Wrist & Hand Pain Treatment in Walnut Creek, California
When Your Hands and Wrists Start Making Everyday Tasks Difficult
You reach for your coffee cup, and your wrist hurts.
Opening a jar has become uncomfortable.
Maybe your fingers feel stiff in the morning, your thumb aches when you grip something, or you've started noticing tingling in your hand while working at the computer.
Perhaps you wake up at night with numbness in your fingers.
Or you've noticed that holding your phone, gardening, playing golf, lifting weights, or simply carrying groceries has become more difficult than it used to be.
We use our hands and wrists constantly throughout the day, often without giving them much thought.
When something starts hurting, even simple activities can become frustrating.
At Stojanovich Chiropractic in Walnut Creek, California, Dr. Nick Stojanovich evaluates wrist and hand pain to determine what may be contributing to your symptoms and whether chiropractic extremity care is appropriate.
Because wrist and hand pain can have many different causes.
Understanding what's contributing to your symptoms is the first step toward deciding what type of care makes sense.
What Causes Wrist and Hand Pain?
Your wrists and hands contain numerous small bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and nerves that work together to support movement, grip, coordination, and everyday activities.
Pain may develop after an injury, repeated activity, a change in workload, or an underlying musculoskeletal condition.
Possible causes include:
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Tendon-related conditions
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Joint irritation or arthritis
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Wrist sprains and ligament injuries
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Carpal tunnel syndrome
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Thumb tendon conditions, including de Quervain tenosynovitis
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Repetitive-use discomfort
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Nerve irritation or compression
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Muscle or soft-tissue injuries
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Pain referred from the neck or arm
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Other medical or musculoskeletal conditions
Not every painful wrist is carpal tunnel syndrome.
And not every episode of hand numbness originates in the wrist.
An evaluation helps determine which structures and conditions may be relevant.
What Does Wrist or Hand Pain Feel Like?
Symptoms can vary depending on the condition.
You might experience:
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Aching around the wrist
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Pain when gripping or lifting
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Thumb pain
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Stiffness in the fingers
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Discomfort when bending or rotating the wrist
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Tingling or numbness in the hand
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Burning sensations
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Swelling around a joint
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Reduced grip strength
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Pain during typing or computer work
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Discomfort when opening jars or turning doorknobs
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Symptoms that become more noticeable at night
The location, timing, and pattern of your symptoms can provide useful information during an evaluation.
Why Does My Wrist Hurt When I Grip or Lift Something?
Gripping and lifting require coordinated movement through the fingers, hand, wrist, and forearm.
When certain tendons, joints, ligaments, or other structures become irritated or injured, these movements may reproduce discomfort.
You might notice pain while lifting a grocery bag, holding a pan, carrying a child, using weights, or opening a jar.
The specific movement that causes discomfort can provide clues, but it doesn't automatically establish the diagnosis.
Dr. Stojanovich considers your symptom pattern and examination findings before determining whether chiropractic care is appropriate.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed as it passes through a narrow space in the wrist called the carpal tunnel.
Symptoms may include:
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Tingling in the thumb, index, middle, or part of the ring finger
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Numbness in the hand
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Symptoms that become noticeable at night
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Discomfort during certain activities
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Hand weakness or difficulty with fine motor tasks in some cases
The little finger is typically not affected by carpal tunnel syndrome.
However, tingling or numbness in the hand doesn't automatically mean you have carpal tunnel syndrome.
Other nerve conditions, including problems involving the neck or elbow, can cause similar symptoms.
An evaluation is important to determine whether the median nerve at the wrist appears to be involved.
Why Do My Hands Go Numb at Night?
Waking up with tingling or numbness in your fingers can be concerning.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one possible explanation, particularly when symptoms involve the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
Other possible causes include nerve compression elsewhere in the arm, cervical nerve-related conditions, and additional medical concerns.
The distribution of symptoms, whether one or both hands are involved, and whether weakness or other neurological changes are present can help guide the evaluation.
Persistent numbness shouldn't automatically be attributed to sleeping in the wrong position.
Thumb Pain: Could It Be de Quervain Tenosynovitis?
De Quervain tenosynovitis is a condition involving tendons along the thumb side of the wrist.
It may cause pain near the base of the thumb or along the outer wrist, particularly during certain gripping, lifting, or twisting movements.
Some people notice symptoms when lifting a child, opening containers, gardening, or performing repetitive hand activities.
But pain near the thumb can also involve arthritis, ligament problems, or other conditions.
Dr. Stojanovich can evaluate relevant musculoskeletal findings and determine whether chiropractic extremity care or another approach may be appropriate.
Can Arthritis Cause Wrist and Hand Pain?
Yes.
Arthritis can affect joints in the wrist, fingers, and thumb.
Depending on the type of arthritis, symptoms may include aching, stiffness, swelling, tenderness, or changes in joint movement.
Osteoarthritis commonly affects certain finger joints and the base of the thumb.
Inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, can also affect the hands and wrists and may require medical management.
Not all hand stiffness is caused by arthritis.
And chiropractic care does not reverse joint degeneration or treat the underlying autoimmune process in inflammatory arthritis.
