Injuries like fractures and sprains are most often the sources of wrist pain. However, long-term conditions like arthritis, repetitive stress and carpal tunnel syndrome can also cause wrist pain with no swelling. Since there are other factors that can cause wrist pain besides obvious causes like fractures, an accurate diagnosis is needed to get the proper treatment and healing approach. Arora Hand Surgery offers superior diagnostic services to determine the actual cause of the pain.

Arthritis

Arthritis occurs in two forms: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition where the body’s immune system attacks its tissues. The wrist is often the first target, and when one wrist is affected, the other is too. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage cushioning the bones at the joints deteriorates with time. This condition is uncommon, and when it happens, it is often because the wrist in question has had an injury in the past.

Injuries

Injuries occur due to sudden impact and when repetitive stress is applied to a particular part of the body. Sudden impacts involve an immediate application of force, such as when you fall on your knee and injure it or when you land on an outstretched hand and injure your wrist joint. This kind of fall can result in fractures, sprains, and strains. Injuries like these, even fractures like the scaphoid fracture that occurs on the thumb, may not be visible on X-rays immediately after the injury. Oftentimes, the patient complains of wrist pain with no swelling.

Ganglion Cysts

With a tendency to occur on the part opposite the palm, these soft tissue cysts can be painful. Surprisingly, an activity may worsen the pain or improve it. Patients should look out for pain that shifts by either reducing or increasing when they take part in an activity that involves the wrist.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that develops when a lot of pressure is applied to the median nerve as it passes through a passageway on the palm side of the wrist called the carpal tunnel.

Kienbock’s Disease

Common among young adults, this disorder is the progressive collapse of one of the small bones in the wrist when the blood supply to the bone is interrupted. The ‘dead’ bone makes the wrist tender and painful.

Wrist Pain with No Swelling? Come and See Us

While there are many causes of wrist pain with no swelling, the location of the pain will help Dr. Arora at Arora Hand Surgery perform a proper diagnosis to determine the exact cause of the wrist pain. Contact us today to book an appointment at our office in West Bloomfield, Howell, Warren, or Macomb!