When Rest Is Not Enough For Wrist Pain in Baseball Players
Among baseball players, wrist pain is one of the most common injuries aside from shoulder and arm injuries. This is because the wrists are in constant torque during play and practice, often in all different directions and in unnatural ways.
The severity of the injury resulting in wrist pain will vary depending on several factors, but it is always best to seek medical advice before undergoing any homecare methods. Keep in mind that your wrist can become so severely injured with inappropriate treatment care that it may spell the end of your professional career.
While the severity of wrist pain can be reduced by homecare methods, such as stopping whatever activity you are engaged in, resting the joint, and applying an ice pack on the area for 15 minutes, you should immediately seek your doctor’s opinion. You may have an underlying medical condition that no amount of homecare methods can resolve since medications, and even surgery, may be necessary.
The bottom line: Rest may be necessary for effective treatment of wrist pain and its underlying injury but it may be insufficient on the overall scheme of things.
For example, you may have wrist tendonitis, an acute inflammation of the tendons in your wrist. Your doctor will recommend several of the following treatment methods depending on your case:
- Rest
- Ice packs
- Anti-inflammatory painkillers (ibuprofen)
- Physiotherapy
- Steroid injections
- Surgical release of the affected tendon
- Antibiotics for infection
In a few cases, your doctor may also recommend shock wave therapy and an autologous blood injection. You should be able to discuss your treatment options and, thus, become an active participant in your recovery.
You may also have carpal tunnel syndrome, which refers to the condition wherein the median nerve in the carpal tunnel is compressed (read: squashed). It is characterized by pain in the fingers, which travel up the forearm, as well as a sensation of pins and needles, numbness, weakness, and even dry skin in the affected fingers.
Your doctor will then recommend the following measures for effective treatment with rest again being essential but not the be-all and end-all of it:
- Rest of the affected area
- Wrist splint
- Steroid injury into the carpal tunnel
- Surgery to cut the ligament across the front of your wrist, which will relieve the pressure
Of course, prevention is still the best way to deal with wrist pain and its possible causes.
Do you have issues with wrist pain? Call one of our Healthpointe clinics, such as our Garden Grove clinic that also serves the areas of Stanton, Santa Ana, and Westminster now!
About Healthpointe:
Healthpointe is a leading multidisciplinary healthcare organization offering a full range of medical services in practice locations throughout Southern California (Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County and Riverside County). Healthpointe has locations situated in over 10 cities including Irwindale, which is conveniently located near Duarte, Azusa, West Covina, Vincent, and Mayflower Village. As a highly regarded musculoskeletal group, we have a personal investment in the highest level of medical service, and we are proud of our record of excellence over the last four decades with private patients, injured workers, urgent care, personal injuries, and professional and non-professional athletes. Leading our organization is a dynamic team of healthcare professionals who continually strive to be at the forefront of medical innovation and healthcare service delivery. For more information, a complete list of services, and Healthpointe locations, visit https://healthpointe.net