When appropriate, Dr. Stojanovich can evaluate musculoskeletal symptoms and recommend additional medical evaluation when the findings suggest it is needed.
Wrist and Hand Pain From Typing, Computer Work, and Phone Use
If your hands or wrists become uncomfortable after working at a computer, you may wonder whether typing is causing damage.
Computer use involves repeated hand movements and sustained positions, but not every symptom is caused by typing, and ordinary device use isn't inherently harmful.
Workstation setup, activity duration, movement variety, individual health factors, and underlying conditions may all be relevant.
Dr. Stojanovich can consider your daily activities and symptom patterns without automatically assuming that you have poor posture or repetitive strain.
Wrist Pain From Golf, Pickleball, Weight Training, and Exercise
Sports and exercise can place different demands on the wrists and hands.
Golf involves gripping and swinging.
Pickleball and tennis involve repeated racket movements.
Weight training requires the wrists and hands to manage loads during pushing, pulling, and lifting.
Symptoms may develop after an injury, an increase in activity, or changes in technique or equipment.
The goal isn't to assume these activities are harmful.
It's to determine whether a particular tissue or condition needs attention and what level of activity may be appropriate.
Can Neck Problems Cause Hand Pain or Numbness?
Sometimes.
Nerves travel from the cervical spine through the shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist, and hand.
Certain cervical nerve root conditions may produce pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness extending into the arm or hand.
Other nerve conditions may occur at the elbow or wrist.
For example, irritation of the ulnar nerve near the elbow may cause symptoms involving the ring and little fingers.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, by contrast, involves the median nerve at the wrist.
Because these symptoms can overlap, the location of discomfort alone isn't enough to establish the cause.
Dr. Stojanovich may evaluate the neck, shoulder, elbow, and other relevant areas when your symptoms suggest possible nerve involvement.
Wrist and Hand Pain After an Injury
A fall, direct impact, twisting injury, or sudden force can affect the bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons of the wrist or hand.
Some injuries may initially seem minor but involve significant structural damage.
For example, certain wrist fractures may occur after falling onto an outstretched hand.
If you experience substantial swelling, deformity, severe pain, difficulty using the hand, or persistent tenderness after trauma, medical evaluation and imaging may be appropriate.
A suspected fracture or significant ligament injury should not be treated as a routine chiropractic complaint.
What Happens During a Wrist and Hand Pain Chiropractic Evaluation?
Your appointment begins with a conversation about your symptoms and how they're affecting your everyday activities.
Dr. Nick Stojanovich may ask:
When did your wrist or hand pain begin?
Was there an injury?
Where exactly do you feel the discomfort?
Does it involve the wrist, thumb, fingers, or palm?
Does gripping or lifting make it worse?
Have you noticed swelling or stiffness?
Do you experience tingling or numbness?
Which fingers are affected?
Are your symptoms worse at night?
Have you noticed weakness or difficulty holding objects?
Does your neck, shoulder, or elbow also hurt?
Have you recently changed your work, exercise, or recreational activities?
Your examination may include assessment of wrist and hand movement, tenderness, joint function, grip-related symptoms, muscle function, and neurological findings when appropriate.
The elbow, shoulder, or cervical spine may also be evaluated if your symptoms suggest those areas may be relevant.
The goal is to understand the clinical picture and determine whether chiropractic care is suitable.
Do I Need an X-Ray, MRI, or Nerve Test?
Not everyone with wrist or hand pain needs diagnostic testing.
Whether imaging or other testing is appropriate depends on your history, symptoms, injury circumstances, neurological findings, and physical examination.
X-rays may be appropriate when a fracture or certain joint conditions are suspected.
MRI or other imaging may be considered for selected injuries or persistent unexplained symptoms.
When carpal tunnel syndrome or another nerve condition is suspected, a medical provider may recommend nerve conduction studies or electromyography in certain cases.
If Dr. Stojanovich believes additional testing is appropriate, he can discuss the next step or refer you for further evaluation.
Chiropractic Care for Wrist and Hand Pain
Chiropractic care isn't limited to the spine.
Dr. Nick Stojanovich also evaluates and provides chiropractic care for appropriate extremity conditions, including musculoskeletal complaints involving the wrists and hands.
Depending on your symptoms and examination findings, care may include appropriate extremity chiropractic techniques, manual approaches, and recommendations related to movement or activity.
Treatment is individualized based on your condition, health history, examination findings, and goals.
Not every painful wrist requires an adjustment.
And not every case of hand pain or numbness is appropriate for chiropractic treatment.
Some conditions require medical management, rehabilitation, immobilization, specialist evaluation, or other approaches.
Determining the appropriate next step is part of responsible care.
Supportive Therapies for Wrist and Hand Pain
Depending on your condition and examination findings, Dr. Stojanovich may consider supportive therapies as part of an individualized care plan.
Stojanovich Chiropractic offers modalities including:
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Therapeutic ultrasound
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Cold laser therapy
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Red light therapy
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Other appropriate supportive therapies
These modalities are not automatically indicated for carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, tendon conditions, or every wrist and hand complaint.
