Bad Habits That Impact Your Wrist

Just like many other parts of your body, your wrists are vital for performing many of the tasks you do on a day-to-day basis. But when pain strikes, it leaves you feeling helpless and unable to get things done. Certain habits that you may be unaware of could be causing the pain — and problems in your wrist.

Our team at the Spine and Orthopedic Center of New Mexico can help you identify and kick your bad habits and lose the wrist pain for good. At our facility in Roswell, New Mexico, our orthopedic specialist Dr. Omar Osmani gets your pain under control and helps you prevent further wrist problems down the road.

Symptoms of wrist problems

Wrist pain may be caused by a number of different conditions, but the main culprit is carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition is caused by a narrowing of the carpal tunnel canal in your wrist, which, in turn, causes compression of your median nerve.

The median nerve is one of the three main nerves located in your forearm. When you have carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve is either compressed or pinched, which leads to symptoms, such as:

• Numbness or tingling
• Electric-like pain 
• Hand weakness
• Burning sensation
• Difficulty with grip

Many of these symptoms occur in your thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, as the median nerve innervates these digits. However, your pain may also travel up your forearm and affect your shoulder as well.

But carpal tunnel syndrome isn’t the only reason you could be having pain in your wrists. Arthritis and gout are two other conditions that can cause symptoms as well. An injury to your wrist also causes pain. Other symptoms of a problem in your wrist include:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Swollen fingers

If you have any of the above symptoms, it’s best to see Dr. Osmani as soon as possible, to rule out infection or other serious conditions.

Are bad habits causing your pain?

While injuries to your wrist are usually the result of a misfortune accident, there are certain habits that put you at a higher risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. For instance, while it’s not a bad habit, a job that requires you to use tools that cause constant vibration can lead to wrist problems.

Today’s technology, while convenient, is also a pathway to unhealthy habits in your whole body, including your wrists. Here are a few habits you might have that could eventually lead to wrist issues like carpal tunnel syndrome:

Poor posture

Keeping your wrists and hands in the proper position is important — but so is the rest of your posture. Hunching over while you type or do other activities puts strain on your shoulder and neck muscles, which, in turn, trickles down to your arms and wrists.

Forgetting to stretch

Repetitive motions, such as painting or knitting, without breaks can put excessive strain on the muscles and ligaments in your wrist. It may also lead to inflammation, which leads to pain and discomfort. Stretching helps you not only take a break from the repetition, but also keeps your wrists flexible and loose. 

Texting

While texting itself isn’t a cause of wrist problems, not doing it properly can lead to issues if you’re not careful. Gripping your phone tightly for hours on end or using a forceful touch when you text leads to inflammation and pain in your wrists.

Typing incorrectly

Keeping your hands and wrists in a neutral position when using a keyboard is the key to preventing conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome. Too much flexion in your wrists puts increased tension on the wrists, leading to pain. 

Working through pain

Deadlines are important, but your wrist health is even more important. If you have numbness or pain in your hands or wrists, it’s important that you take breaks when your pain flares up. If you continue to work despite discomfort, you could be doing irreversible damage.

When your wrists hurt, it’s important that you seek treatment from Dr. Osmani quickly to avoid more damage. He helps you get the proper treatment if you’re suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, including physical therapy, medications, and in some cases, surgery.

When your wrists are causing you pain, your whole life is affected. Don’t continue to suffer; call the Spine and Orthopedic Center of New Mexico team at 575-623-9101 or book an appointment online today.