Treating Acute and Chronic Wrist Pain
As mentioned above, wrist pain can be caused by various factors because it is a highly mobile articulation used for almost everything. Injuries to the wrist joint (e.g., sprains, fractures, or dislocations) are some of the most common causes of wrist pain. They typically cause acute symptoms. In contrast, some patients experience ongoing or chronic symptoms when nerves are pinched and in case of inflammatory or systemic disease.
Acute wrist pain usually begins suddenly, is sharp in character, and may be accompanied by fever or swelling. Although acute wrist pain may resolve within several weeks, it can sometimes persist and increase in severity. An infection of the articulation can also cause acute symptoms.
On the other hand, chronic wrist pain tends to develop over time. It is often attributed to repetitive strain injuries caused by repetitive gripping and lifting that can put pressure on the wrist. Moreover, some cases of wrist pain are due to an unresolved acute disease. So, you can have an unhealed sprain that becomes a chronic problem.
Simple wrist exercises, physical therapy, or painkillers may effectively treat acute wrist pain. However, chronic wrist pain is usually treated with corticosteroid injections into the wrist joint, motorized splints, or surgery. This type of treatment is geared toward chronic use, so doctors should consider the long-term adverse effects of the medications they use. Flares and exacerbations should also be addressed in this modality.
In some cases, acute wrist pain can also improve with immobilization and casting, and both can be very severe sometimes and require opioids. The goal in these cases is to restore and preserve joint function while relieving the symptoms.
You will find below the types of medical therapy available for wrist pain and when they are used.