Their potential role depends on the diagnosis, available evidence, treatment parameters, and individual clinical considerations.
Should I Rest My Wrist or Keep Using My Hand?
That depends on the condition.
Some musculoskeletal complaints may benefit from temporary activity modification and gradual progression of movement.
Other conditions, such as suspected fractures or significant ligament injuries, may require immobilization or additional medical evaluation.
Persistent numbness, progressive weakness, or loss of hand function shouldn't be ignored.
The goal is to understand the condition before deciding which activities are appropriate.
When Wrist or Hand Pain Needs Prompt Medical Attention
Certain symptoms require prompt or emergency medical evaluation.
Seek appropriate medical attention for:
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Severe pain following an injury
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Visible deformity
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Significant or rapidly developing swelling
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Inability to move or use the hand after trauma
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A suspected fracture
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A cold, pale, blue, or discolored hand
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Sudden loss of sensation or significant weakness
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Progressive numbness or loss of hand function
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A hot, red, swollen joint accompanied by fever or illness
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A deep wound or signs of infection
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Other sudden, severe, or unusual symptoms
Sudden arm or hand weakness accompanied by facial drooping, difficulty speaking, or other stroke-like symptoms requires emergency medical attention.
These symptoms shouldn't be assumed to be routine carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, or a simple wrist strain.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wrist and Hand Pain
Why Does My Wrist Hurt When I Lift Something?
Pain during lifting may involve tendons, ligaments, joints, or other musculoskeletal structures. The specific movement and examination findings help determine what may be contributing.
Why Does My Wrist Hurt When I Bend It?
Wrist pain during bending can occur with tendon conditions, joint irritation, ligament injuries, or other problems. Evaluation is important when symptoms persist or follow an injury.
What Are the Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Common symptoms include tingling, numbness, or discomfort involving the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger. Symptoms may be more noticeable at night.
Why Do My Hands Go Numb While I Sleep?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one possible cause, but nerve-related problems elsewhere in the arm or neck and other medical conditions can produce similar symptoms.
Can a Chiropractor Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Chiropractors who provide extremity care may evaluate wrist and hand symptoms and provide appropriate musculoskeletal treatment in selected cases. Confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome may also require splinting, medical management, further testing, or specialist care.
Why Does My Thumb Hurt When I Grip Something?
Thumb pain may involve tendons, joints, ligaments, or arthritis. De Quervain tenosynovitis and thumb-base osteoarthritis are two possible causes.
Can Arthritis Cause Hand and Finger Pain?
Yes. Osteoarthritis and inflammatory forms of arthritis can affect the hands and fingers. Different types of arthritis require different approaches to evaluation and management.
Can Typing Cause Wrist Pain?
Typing and computer work may aggravate certain wrist or hand conditions, but not every symptom is caused by repetitive activity.
Can Neck Problems Cause Hand Numbness?
Yes. Certain cervical nerve root conditions can cause symptoms extending into the arm and hand. Nerve compression at the elbow or wrist can also produce similar complaints.
Why Are My Ring and Little Fingers Tingling?
Tingling in these fingers may involve the ulnar nerve, which can be affected at the elbow or wrist, among other possible causes.
Can a Chiropractor Help With Wrist Pain?
Chiropractic extremity care may be appropriate for selected musculoskeletal wrist conditions. The appropriate treatment depends on the diagnosis and examination findings.
Does Wrist Pain Always Require an Adjustment?
No. Some wrist conditions may be appropriate for chiropractic techniques, while others require different forms of treatment or referral.
Can Cold Laser or Ultrasound Be Used for Wrist Pain?
These modalities may be considered in selected cases, but effectiveness varies depending on the condition and treatment protocol.
Do I Need an X-Ray for Wrist Pain?
Not automatically. Imaging may be appropriate after certain injuries or when examination findings suggest a fracture or another condition requiring investigation.
Should I Exercise With Wrist Pain?
That depends on the condition and severity of symptoms. Some activities may be modified, while significant injuries or neurological symptoms require additional precautions.
When Should I Worry About Wrist or Hand Pain?
Severe pain after trauma, deformity, major swelling, a cold or discolored hand, significant weakness, progressive numbness, or signs of infection requires prompt medical evaluation.
Looking for Wrist & Hand Pain Treatment in Walnut Creek, California?
If wrist or hand pain is making it difficult to type, grip, lift, exercise, garden, work, or enjoy everyday activities, you don't have to figure out what's causing it on your own.
Whether your symptoms involve wrist discomfort, thumb pain, hand stiffness, possible carpal tunnel syndrome, or another musculoskeletal condition, understanding what's contributing to the problem is an important first step.
With more than 27 years in practice, Dr. Nick Stojanovich provides individualized chiropractic and extremity care for patients in Walnut Creek and surrounding Contra Costa County and East Bay communities.
Not every wrist or hand condition requires chiropractic treatment, and additional medical evaluation, diagnostic testing, or imaging may be appropriate depending on your symptoms.
Contact Stojanovich Chiropractic to schedule a wrist and hand pain evaluation and determine the appropriate next step for your care.
