How is Wrist Pain Diagnosed?
A primary care physician can attend to patients with wrist pain, and they will refer them to a specialist if they consider it appropriate. A primary care physician will focus on ruling out many diagnoses, such as tendonitis and wrist sprains. After they identify the cause of the symptom, they will decide a course of action depending on their own experience and the severity of the condition.
The wrist is a very complex joint and represents a real challenge for most physicians. However, we can summarize the causes of wrist pain into three types. They can be neurologic diagnoses such as carpal tunnel syndrome, mechanical diagnoses such as wrist sprains, and systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Doctors will also try to determine the psychosocial and occupational aspects of the disease. Nowadays, there is an increase in this type of symptom due to the prolonged use of computers and mobiles. When you use a computer for too long, the row of bones next to the ulna and radius reduces their available space and may trigger nerve entrapment problems. Tendons and ligaments can also be affected by prolonged use.
Another aspect that doctors and patients commonly address in their consultations is the healthcare cost associated with wrist injuries. In some cases, workers can issue compensation claims if they are able to demonstrate that their wrist disorders were triggered by occupational disease.