Wrist Pain Specialist

Woodlands Center For Special Surgery

Hand Surgeon & Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Specialists located in The Woodlands and Willis, TX

Acute or persistent wrist pain is always a warning sign that should not be ignored. Without treatment, the underlying cause of your problem can quickly worsen. Dr. Mark Ciaglia, DO, and Dr. William J. Jordan, MD, at the Woodlands Center for Special Surgery in The Woodlands and Willis, Texas, have years of experience identifying wrist problems and creating customized treatment plans that relieve your pain and get you back to enjoying your activities. To schedule an appointment, call the office or book an appointment online today.

Wrist Pain Q & A

What causes wrist pain?

Your wrist is a complex structure of small bones and their supporting soft tissues (ligaments, tendons, and muscles) that undergo constant daily wear and tear.

This combination of complex movable parts, together with the stress of repetitive movements, makes your wrists very susceptible to a variety of pain-causing problems.

Some of the most common conditions responsible for wrist pain include:

Ligament injury
Arthritis
Fractures
Ganglion cysts
Carpal tunnel syndrome
De Quervain's tenosynovitis
Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury
Extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon injury

In addition to repetitive stress, wrist injuries often occur from falling on an outstretched hand. Some types of injuries are associated with certain sports. For example, tennis players are especially vulnerable to ECU tendon injury, while baseball players are at a higher risk of TFCC injuries.

Will I experience symptoms other than pain?

Wrist pain can appear suddenly, develop gradually over time, and occasionally disappear, then return. You may experience a constant ache or a sudden pain when using your hand or twisting your wrist.

In addition to pain, you may develop other symptoms, such as:

Limited movement due to pain and swelling
Numbness, tingling and burning due to nerve involvement
Weakness and clumsiness
Difficulty performing fine movements

If your wrist pain lasts several days, or your pain or wrist function worsens, call the Woodlands Center for Special Surgery to have your wrist evaluated. Waiting to get treatment and continuing to use your wrist can lead to poor healing and long-term, debilitating problems.

How is wrist pain treated?

The doctors at the Woodlands Center for Special Surgery customize your treatment based on the underlying cause and the severity of your wrist pain. In some cases, home treatment like ice and heat, rest, and temporary immobilization may be all you need.

Wrist problems often benefit from structured exercise and rehabilitation to maintain optimal mobility, alleviate pain, and strengthen tissues. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections may also help heal your wrist and alleviate pain.

PRP is produced in-office by taking platelets from a sample of your blood, then injecting them into the damaged area of your wrist. The injected platelets do what they naturally do in your body, stimulating new tissue growth and promoting healing.

When your wrist pain doesn’t respond to conservative treatment, your doctor may recommend minimally invasive wrist surgery. If you need surgical intervention, you can count on the expertise of Dr. Ciaglia, who is a fellowship-trained hand and microsurgeon.

Don’t wait to get help for wrist pain, call the Woodlands Center for Special Surgery or book an appointment online today.