The causes of wrist pain are many. Carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis are the most common conditions that are directly related to the overuse or “misuse” of the fruit that we undergo. In other cases, the pain can be the result of a more serious illness or injury, something that needs to be identified immediately, in order to avoid the worst.

The wrist is one of the most important joints, as it contributes to carry out the most necessary activities even for the survival of the human being, as severe malfunctioning can prevent the sufferer from managing the objects he holds, such as for example, one fork. Anatomically, it consists of many small joints that connect the two bones of the lower arm with the fingers. Specifically, it consists of 8 bones that are interconnected with joints. A tube-like structure goes through the palmar surface, known as the carpal tunnel, through which the nerves and tendons pass through the forearm, in order for it to move. Injury in any part of the wrist – whether caused by a blow or strain on the nerves – can lead to pain.

Modern lifestyle often brings to view diseases that are becoming ‘fashionable’ and are becoming more and more frequent as a result of the change in living and working conditions and modification of our daily habits. So, the condition is classified as so-called overdose, which is the consequence of performing many repetitive movements. A typical example, are the movements performed while using a computer mouse or typing a text, movements that are repeated hundreds or even thousands of times during the day.

Symptoms of the disease are mainly the pain along the affected tendon, which can reflect upward throughout the extremity, pain caused by the movement of that tendon. In more severe cases, the pain persists even during rest or at night. There may also be a jolt, that is, a jerking motion.

By ‘tendonitis’, we mean the inflammation of a tendon. The tendons are the fibrous tissues that connect the muscles to the bones, in the same way that a puppet moves from the twine from which it hangs. These tendons, conveying the movement, are forced to slip through narrow channels that hold them in place and often force them into angles. So, when the tendons are forced to work vigorously and prolonged, they become irritated and produce a local inflammation called tendonitis or more properly tendonitis, because inflammation is created in the tendon sheath.

Muscle overactivity, is the leading cause of tendonitis. When the muscle “works” to its fullest potential, the tendon becomes tired and inflammation develops. Usually, individuals start a workout program or increase their level of exercise and begin to experience symptoms of tendonitis. The tendon fails to adapt to the new level of activity and this abuse leads in turn to inflammation and tendonitis.

Most common causes:

• Repeated movements, especially of the hands, executed by those who work long hours on the computer, athletes and those who do manual tasks.
• If you have hurt a joint, the tendon can be injured or even break (tendon rupture).
• Older people tend to have tendonitis more often, especially on the shoulders, because over time the tendons degenerate and accumulate calcium, resulting in loss of elasticity and flexibility.
• Those with diabetes, gout or rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus and other rare diseases have a predisposition to tendonitis.

Tendonitis is more common in the wrists, especially for those who work long hours at the computer, play professional piano or other stringed musical instruments, and engage in bodybuilding or weight lifting. Tennis athletes and those who do manual labor are suffering from elbow tendonitis, while swimmers tend to have shoulder tendonitis.