Wrist pain is one of the most common complaints among athletes and non-athletes. You can hurt your wrist by typing at a desk all day or slipping during a workout. In some cases, the pain will resolve with rest, ice, and a brace, but in other cases it may be serious enough to require surgery.
If you’ve been experiencing wrist pain, in the best-case scenario, your wrist may have suffered a sprain or strain, which is usually treatable without surgery. For certain injuries or conditions, like fractures, carpal tunnel syndrome, or torn ligaments, surgery may be the most effective way to restore full function to your wrist.
At OasisMD Lifestyle Healthcare in San Diego, Temecula, and Encinitas, California, David Chao, MD, and his team are trained to evaluate wrist pain thoroughly and determine whether conservative treatment or surgery is the smarter option. In this blog, we’ll break down when wrist pain might need surgery, what signs to look for, and how we can help.
There are a lot of reasons your wrist might hurt. Daily tasks like typing, texting, lifting, or even sleeping with your wrist bent can lead to overuse injuries. Athletes and people who have jobs that require repetitive motions are especially at risk. Conditions like tendonitis, which is inflammation of the tendons in your wrist, are often caused by small, repeated strains over time.
You might also have pain from a more sudden injury, like a fall that causes a fracture or sprain. In some cases, pain comes from nerve problems like carpal tunnel syndrome, where pressure builds up on the median nerve inside the wrist.
Arthritis is another culprit, especially in older adults, and can slowly wear away at the joint’s cartilage. Not all of these require surgery, but depending on the severity and cause, some do.
Surgery isn’t usually the first step. Most wrist problems get better with rest, ice, physical therapy, and sometimes medication or splints. In more severe or persistent cases, surgery might be the best option for long-term relief.
If you’ve suffered a serious fracture and the bone isn’t healing properly, surgery may be needed to align the bones or place pins and screws to keep everything stable. Torn ligaments or tendons that can’t heal on their own may also need to be surgically repaired.
Advanced carpal tunnel syndrome that doesn’t respond to therapy might require a release procedure to take pressure off the nerve.
Some people also need surgery for wrist arthritis if the joint has become too damaged to function normally. In those cases, surgery may help restore movement or reduce pain.
It’s easy to assume that wrist pain will go away on its own. Some signs that suggest you may be dealing with something more serious. If your wrist still hurts after several weeks of rest and basic care, it’s worth checking in with our specialist.
Other red flags include numbness or tingling in your fingers, which may suggest nerve involvement. If you’re having trouble gripping objects, lifting things, or doing everyday tasks, that could mean the structure of your wrist is compromised. Swelling, visible changes to the shape of the wrist, or a popping sound during movement are also signs you shouldn’t ignore.
Wrist pain isn’t something you should have to live with, especially if it’s stopping you from doing the things you love. Whether your symptoms are new or ongoing, getting the right care now can make a huge difference in your long-term function and comfort.
Schedule your consultation with us today at OasisMD Lifestyle Healthcare if you think your wrist pain might need surgery.
