Are you experiencing pain in your hands, wrists, or elbows, making even minor everyday activities difficult? We use our elbows, wrists, and hands for driving, preparing food, dressing and much more. It’s crucial to receive treatment for painful conditions as quickly as possible and to limit any further damage. A physical therapist can use a variety of techniques to treat pain in your elbows, hands, and wrists. Contact our office to see how physical therapy can help you reduce or even completely eliminate your pain!
What is Elbow, Wrist, and Hand Pain?
Elbow, hand, or wrist pain can occur when bones are broken, muscles are strained or sprained, and ligaments and tendons are torn or damaged. The pain associated with different conditions may cause intense, throbbing pain or it can be more of an achy or sore sensation. The pain may also come and go at different times, depending on the activity you’re engaging in. Whatever type of pain you’re experiencing a trained physical therapist can evaluate and treat the causes of your pain.
Causes of Elbow, Wrist, and Hand Pain
There are several causes of elbow, wrist, and hand pain. Whenever bones, muscles, ligaments or tendons in the hands, wrists, or elbows become damaged, you can experience pain.
The following are a few specific causes of elbow, wrist, and hand pain.
- Carpal Tunnel: Carpal tunnel is a type of hand nerve entrapment. Carpal tunnel causes pressure on the median nerve. Its symptoms can include problems lifting items, a weak grip, and wrist pain that extends up to the elbow. There may also be numbness and a burning sensation throughout your hand.
- Arthritis and Osteoarthritis: Different types of arthritic conditions can cause pain in the hands. Osteoarthritis breaks down your cartilage while types of arthritis can affect the lining in the joints. According to the Arthritis Foundation, physical therapy can help you move more effectively.
- Ganglion Cysts: Ganglion Cysts are lumps or masses that sometimes occur in the hand. These often appear and disappear on their own and are non-cancerous. They can, however, cause a significant amount of pain.
- Tennis or Golfer’s Elbow: This condition is normally caused by overuse of the elbow when your tendons become inflamed. Any type of elbow pain is often the result of engaging in repetitive tasks or a sports injury. Strains, sprains, arthritis, tendonitis, and dislocation are also causes of elbow pain.
- Bursitis and Tendonitis: Bursitis is inflammation that normally occurs between a bone and muscle. It can occur in the elbow as well as other areas in the body. Tendonitis is inflammation in the tendons. The Mayo Clinic states that physical therapy can help strengthen muscles and reduce bursitis pain.
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Everyone at Forward Motion Physical Therapy is exceptional. They work as a team to provide excellent care and instruction as you navigate your therapy, helping you understand the source of your pain as well as how to improve it. Dr. Prata and Dr. Deckelbaum … More have extensive knowledge in the field and continue taking courses to stay up to date with the most current techniques. The Clifton office is easily accessible for those with mobility issues and has all the necessary equipment for your needs. I would highly recommend them.
How Physical Therapy Helps Elbow, Wrist, and Hand Pain
Physical therapy can lessen or eliminate pain in your elbows, wrists, and hands. It may even help you avoid surgery. Often, a physical therapist will work in conjunction with your primary care doctor to identify the root cause of your pain. After a full evaluation, a physical therapist will use therapeutic techniques to eliminate the pain. Your physical therapist can create a detailed therapy program that meets your specific needs. This may include heat therapy, ice therapy, electrical stimulation, dry needling, Class IV laser therapy, or massage. A physical therapist may also give you exercises to complete at home and before you engage in specific activities. Physical therapy can help reduce pain, increase the range of motion, and improve the overall function in your elbows, wrists, and hands.
Whether it’s carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, or some other type of hand, wrist, or elbow pain, an experienced physical therapist can help you reduce or completely eliminate your painful condition. Physical therapy can help you get back in the game and more easily complete your daily activities.
If you’re suffering from elbow, wrist, or hand pain, be sure to contact us for an appointment. Our physical therapists are committed to helping you live a pain-free life. Visit our center!
Hands
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a compression of the median nerve that can cause numbness, tingling, pain, and/or weakness in the arm and upper extremities. The way the carpal tunnel is treated is with steroid injections, physical therapy, anti-inflammatories, and splinting the wrist. Surgery for carpal tunnel is recommended if you have had a long-term case of carpal tunnel and it is starting to cause weakness in your wrist and hand. If you do have surgery, your bandage will stay on for 1-2 weeks, and your doctor or physical therapist will give you exercises to help strengthen the area and prevent stiffness from setting in. Depending on the severity of your carpal tunnel, full recovery can take a few months to 1 year.
