Wrist tendinitis is a condition where one or more tendons around the wrist area becomes swollen (inflamed) and painful. The pain is aggravated on movement and activation of these tendons.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, on the other hand, is a condition where the median nerve is being compressed in the base of the palm of the hand, an area called the carpal tunnel.
The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are:
- pins and needles or
- tingling at the tips of the thumb, index, middle and radial half of the ring finger.
In more severe cases, the individual may be awakened at night with severe pain and tingling numbness in these fingers. The affected hand may also be weakened with increase in clumsiness due to the effect of the compressed nerve on the function of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle.
Other causes of wrist discomfort without preceding injury include the following:
- Degenerative, such as osteoarthritis (wearing of the articular cartilage in the wrist joint).
- Inflammatory, such as gout or pseudogout causing swelling and pain in the wrist.
- Autoimmune, such as rheumatoid arthritis which is caused by the body attacking its own cells that leads to progressive destruction of the joints and synovium.
A hand and wrist specialist will be able to help the individual arrive at the correct diagnosis and allow the proper treatment to be commenced.
