Elbow Wrist and Hand Pain
Live Life Easier with Elbow, Wrist, and Hand Pain Relief
You Use Your Upper Extremities a Lot – They Shouldn't be Painful!
Consider your typical morning routine: get out of bed, brush your teeth, shower, dress, eat breakfast, and begin your commute to work. How many times do you think you've used your elbows, wrists, and hands at this point? Hundreds! Now, if you do all of this while in pain, it can make even the most mundane activities difficult. You may even find it difficult to navigate your own home.
You use your elbows, wrists, and hands all day. It's no wonder we often experience pain there!
The good news is that working with a licensed Wilmington physical therapist can help you find relief. Call our clinic today to get the assistance you've been looking for!
Common Causes of Elbow, Wrist, and Hand Pain
Because our bodies are so complex, there are many reasons you might be experiencing upper extremity pain. Here are a few of the most common conditions and causes:
Arthritis
Arthritis is a very common condition that people of all ages are living with. It is typically caused by repetitive motions or an injury that impacts the cartilage in the joints of the elbow, wrist, or hand. According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is the most common form of disability in the United States. Physical therapy helps to improve joint motion, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the surrounding supportive muscles.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Cubital tunnel syndrome is a common form of nerve compression damage caused by repetitive pressure on the ulnar nerve — located inside the elbow, commonly referred to as your "funny bone." It can cause pain, numbness, and tingling, especially to the ring and pinky fingers.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
CTS impacts approximately 5% of all Americans, according to the American Physical Therapy Association. The carpal tunnel protects the median nerve and tendons used to bend the fingers. When constricted, nerve compression results in numbness and tingling in the thumb and first two fingers, as well as swelling to the hand. It is commonly seen in assembly-line, keyboard-heavy, or heavy-machinery work.
Golfer's Elbow / Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow refers to pain on the lateral (outside) aspect of the elbow; golfer's elbow refers to pain on the medial (inside) aspect. Both are repetitive use injuries attributable to a variety of tasks. Physical therapy restores the underlying joint and soft tissue limitations causing tendon strain and reduces inflammation rapidly.
Elbow Bursitis
At the end of the elbow is a fluid-filled sac called the "bursa" that cushions the elbow bone (ulna). When compressed due to injury or repetitive motion, it leads to pain and swelling. This condition is common in athletes and students.
Sprains and Strains
Strains refer to muscle or tendon injuries; sprains refer to ligament injuries. Both typically occur from rapid overstretching — such as a fall on an outstretched arm or catching something heavy. Pain may take a day or two to fully present itself.
Are You Experiencing Any of These Symptoms?
When it comes to upper extremity pain, everyone experiences their symptoms differently. Short-term acute elbow, wrist, or hand pain is usually caused by an injury, but long-term chronic pain may be caused by illness or other underlying factors.
Other symptoms that may accompany the pain include numbness or tingling in the extremities, particularly the fingers, which may make it difficult to perform normal daily activities or cause problems at work, depending on the severity of your condition.
Your pain may be mild to severe, and it may also be intermittent — coming and going at different times throughout the day. No matter how bad your pain is, don't expect it to go away on its own. In most cases, involving a medical professional who can assess the situation will result in the best possible outcome.
What Can a Physical Therapist Do for Elbow, Wrist, or Hand Pain?
Physical therapy can reduce or even eliminate the need for costly, invasive surgical procedures, in addition to potentially harmful pain relievers. Physical therapists are experts in movement and joint disorders, and they can treat your symptoms while also determining the source of your pain!
Our Wilmington, NC physical therapists develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific condition's requirements. The advanced treatment options available at Lumina Wellness Physical Therapy can help to relieve your pain, restore your range of motion, and return you to a normal life. Physical therapy can help with any cause of elbow, wrist, or hand pain.
Find Relief for Your Upper Extremity Pain Today
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms caused by the conditions above, or if you have persistent pain that won't seem to go away, don't depend on harmful medications to combat your symptoms. It's time to make a change. If hand, elbow, or wrist pain is affecting your quality of life, contact our office today at (910) 805-1111 to schedule an appointment and meet with one of our dedicated team members. We are skilled, attentive, and ready to return you to the healthy, physically active life you deserve!