Finger Fractures
For finger fractures, surgery is not typically needed unless you have a severe misalignment in your finger. Most finger fractures can be treated with a splint or cast within 3-4 weeks. If you need to have surgery for your fracture, the broken bones will be realigned using kwire, screws, or pins to secure them in the correct position. After that, you will need to be in a splint or cast for 4-6 weeks. The pins or wire will either be removed after you’ve healed, or they will be left in place to make sure the bones do not move or shift over time. The main goal after surgery is to reduce pain and swelling. Once you start physical therapy, your PT will start loosening the stiff bones in your finger and stretching the ligaments and tendons.
Wrist
Wrist Fracture
Typically if you break your wrist, you’re not allowed to move or put weight on it for six weeks. However, if you break your wrist in 2 or more places, it will determine whether or not you need surgery and how long your wrist will be in a splint. The severity of your injury will also determine whether or not you need surgery. If you need surgery on your wrist due to having two or more breaks in it, your surgeon will likely perform an ORIF (Open, Reduction, and Internal Fixation) to stabilize and heal broken bones. Once your wrist is stable, your physical therapist will start loosening stiff bones, stretching ligaments and tendons. After the surgery, physical therapy is recommended to restore the range of motion and strengthen your wrist.
Wrist Tendonitis
Wrist tendonitis is caused by overuse and repetitive movements. The treatments for wrist tendonitis include rest, ice, pain relievers, physical therapy, and sometimes steroid injections. It is rare to need surgery for wrist tendonitis. However, this surgery is done if all conservative treatments have failed to improve the tendonitis and are not responding to non-surgical treatments. Depending on your surgery, recovery time typically takes 4 to 6 months. After wrist tendonitis surgery, a cast or splint is usually applied to prevent wrist movement. Physical therapy is recommended for restoring motion, strength, and functionality in the wrist.
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. It is caused by overuse and repetitive movements. e Quervain’s tenosynovitis treatments include rest, ice, pain relievers, physical therapy, and sometimes steroid injections. It is rare to need surgery for De Quervain’s tenosynovitis; however, this surgery is done if all conservative treatments have failed to improve the tendonitis and are not responding to non-surgical treatments.
Elbow
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is typically caused by repetitive movements in the wrist and arm. Treatment for tennis elbow includes rest, NSAIDs, and physical therapy. Surgery generally is not needed for tennis elbow that has been treated with physical therapy. If it is determined that you need surgery for your tennis elbow, the surgery includes removing the damaged tendon to ease pain and help you move your elbow more easily. After surgery, you will likely be in a sling or splint to immobilize the area to prevent injury. Once you start physical therapy, your therapist will show you which exercises to do to help strengthen, stretch, and stabilize your elbow. A full recovery from surgery typically takes 6 to 12 weeks.
Elbow Fracture
Typically if you break your elbow, you’re not allowed to move or put weight on it for six weeks. However, if you break your elbow in 2 or more places, it will determine whether or not you need surgery and how long your elbow will be in a sling. The severity of your injury will also determine whether or not you need surgery. If you need surgery on your elbow due to having two or more breaks in it, your surgeon will likely perform an ORIF (Open, Reduction, and Internal Fixation) to stabilize and heal broken bones. Once your elbow is stable, your physical therapist will start loosening stiff bones and stretching ligaments and tendons once your elbow is stable. After the surgery, physical therapy is recommended to restore the range of motion and strengthen your elbow.
Elbow Bursitis
Elbow bursitis happens when the bursa (a fluid-filled sac on the tip of the elbow) becomes irritated, inflamed, or damaged. With Elbow Bursitis, you may feel swelling on your elbow, pain when leaning on the arm of your affected elbow, pain when the arm is resting on an armrest or the edge of a desk or table, stiffness in your elbow, or redness at the tip of the elbow. Physical therapy, injections, NSAIDs, elbow pads, and rest are the recommended treatment for Elbow Bursitis. Physical therapy can help speed up your recovery, and your physical therapist will create a custom plan of care for you. If an infection causes your bursitis, you will also need antibiotics to help treat the infection. With treatment, your elbow bursitis should heal within 2 to 8 weeks. Surgery is typically not advised for elbow bursitis.
Pitchers Elbow
Pitcher’s Elbow is an overuse injury in the elbow typically seen in children or elderly patients after a fall. Pitcher’s Elbow typically causes pain inside the elbow along with swelling. Rest and physical therapy are the recommended treatments for Pitcher’s Elbow. Your physical therapist will create a custom plan of care based on what you need to help you recover as quickly as possible. With physical therapy, recovery time can be 2 to 8 weeks, depending on how bad the injury is. Surgery is typically not recommended for Pitcher’s Elbow
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