Chiropractic Treatment for Elbow & Wrist Pain From Trusted Bournemouth Chiropractors | Charminster Chiropractic Clinic

Elbow and wrist pain can be tricky because they have many different causes such as overuse, injuries and trauma, arthritis, neck pain referral or nerve problems. We recommend to see one of our Bournemouth chiropractors at Charminster Chiropractic Clinic to find the root cause of the elbow or wrist pain, what is causing the pain, and determine the best chiropractic treatment or referral elsewhere.

Chiropractic treatment can help by reducing elbow and wrist pain, improving how your joints work, and making your life better. Knowing the risk factors, spotting the symptoms, and understanding when to get medical help are key to getting a quick and effective diagnosis and chiropractic treatment. The goal is to get you back to feeling your best and moving normally again.

What is Elbow & Wrist Pain?

Elbow and wrist pain are common issues and often requiring chiropractic treatment. It can affect your muscles and bones and can really change how you go about your day. Understanding how these joints work can help you figure out why they might hurt and what you can do about it to feel better and get back to normal.

Elbow Joint

The elbow pain can come on anywhere along the line where your upper arm bone (humerus) meets the two bones in your forearm (radius and ulna). This joint helps you bend and straighten your arm, and also lets your forearm twist. The pain can come on when you do these movements.

Wrist Joint

The wrist is a more complicated joint made up of eight small bones called carpals. These bones connect your hand to your forearm and allow for many different movements that are important for how your hand works. This includes bending your wrist up and down, moving it side to side, and making circles with it. The pain can come on anywhere in this area and be worse on the movements.

Common Causes For Elbow & Wrist Pain

Elbow Pain

Elbow pain can happen due to several reasons.

Overuse Injuries

Doing the same movements over and over, like in sports such as tennis, golf, or weightlifting, can lead to other specific conditions.

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

Tennis Elbow happens from using your forearm muscles too much, causing pain and tenderness on the outside of your elbow.

Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)

Golfer’s elbow involves pain and swelling on the inside of the elbow from a lot of gripping and wrist movements.

Trauma

Falling, getting hit, or having an accident can cause traumatic conditions.

Fractures

Breaking any of the bones in your elbow joint.

Dislocations

When the bones in your elbow get pushed out of place.

Sprains

Hurting the ligaments that hold your elbow joint together.

Arthritis

Different types of wear and tear (arthritis) can affect your elbow.

Osteoarthritis

The cartilage in your joint wears down over time.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

An autoimmune disease that causes swelling and damage in your joints.

Nerve Problems

Nerve problems are common in elbow and wrist pain due to the pathways all the way from the neck down to the fingers. If the nerves are squeezed at any point throughout this journery there will be nerve symptoms or pain indicating the nerve is irritated.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

This is when the ulnar nerve gets squeezed as it passes through a tunnel on the inside of your elbow.

Infection

Sometimes and very rarely, the pain in your elbow joint can be caused by an infection. They can then lead to conditions like septic arthritis or cellulitis.

Wrist Pain

Wrist pain can come from a few different things. Understanding these causes can help you figure out what might be making your elbow or wrist hurt and what you can do to feel better.

Repetitive Stress

Repetitive stress refers to doing the same hand and wrist movements over and over again, like in jobs where you type, work on an assembly line, or use tools, can lead to conditions that can cause a lot of pain.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

This is when the median nerve gets pinched as it goes through a tunnel in your wrist, causing pain, numbness, and tingling in your hand and fingers.

Trauma

Falling on your hand, getting hit, or having a sports injury can cause a lot of different symptoms and conditions.

Fractures

Breaking any of the bones in your wrist, especially the scaphoid bone at the end of your forearm radius bone.

Sprains

Sprains can occur when hurting the ligaments that hold your wrist joint together.

Arthritis

Different types of arthritis can affect your wrist as it can do to the elbow.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is when the cartilage in your joint wears away because of regular use over time.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that makes your joints swollen and can damage them.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis occurs when the tendons in your wrist get swollen from using them too much or doing the same movements over and over.

Cysts or Ganglion

Gnaglions are lumps and non-cancerous that can grow along your tendons or close to your joints. In other incidents, lumps are always advised to be checked out by your GP and be referred for ultrasound to assess what type of lump it is.

Nerve Problems

Besides carpal tunnel syndrome, other nerves from your neck down to your wrist can also get pinched and cause pain and problems (ulnar tunnel syndrome or handlebar palsy, compression of the Guyon’s canal in the inner part of your wrist).

Common Symptoms For Elbow & Wrist Pain

Elbow Pain

If your elbow hurts, here are some things you might feel, depending on what’s causing it. Knowing these symptoms can help you describe what’s going on to one of our chiropractors and figure out the best way to make your elbow or wrist feel better.

Pain

It can get worse when you grip things, lift objects, or twist your arm.

Stiffness

It might be hard to straighten or bend your elbow all the way.

Swelling

Your elbow might look puffy, which can mean there’s swelling or an injury.

