Elbow & Wrist Pain

Tennis elbow is usually caused by overusing the muscles attached to your elbow and used to straighten your wrist. The first signs are pain and tenderness in the bony knob on the outside of your elbow.  You may also have pain in your forearm and in the back of your hand.

Chiropractic treatment is a very effective method of care for Elbow and wrist pain. The chiropractor will begin by assessing the patient’s source of pain and determine what is causing it. They may use x-rays, MRI, CT scan, and other types of diagnostic tools to help them select the best course or treatment.

The pain of tennis elbow can range from mild discomfort while using your elbow, to severe pain that can be felt when your elbow is still.

The pain is often worse when you use your arm, particularly for twisting movements. Repetitive wrist movements, such as extending your wrist and gripping, can also make the pain worse.

If you have tennis elbow, you may also experience:

• pain on the outside of your upper forearm, just below your elbow. The pain may also travel down your forearm towards your wrist 
• pain when lifting or bending your arm
• pain when writing or gripping small objects – for example, when holding a pen
• pain when twisting your forearm – for example, when turning a door handle or opening a jar
• pain and stiffness when fully extending your arm 

As with all injuries or pain it is best to get it seen to by a Chiropractor as soon as possible. Often the longer you leave a problem the longer it takes to remedy. The first thing to do is to stop the activity that has caused the problem, together with Ice.

With smartphone texting, video game controllers, computer keyboards etc it’s not surpirsing that so many people have pain in their hands and wrists.

Made of dozens of small bones, our hands and wrists can easily get sore. The wrist alone has eight bones lined up, four on top, four below. All eight bones are connected by ligaments that keep the joints together, while giving a wide range of motion for our hands. There are also many tendons that pass the wrist. These control the motion of our wrist, fingers, and thumb. Because each of those parts serves a purpose in movement, if even one area in the wrist gets inflamed or injured, you’re going to feel it.

Injuries or conditions affecting the hands can make tasks that were once simple painful and difficult. Something as mundane as  brushing your teeth can cause  pain through your arm. 

Arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, ganglion cysts and injuries are some of the most common conditions affecting the wrist and hand. Developing any of these conditions, especially carpal tunnel syndrome, is possible for almost anyone.

Treatment for injuries can vary from icing it at home to a visit to the emergency center.

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

A common myth about hand and wrist injuries is that if you can move it, it’s not broken. That’s simply not true. Often, fractures feel tender right at the bone. If you have an obvious deformity or your skin is cut, you should get medical attention as soon as you can. If you have swelling, bruising and/or pain that lasts more than a day or two, it is worth seeing a Doctor to check it.

PREVENTING HAND AND WRIST PAIN

There are things you can do to ward off hand and wrist pain, though. Try to keep your bones strong by getting enough calcium and vitamin D, which your body needs to use that calcium. Your doctor will have a recommendation on how much and the best way for you to work calcium and vitamin D into your diet.

Next, look at the ergonomics of how you work and live. If you're straining, re-organize until you're more comfortable.

Finally, make sure you’re protected. Whether you’re in your own home or playing your favorite sport, it’s important to think about safety. 

TREATING HAND AND WRIST PAIN

Applying heat or ice to the sore area can help reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and improve movement. Try modifying your activities to give your achy hands or wrists a rest. The sooner you can visit a chiropractor the and get on top of the problem the better.