Wrist tendinitis is the inflammation of the tendons present in the wrist joint, causing symptoms such as pain, swelling and redness in the region, in addition to making it difficult to carry out movements with the hand joint and daily activities.
This type of tendonitis is normally caused by repetitive movements with the hands, as in the case of professions that involve writing, painting or typing, for example, or that require frequent carrying of weights.
Treatment must be guided by a physiotherapist or orthopedist and may include the use of anti-inflammatories, joint immobilization and physiotherapy, and in the most serious cases, surgery may even be necessary.
Symptoms of tendonitis in the wrist
The main symptoms of wrist tendonitis are:
- Pain when moving the wrist;
- Slight swelling in the wrist region;
- Redness and increased temperature in the wrist;
- Difficulty moving the hand;
- Feeling of weakness in the hand.
Additionally, some people may also feel as if something is being crushed in the wrist area.
When there is involvement of the tendon located at the base of the thumb, this inflammation is called Quervain’s tenosynovitis, in which in addition to the symptoms of tendonitis, there is an accumulation of fluid around the tendon.
It is important to consult an orthopedist whenever symptoms of tendonitis appear in the wrist, so that the most appropriate treatment can be diagnosed and indicated.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of wrist tendonitis is made by the orthopedist by evaluating symptoms, health history and physical examination of the wrist.
Make an appointment with an orthopedist in the nearest region:
In addition, more specific tests can also be carried out to identify tendonitis and even imaging tests, such as X-ray or MRI, which, in addition to helping with the diagnosis, allow identifying whether there is any calcification in the tendon, which can influence treatment. .
Possible causes
Wrist tendinitis is classified as a repetitive strain injury (RSI), that is, it tends to occur as a consequence of repetitive movement of the joint, and can occur due to several situations, such as:
- Excessive use of thumbs and arms with repetitive movements;
- Write a lot;
- Hold the baby on your lap with the thumb facing down;
- Smart;
- To fish;
- To type;
- To sew;
- Do weight training exercises that involve the wrist joint;
- Playing a musical instrument for many hours at a time.
Tendinitis can also occur due to great effort on the muscles involved, such as holding something very heavy, such as a shopping bag with just one hand, for a long period of time.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of tendonitis in the wrist must be carried out under the guidance of an orthopedist and varies according to the severity of the inflammation.
The main treatments that may be recommended by your doctor are:
1. Rest
Resting the wrist joint may be recommended by your doctor to help reduce inflammation and prevent symptoms from worsening.
Therefore, activities that aggravate symptoms should be avoided, such as avoiding repetitive movements with the hand and avoiding carrying excessive weights.
2. Cold compresses
Applying cold compresses to the wrist helps reduce pain and reduces swelling by relieving inflammation in the tendons.
To make a cold compress, you must place ice in a thermal bag or place a bag of gel in the freezer to cool it, and then wrap the bag or bag of gel in a clean, dry towel and apply it to the affected area. , leaving it to act for 15 to 20 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day.
3. Immobilization
Immobilization of the wrist may also be indicated, as this way the joint is not used, which favors the improvement of inflammation and reduction of symptoms.
4. Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can be recommended by a doctor and should be carried out by a physiotherapist, with stretching and muscle strengthening exercises, which help to reduce inflammation.
It may be useful to do the exercise of squeezing a soft ball or modeling clay in 3 sets of 20 repetitions. In addition, the physiotherapist may also use joint mobilization techniques and tapes to immobilize the tendon.
Furthermore, the physiotherapist can use devices, such as TENS, ultrasound, laser or galvanic current, to deinflame the tendon and combat pain, and accelerate recovery.
5. Medicines
Anti-inflammatory or analgesic medications, such as ibuprofen, naproxen or paracetamol, may be prescribed by your doctor to reduce inflammation in the tendon and relieve the pain of tendonitis in the wrist.
In addition, anti-inflammatory ointments, such as diclofenac diethylammonium, or even corticosteroid injections into the tendon may also be recommended to quickly alleviate symptoms.
6. Surgery
Surgery for wrist tendonitis can be performed by an orthopedist when other treatments have not been sufficient to improve symptoms.
It is usually necessary to undergo physical therapy sessions after surgery to speed up recovery, regain strength, movement and reduce pain and swelling.
Home treatment for wrist tendonitis
A great home treatment for wrist tendonitis is to place an ice pack on your wrist for 20 minutes, twice a day.
After this period, the region will be numb and it will be easier to perform the following stretch:
- Stretch your arm with your palm facing up;
- With the help of the other hand, stretch your fingers backwards, towards the floor, keeping your arm straight;
- Hold the position for 1 minute and rest 30 seconds.
It is recommended to do this exercise 3 times in a row in the morning and evening to increase the flexibility of the muscles and tendons and improve oxygenation in the affected structures, bringing relief from symptoms.
See also a great massage technique in the following video:
