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What is elbow, wrist and hand pain?

 

The elbow, wrist, and hand are common areas where people can suffer from pain. Pain in these areas can significantly affect daily activities and quality of life. These types of pain can arise from various causes and may vary in severity, duration, and location. The pain in these areas can range from mild to severe and may be accompanied by swelling, stiffness, weakness, or a reduced range of motion. Depending on the underlying cause, symptoms may develop gradually or appear suddenly, affecting one or both sides of the body.

Elbow

Elbow pain refers to discomfort or soreness experienced in the joint connecting the upper arm to the forearm. It can result from overuse, such as repetitive arm motions or excessive strain during physical activities. Conditions like tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) are common causes of elbow pain, often affecting individuals who engage in sports or activities involving repetitive arm movements.

Wrist

Wrist pain typically manifests as discomfort or tenderness in the area where the hand meets the forearm. It can be caused by conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist sprains, fractures, or inflammation of the tendons.

Hand

Hand pain refers to any discomfort or distress experienced in the fingers, palm, or the back of the hand. It can be caused by several factors, including arthritis, injuries such as fractures or dislocations, nerve compression or damage, repetitive strain injuries, and conditions like trigger finger or Dupuytren’s contracture, which affect the movement of the fingers.

A lady having her elbow and wrist treated for pain. She is wearing a white top. The clinician is using hands-on care.
Elbow pain treated with hands-on care.
Tennis elbow is a common problem. Here is a picture of a young man playing tennis with experiencing tennis elbow.
Enjoy life with no elbow, wirst or hand pain.
Lady wearing a grey shirt holding her wrist in pain. Wrist pain shown in red. Chiro wrist pain.
Wrist pain can result from a desk based job.

Types of common injuries which affect elbows, wrist and hands

Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a condition characterized by pain and tenderness on the outer side of the elbow. It is commonly caused by repetitive arm motions and overuse of the forearm muscles. Activities like playing tennis, painting, or typing can contribute to the development of this condition. Treatment options include rest, manual therapy, pain medication, and in severe cases, surgery.

Golfer’s Elbow

Golfer’s elbow, or medial epicondylitis, is like tennis elbow, but it affects the inner side of the elbow. It is caused by overuse and repetitive motions of the wrist and fingers. Golfing, throwing, and other activities involving gripping can lead to this condition. Treatment includes rest, applying ice or heat, manual therapy, and sometimes corticosteroid injections or surgery may be necessary.

Bursitis

Bursitis is the inflammation of the small fluid-filled sacs called bursae that cushion the joints. When bursae become inflamed, usually due to repetitive motions or injury, it can lead to pain, swelling, and limited mobility. Bursitis can affect the elbow, wrist, or hand, depending on the affected joint. Treatment involves rest, ice, pain medication, manual therapy, and in some cases, aspiration or corticosteroid injections.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis refers to the inflammation of a tendon, the tissue that connects muscles to bones. Overuse, repetitive motions, and injury can cause tendonitis in the elbow, wrist, or hand. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the affected area. Treatment includes rest, ice, physical therapy, pain medication, and sometimes splinting or corticosteroid injections.

Muscle Strain

A muscle strain occurs when a muscle or its tendons are overstretched or torn. It can result from sudden movements, lifting heavy objects, or excessive use of the muscle. Strains can cause pain, muscle weakness, and limited mobility. Treatment involves rest, ice, compression, elevation, pain medication, and physical therapy.

Sprain

A sprain refers to the stretching or tearing of ligaments, which connect bones to each other, typically due to a sudden twisting or wrenching motion. Sprains can occur in the wrist or hand, causing pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the affected joint. Treatment involves rest, ice, compression, elevation, pain medication, and in severe cases, immobilisation with a splint or cast may be necessary. Physical therapy may also be recommended to aid in the recovery process.

A lady carrying a baby doing exercise. She is wearing active wear. She has no pain and is smiling
Enjoy moving with no pain

How to Fix Common Elbow, Wrist and Hand Injuries?

We treat acute and chronic elbow, wrist and hand pain at Five Dock Osteopathic and Chiropractic. Our approach is to go to the root cause of the problem and look at how this affects the whole arm.  Treating not only the root cause but the side effects as well.
 
Acute Elbow, Wrist and Hand Pain Treatment
 
After diagnosing the root cause of your pain, the first step is always to restore any loss in movement.  This is achieved through targeted soft tissue massage and mobilisations of a few critical muscle and joint groups.  Our many years of experience have taught us that there are a few main areas to target to fix an elbow, wrist or hand injury. At this stage, it is important to educate you on what not to do during the pain phase of your care. 
 
The second step is to retrain your shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand stability through carefully chosen exercises.  Yes, it is important to include the shoulder for the best care.  Remember, the shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the human body, so building muscle strength around the shoulder is essential. 
 
Finally, we will educate you on the correct methods for using your shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand to decrease the chance of re-injury.
 
Chronic Elbow, Wrist and Hand Pain Treatment
 
Chronic elbow, hand or wrist pain is pain that lasts longer than three months. Like all chronic pain, chronic elbow, wrist and hand pain causes a change in your brain (alteration of the sensory processing by the brain leading to amplification of pain) At Five Dock Osteopathic and Chiropractic, we have found that the key to fixing such pain is improving movement and retraining from your shoulder down to the hand at the same time.  This, in turn, retrains your brain, so it no longer amplifies pain.  
 

Elbow, Wrist and Hand Pain Treatment Methods

  • We have several unique methods for treating all kinds of elbow, wrist and hand pain:
     
    • In treating elbow, wrist and hand pain, we look at three main areas.  Firstly, the shoulder and upper arm, as restricted movement of your shoulder, affects your elbow, wrist and hand movementSecondly, your elbow, as most likely, you are overusing the elbow muscles.  This creates incorrect elbow, wrist and hand movement and places stress on the muscle, tendons and ligaments.  Leading to the third region, the wrist and hand joints.  There are many muscles, tendons and ligaments attaching to the bones making up your wrist and hand joint.  We must address all these muscles as they work together to make smooth, controlled movements possible for you. 
     
    • Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand stability through carefully tailored exercises guarantee long-term change.  We not only fix you. We equip you with the knowledge and skills to protect your arms throughout every stage of life

What Makes Our Treatment Of Elbow, Wrist and Hand Pain Unique

Suffering from a strain? Our expert muscle strain treatment in Five Dock helps relieve pain and restore mobility. We have our own unique style of massage developed to complement our adjustments. We are experts at tracing the cause of your pain to its source, and our treatment includes all of your arm from the shoulder down. This approach focuses on you as a whole person, not just a region in isolation, and so it brings you not only short-term relief from pain but also lasting improvements to your health and well-being. Our adjustments all use traction, making them smooth and gentle on your body. We work with you to devise personalised functional exercises that you can use to strengthen your shoulder and build your stability.

What type of elbow, wrist or hand pain do you have?

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