, as it may involve two or more as well.
Frequently, wrist tendonitis happens at where the tendons cross each other or pass over a bony status.
Wrist Tendonitis Therapy
Tendons are strong tissues that attach a muscle to bone, and the wrist tendons attaches the forearm muscles to the hand and fingers bones.
The wrist tendons slide through smooth cases.
The tendon cases contain a fluid called synovial fluid, and when this zone is inflamed, the disorder is called Tenosynovitis.
The tendons surrounding the wrist are divided into two sets:
Those of the wrist back (the extensors) and those on the wrist front (flexors).
Any tendon can become irritated and cause pain, but tendonitis happens much more usually in a few precise tendons.
Difficulties that can happen to the wrist tendons can vary depending on the explicit disorder.
Where some disorders are characterized by accentuated inflammation, others are characterized more by chronic damage to the tendon (tendinosis).
Signs
Wrist pain in the most common and consistent grievance of patients diagnosed with wrist tendonitis.
Other signs of wrist tendonitis include:
- Inflammation around the wrist joint
- Warmth and tendons redness
- Relentless sensations (crepitus) with the tendons’ movement
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of wrist tendonitis is made by looking for the typical signs of this disorder.
In addition, tests that stretch the precise tendons may be performed, depending on the inflamed tendon to locate the precise inflammation source.
An X-ray can be helpful to evaluate other probable reasons of wrist pain.
X-rays can be particularly helpful at evaluating for arthritis or cracks.
Other tests such as Ultrasound and MRI can show tendonitis more directly because these test will allow showing the fluid accumulation around the worse tendon.
Therapy of Wrist Tendonitis
Once Tendonitis is diagnosed, a therapy plan can be developed.
Most therapy begin with a few simple steps to control inflammation and allow tendon healing, such as:
Immobilization:
Fixing the wrist in a splint or a cast is typically the first therapy step.
Since wrist tendonitis is due to persistent irritation of the tendon and its sheath, so, by relaxing the tendon, the inflammation should decrease.
Applying Ice:
Applying ice pack sporadically on the zone of inflammation may also be helpful. Icing wrist tendonitis can help stimulating blood flow to the zone of tendonitis and to cooling inflammation.
Anti-Inflammatory Medicines:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines will help controlling pain, decreasing inflammation of the soft tissues.
Hand Therapy:
Hand therapy is a specialized therapy kind focusing on the complex role of the hand and wrist, in addition of the many tendons and ligaments that surround and support the joint.
Hand therapists use various aspects from stretching and strengthening to electrical stimulation and ultrasound.
Furthermore, a hand therapist will often fabricate customized bandages and supports to help motion control of the wrist joint.
Cortisone Injection:
Cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory therapy option that is given directly by injection to the inflammation.
Cortisone injections are safe but can weaken tendons over time.
Surgery:
Surgery is only done when these above therapy approaches have failed solving the problem.
Avoiding Future Difficulties
There are a number of steps to avoid wrist tendonitis.
The most significant step is to change any explicit activity that seems to aggravate the disorder.
Wearing a bandage during activities that bother your tendonitis can be helpful as well.
Undoubtedly, a simple support wrap or brace can be an easy way to avoid complications.
Stretching and warming before an activity may ensure the tendons readiness, and applying ice may decrease any inflammation as well.
Final word
Wrist Tendonitis is a common disorder experienced.
Exercising few simple steps can help avoiding prevent the signs from becoming more serious.
If you have difficulties with wrist tendonitis, working with a hand therapy specialist to avoid repeated problems can help keeping you doing the activities normally.