What is Ulnar wrist pain ?
Explanation of medical terms and concepts
Ulnar wrist pain
What are the signs and symptoms of an ulnar wrist problem?
Ulnar wrist pain while at rest or with movement is a common sign of many different injuries and medical conditions Common signs and symptoms of ulnar wrist pain include:
- It is painful to the pinkie finger side of the wrist
- A popping or clicking noise in your wrist is associated with sharp pain with movement
- Loss of strength and grip in the hand can be associated with pain
- Wrist pain particularly with rotation of the forearm and lateral movement of the wrist
Possible Causes
What are the possible causes of ulnar wrist pain?
Many different injuries and medical conditions can cause pain in the palm of your hand They include:
- Arthritis.Inflammation in the wrist joint may include arthritis due to wear and tear of the cartilage of bones or inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid or gout
- Fractures.Broken wrist bones or a hand fracture including the ulnar styloid hook of hamate and pisiform bones
- Nerve injuries or compression.Damage to or pressure on nerves in the wrist or higher in the arm or neck resulting in irritation of the ulnar nerve
- Overuse.Damaged tendons which are the ligaments that connect muscles to bones are often caused by repeated hand and arm motions or injuries
- The triangular fibrocartilage complex is a soft tissue in the kneeTears or fraying in the tissues that connect the ulna to other parts of the wrist often occur following a fall on the wrist or from repetitive twisting injuries This can also result from a developmental difference in length between the ulna and adjacent radius bone of forearm bones
- Ulnar impaction syndrome.Tears of cartilage and ligaments caused by pressure when the ulna is longer than the radius
- Growths.Masses containing ganglion cysts are noncancerous
- Ulnar artery thrombosis. Blood clot in the ulnar artery.
- Kienbock’s disease.Loss of blood supply leads to death of the lunate bone on the ulnar side of the wrist
- Infection. From a prior penetrating injury or underlying condition that lowered resistance to developing an infection
Care and Treatment
How is ulnar wrist pain diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose ulnar wrist pain based on your medical history and a physical exam Some of the questions your doctor might ask include:
- Are you suffering from gout diabetes or other conditions that might contribute to your wrist pain?
- Did the wrist pain come on suddenly or has the pain been present for a long period of time (days, weeks or longer)?
- Did the pain come on suddenly or did it have been present for a long period of time?
- What event happened that led to the pain in your wrist?
- How severe is the pain?
- Are you often working or spending time on hobbies that require repetitive wrist motion?
Your doctor will feel your wrist and surrounding area and make notes of any swelling redness masses scars tenderness and other signs of deformity He or she will also perform several tests to check range of motion strength source or pain to help make the diagnosis
Imaging tests may include X-rays MRI's CT scans and EKG’s
- X-raysTo show the relationship between bones in the arm and wrist to identify fractures arthritis deformities signs of infection or tumors
- Computed tomography (CT) To reveal subtle fractures fractures healing abnormal alignment of bones assess ligaments for tears and check artery blood flow for blockages
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)to check for abnormal growths and soft tissue injuries (tendon ligaments blood vessels nerves)
- UltrasoundIn the wrist foreign bodies can cause tendon ruptures Compressed nerves may be found in this area of the body The blood flow needs to be assessed and an abnormal growth may need to removed
- Wrist arthrographyRadiopaque fluids are used to enhance the view of joint structures before performing many of the above imaging studies
What is ulnar wrist pain and how can it be managed or treated?
Treatment for ulnar wrist pain depends on the cause Treatments include:
- Taking anti-inflammatory medications such as naproxen or ibuprofen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or steroid injections to relieve pain
- Changing your hand position repetitively (ergonomic adjustment)
- Physical therapy (exercises to mobilize and strengthen tendons and ligaments in the wrist) can help restore normal function after a car accident
- Casting or splinting to rest the wrist
- Surgery to remove growths or other causes of nerve compression repair tendon or ligament tears fix fractures or treat arthritis through open or arthroscopic surgery
When to Call the Doctor
When should I call the doctor?
Contact your doctor if you have ulnar wrist pain that interferes with work or other activities every day is severe enough to impair motion and function wakes you from sleep or has significant swelling redness and fluid drainage
Get useful and relevant health + wellness information
General summary
Pain in the ulna bone of the wrist can be caused by a number of different problems The most common cause is tendonitis which refers to inflammation of one or more tendons that move your hand Tendons are bands of tissue that attach muscles to bones allowing you to make movements such as gripping or rotating with your hand When a tendon becomes inflamed it creates pain and tenderness around the area where it attaches to the bone
ulnar wrist pain causes
and treatments Ulnar wrist pain is generally caused by overuse and/or strain on the tendons of the posterior cuff around the wrist The resulting inflammation causes a dull ache in the back of your wrist and under your thumb All too often ulnar wrist pain goes away on its own within a few days to weeks However if it lasts longer than this or becomes more sever you should consult with a doctor as you may require treatment and rehabilitation
ulnar wrist pain when twisting
The wrist is a complex joint that allows us to bend and turn our hands When it hurts it can make even everyday tasks difficult In fact pain in the wrist (and other joints) is one of the most common reasons people visit their doctor Fortunately there are many ways your doctor can help you treat pain or stiffness so you can get on with life and keep doing what makes you happy
People experience ulnar wrist pain at some point in their life While it's common and usually not a cause for concern you should still see your doctor if the pain persists or becomes unbearable Review the following symptoms and factors which are associated with wrist pain to help determine a possible diagnosis
Wrist pain is often due to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) or repetitive stress injury CTS causes wrist pain numbness and tingling in the thumb index finger and middle finger The condition can also cause weakness in these same fingers Repetitive stress injury occurs when you repeat a motion over and over again without resting enough in between repetitions RSI can cause wrist pain as well as tenderness tingling and occasional muscle weakness in the forearm
ulnar wrist pain exercises
at home The ulnar wrist pain exercises are designed to be done at home Do not do anything that causes you pain or discomfort Remember that the treatments outlined here are meant to complement your doctor prescribed treatment plan and should not be used in place of it If you have any questions please speak with your health care provider prior to beginning this or any other exercise program