What Causes Wrist Pain?
Wrist pain is a common problem, and it shouldn't come as a surprise. You may not think about wrists very often, but if you pay attention you'll notice that they are almost always busy. Almost everything you do involves some kind of wrist movement—that's why it's so noticeable when you have wrist pain.
The wrist is made up of a collection of joints that connect the forearm and the hand. These joints are rather delicate and can be injured from trauma or overuse. Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis, or auto-immune conditions, can also cause pain in the wrists.
Signs and Symptoms of Wrist Pain
Wrist pain may present itself as soreness, stiffness, or numbness in the wrist joints. In some cases, people may experience a burning sensation or tingling. In more extreme cases, the pain may be sharp and shooting.
Many people with wrist pain may try to deal with it by taking over-the-counter pain relief medication, using ice packs, or putting on wrist braces. Wrists don't heal well on their own, unfortunately. Any problem or injury causing pain will only become worse over time, especially with continued use of the joint. Without treatment, this can lead to damage and long-term injuries.
How the Upper Cervical Spine May Cause Wrist Pain
Because the pain is in the wrist, many people assume the problem is in the wrist. This is not always true, though—often, the source of wrist pain is the upper cervical spine.
The upper cervical spine is made up of the uppermost seven vertebrae that run through the neck where many nerve clusters go from the brain stem down into the spinal cord and throughout the body. If the upper cervical spine is misaligned, it may cause a pinched nerve or swelling that compresses nerves that run down the arms. When certain nerves are pinched or compressed, it may result in wrist pain.
How Our Upper Cervical Care Can Help with Wrist Pain
Here at the Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas, Dr. Gordon Elder is our upper spine specialist. Dr. Elder is a practitioner of the Blair Chiropractic Technique, a modern chiropractic technique that utilizes advanced technology in combination with gentle, drug-free, non-invasive adjustments.
Dr. Elder has a three-step plan for patients with wrist pain. The first step involves a thorough screening, which includes state-of-the-art 3D diagnostic imaging tools to help pinpoint problems.
Step two is the healing phase, during which Dr. Elder manually manipulates the spine to bring it back into proper alignment. Unlike traditional chiropractic techniques, the Blair technique does not involve any jarring cracks or snaps; it is a more gentle, precisely targeted method that utilizes a light touch that you won't even feel.
Once your upper cervical spine is realigned, your body's natural mechanisms will take over and begin the healing process to repair damage and restore pain-free function to your wrists. This begins step three of the treatment plan, which involves regular check-ups as a preventative measure to ensure the injury doesn't return.
Get your wrist pain treated now, before the damage becomes irreversible. Call doctor Elder to see if upper cervical care can help with your injury. Dr. Elder's areas of coverage include Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.