Wrist Pain & Tendinopathy
Your wrist does everything—until it starts complaining about everything.
What is it?
Wrist pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Tendinopathy involves load-related tendon pain, but wrist joints, ligaments, nerves and cartilage can produce similar discomfort.
What causes it?
Weightlifting, climbing, racquet sports, tool use, computer tasks, falls and repetitive wrist loading may contribute.
How do we distinguish it from other conditions?
We consider TFCC injury, scapholunate ligament injury, De Quervain’s, thumb CMC arthritis, ganglion cyst, carpal tunnel, inflammatory arthritis and occult fractures. Numbness or tingling prompts assessment for proximal nerve entrapment and systemic causes including B12 deficiency and diabetes; EMG/NCS may be appropriate.
How is it treated?
Physiotherapy and chiropractic care emphasize progressive wrist and grip strengthening, joint mobility, stability work, taping and functional return. RMT can address associated forearm muscle sensitivity; osteopathic manual therapy helps with joint and soft tissue mobility; acupuncture supports pain management where appropriate. IASTM may assist associated muscular symptoms. Class 4 laser or radial shockwave may be considered in selected tendon cases, but wrist-specific evidence is limited. Imaging, bracing, specialist referral or post-surgical rehabilitation depend on the diagnosis.
When should you seek treatment?
Seek care for persistent pain, weakness or difficulty loading the wrist. After a fall, thumb-side wrist tenderness can indicate a scaphoid fracture even with little swelling; obtain prompt medical assessment.
Feel better. Together.