Pain in wrist and thumb

Pain in the wrist and thumb is a common complaint among people. This is quite logical, as the hand and wrist are made up of many joints. In this blog, we discuss the most common causes, treatment and prevention of pain in the wrist and thumb.

The most common causes of wrist and thumb pain

There are several causes that can lead to wrist and thumb pain. We list the most common complaints:

• Osteoarthritis: damage to cartilage
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: shooting pain and tingling in the fingers
• Rheumatoid arthritis: chronic inflammation in the joint due to the body's immune system not working properly
• Quervain's syndrome: the extensor tendons are irritated
• Inflammation of the tendon (tendinitis): stiffness and pain in the joints

What can you do to reduce wrist and thumb pain?

There are several things you can do to reduce wrist and thumb pain. First of all, we recommend keeping your hand rested enough. However, it is important to keep your hand moving regularly. So a balance must be found here. In addition, it is useful to have a specialist look at your symptoms. Hand therapists can give good advice on how best to spare the wrist and thumb. Furthermore, we recommend wearing a brace. For example, there are thumb braces and wrist braces available. These braces give support to the joints in the wrist and thumb. This reduces pain and allows you to resume daily activities.

How can you prevent pain symptoms?

Especially if you have already experienced complaints in the wrist and thumb, you want to prevent this in the future. To prevent wrist and thumb pain, you can do the following:

• Exercises: regular stretching exercises help keep the muscles of the hands and wrists flexible
• Ergonomic workstation: ensure good posture and support for the hands and wrists
• Take breaks: if you are doing an activity that requires a lot of repetition of hand movements, take regular breaks to give the hand and wrist a rest