Symptoms of Wrist Tendonitis

Wrist tendonitis is a common sports injury to athletes such as tennis players, baseball players or any athlete that performs a repetitive action with the wrist. While it is a common sports injury, it can affect anyone that performs a repetitive action with the wrist. Diagnosis for the condition is normally done with a physical examination by a doctor.

Identification

• Tendons are the strands of tissue that hold the muscles to the bones and help to create joints in the body. Tendonitis is a condition that occurs when these tendons get inflamed either from excessive use or from some sort of trauma. When the tendons in the wrist become inflamed then this is referred to as wrist tendonitis. It is also possible that the forearm muscles could also become irritated as a result of wrist tendonitis.

Effects

• The symptoms of wrist tendonitis are normally simple to identify. They include pain associated with moving the wrist and a warm sensation in the wrist to go along with the pain. In some cases the wrist tendonitis may only appear when the wrist is moved in the repetitive motion that caused it, or it may occur when the wrist is moved in any way. The wrist may also become swollen and in some cases it may turn red.

Potential

• Progressive symptoms of wrist tendonitis can be quite painful. If the condition is not treated then the pain in the wrist may start to appear even when the wrist is at rest. Instead of a burning pain it may start to include instances of sharp pain that are similar to an electric shock. Over time the pain may begin to move up the arm as the muscles of the forearm become more inflamed. As the condition progresses the wrist may become stiff and difficult to move, the swelling may become more noticeable and the area may become a brighter red.

Prevention/Solution

• The most common regiment of treatment for wrist tendonitis includes resting the wrist, applying ice for 20 minutes every hour when possible until the swelling recedes and taking ibuprofen or some other anti-inflammatory medication. If the condition persists then get to a doctor immediately. A doctor may use a direct steroid injection to reduce swelling and then recommend wrapping the wrist in a protective sports bandage and resting it. In very severe cases the inflamed tendons are removed from the wrist using surgery. This allows the remaining tendons to function freely.

Considerations

• It is important to follow a doctor's orders on recovery from wrist tendonitis, especially if the case is a more severe case that required a steroid shot. Returning to the repetitive activity before the condition has subsided can result in a relapse, and it could also cause permanent damage to the wrist.