While healing the initial trauma following an injury should certainly be your first priority, it’s important to remember that a wide range of conditions can find their roots in an initial injury to the nerves and tendons in the wrist. With this in mind, it’s important to consult an experienced specialist like Dr. Spiess in order to achieve an accurate diagnosis and begin the appropriate treatment plan.
Here are some of the most common tendon conditions that can arise following an injury:
If any of these conditions sound familiar, don’t wait. Schedule your appointment with Dr. Spiess so you can procure an accurate diagnosis and begin taking your first steps toward recovery.
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) are painful conditions that occurs when tendons in your elbow are overloaded, usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm. Despite its name, athletes aren't the only people who these injuries. People whose jobs feature the types of motions that can lead to elbow tendonitis include plumbers, painters, carpenters and butchers. The pain of elbow tendonitis occurs primarily where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to a bony bump on the outside of your elbow. Pain can also spread into your forearm and wrist. Rest and over-the-counter pain relievers often help relieve elbow tendonitis. If conservative treatments don't help or if symptoms are disabling, your doctor might suggest surgery.
Treatment
Elbow tendonitis often gets better on its own. But if over-the-counter pain medications and other self-care measures aren't helping, your doctor may suggest physical therapy. Severe cases of tennis elbow may require surgery.
Therapy
If your symptoms are related to sports or your job, your doctor may suggest that experts evaluate your technique or the movements involved with your job tasks to determine the best steps to reduce stress on your injured tissue.
A physical therapist can teach you exercises to gradually stretch and strengthen your muscles, especially the muscles of your forearm. Eccentric exercises, which involve lowering your wrist very slowly after raising it, are particularly helpful. A forearm strap or brace may reduce stress on the injured tissue.
Surgical or Other Procedures
If you’re struggling with any of these symptoms, treatment is available, and it’s important to seek medical care as soon as you possibly can. Schedule your first appointment with Dr. Spiess, and he’ll begin putting together an individualized treatment plan that works for you!
Yes. If the tendons in your hands and wrists swell significantly -- particularly the tendons located in your wrist’s carpal tunnel -- they can press against the nerves in the area, causing painful or numbing nerve compressions.
Every patient is unique, and so is their treatment plan. When you have your consultation with Dr. Spiess, he will outline your recovery for you based on your individual circumstances, needs, and goals.
You can schedule your first appointment with Dr. Spiess right here online. Just use our online scheduling tool, or call our office if you’re more comfortable speaking on the phone.