Our hands and wrists are essential tools for everyday life, helping us accomplish countless things most people take for granted. However, when pain strikes, it can make even the simplest tasks a challenge.
Ready to get back to your normal routine and the activities you love? At Orthopaedic Care Specialists in North Palm Beach, Florida, Thomas F. Saylor, MD, specializes in diagnosing and treating hand and wrist pain, including carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.
While these common wrist ailments have some overlapping characteristics, they’re separate conditions with distinct underlying causes and treatments. Let’s examine the important differences between wrist tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Wrist tendonitis is a painful condition that occurs when the tendons in your wrist become inflamed or irritated from overuse or injury. It may develop on either the thumb or pinky side of your wrist.
Activities or occupations that strain your wrists can put you at risk of developing wrist tendonitis. If you’re constantly typing, writing, or using tools that require repetitive wrist movements, you’re more likely to experience this condition.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when the median nerve, which runs through a narrow passage in your wrist — known as the carpal tunnel — becomes compressed or irritated. As many as 10 million people in the United States have CTS.
Several factors can contribute to CTS, including repetitive wrist movements. The strain from repetitive motions can gradually narrow the carpal tunnel and put pressure on your median nerve. Other factors such as injuries, certain medical conditions, and pregnancy can also increase your risk of CTS.
While it can be easy to confuse wrist tendonitis and CTS, there are a few key distinctions. Here’s how to tell which condition is behind your pain and how we can help.
Wrist tendonitis typically causes pain on the thumb or pinky side of your wrist. It could be a sharp pain or dull ache. The pain may intensify during activity and subside with rest. CTS usually causes pain in your palm or fingers, especially your thumb, index, and middle finger. A burning or tingling sensation may also accompany your pain.
Numbness or tingling is less common with wrist tendonitis than with CTS. If you experience a tingly or numb sensation with tendonitis, it’s generally mild and doesn’t interfere with your daily activities. CTS, however, often causes significant numbness and/or tingling in your fingers, especially at night.
Most cases of wrist tendonitis and CTS resolve on their own with rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications. Dr. Saylor may recommend physical therapy to improve the range of motion in your wrist or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to speed healing.
However, if your pain doesn’t improve with more conservative treatments, surgery to repair your damaged nerve or tendons may be necessary. Dr. Saylor uses minimally invasive surgical techniques to restore optimal function without large incisions or long recovery times.
Find relief for your hand and wrist pain and get back to doing what you love. Contact Orthopaedic Care Specialists by calling our office at 561-260-5993 today to book a consultation.