Tenderness

It might hurt when you touch parts of your elbow that stick out, like the bumps on each side.

Numbness or Tingling

Sometimes, if nerves are involved (like in cubital tunnel syndrome), you might feel pins and needles in the area and down the forearm.

Wrist Pain

If your wrist hurts, here are some symptoms you might notice.

Pain

It can hurt more when you move your wrist or do certain activities.

Swelling

Your wrist might look swollen, which can show there’s swelling or an injury.

Tenderness

It might hurt when you touch the bones or ligaments that are affected.

Stiffness

It might be tough to move your wrist, especially bending it forward or backward.

Weakness

You might find it hard to grip things or do things you usually do easily.

Numbness or Tingling

Sometimes, especially in carpal tunnel syndrome, you might feel numbness or tingling in your thumb, index finger, and middle finger. These symptoms and pain are usually worse during the night.

When to Seek Help For Elbow & Wrist Pain

If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to get medical help from a doctor or an assessment from a chiropractor right away. Don’t wait if you have any of these symptoms – getting help fast can make a big difference in how well and how quickly you recover.

Sudden, severe pain

If your elbow or wrist hurts a lot after an injury and there is obvious swelling.

Can’t move your elbow or wrist‘

If you can’t bend or straighten your arm at all.

Something looks wrong

If your elbow or wrist looks different, such as a lot of swelling or looks different than normal after hurting it.

Signs of infection

If your elbow or wrist is red, feels warm, or if you have a fever along with the pain.

Numbness or weakness

If you can’t feel things right or if your hand or fingers feel weak, especially if it doesn’t go away.

Risk Factors For Elbow & Wrist Pain

Elbow Pain

If your elbow hurts, these factors might increase the risk of having elbow pain in the future. Knowing these risk factors can help you take steps to protect your elbows and wrists and avoid problems in the future.

Age

As you get older, you might be more at risk for the joints wearing down (osteoarthritis).

Job

If your work involves doing repetitive movements over and over, or gripping things really hard, it can strain your elbow.

Sports

Playing sports like tennis, golf, or lifting weights can put stress on your elbow from all the movements.

Past Injuries

If you hurt your elbow before and it didn’t heal well or you didn’t do enough rehabilitation, it might be more likely to hurt again.

Family History

Sometimes, joint problems like types of arthritis can run in families because of genetics.

Wrist Pain

If your wrist hurts, these factors may increase the risk of having wrist pain in the future.

Work

Jobs where you do a lot of hand and wrist movements, like typing, carpentry, or working on an assembly line, can strain your wrist.

Age

As you get older, you might be more likely to have wrist pain from arthritis, where your joint gets inflamed and hurts.

Gender

Girls are more likely than boys to get carpal tunnel syndrome.

Weight

Being overweight can put more pressure on your joints, making them wear down faster and causing arthritis.

Past Injuries

If you broke or sprained your wrist before, it might hurt again or cause long-term problems.

Examination and Diagnosis For Elbow & Wrist Pain

Elbow Pain

When your elbow or wrist hurt, one of our chiropractors will do these tests to help them figure out what’s causing your elbow or wrist pain so they can decide on the best way to make it feel better.

Medical History

We’ll ask about when your elbow started hurting, how long it’s been hurting, and what makes it hurt more.

Physical Exam

We’ll move your elbow around to see if it hurts when they touch certain spots, and we’ll check how well you can move it and if it’s swollen.

Imaging Tests

We might order X-rays to look for broken bones or signs of arthritis. If we need more details, they might order an MRI or ultrasound to check the soft tissues.

Nerve Tests

If we think a nerve in your elbow might be causing the pain, we might do tests to see how well your nerves are working.

Wrist Pain

Medical History

We’ll ask about any recent injuries, if you do a lot of things with your hands, or if you have any health problems that might affect your wrist.

Physical Exam

During the physical examination, we’ll feel around your wrist to see if it’s tender, check how well you can move it, and look for any swelling or changes in how it looks.

Imaging Tests

We might order X-rays to see if any bones are broken or if there are signs of arthritis. If we need more information, we might order an MRI or ultrasound to see the soft tissues better.

Electrodiagnostic Studies

If we think a nerve in your wrist might be causing the pain, we might refer you to have electrodiagnostic tests done in order to see how well your nerves are working and if there’s any damage.

Chiropractic Treatment For Elbow & Wrist Pain

If your elbow or wrist hurts, chiropractic treatment might help you feel better. Chiropractors often work together with other doctors, like physical therapists or orthopaedic specialists, to make sure you get the best care possible. We want to help you feel better and be able to do all the things you enjoy without pain.

Spinal & Extremity Adjustment

Chiropractors can adjust your joints and soft tissues to make sure everything lines up right. This can help you move better and feel less pain.

Soft Tissue Therapy

We might add techniques such as massage or trigger point therapy to relax your muscles, improve blood flow, and ease tension.

Exercise & Rehabilitation Plan

We can offer you specific exercises to stretch and strengthen your muscles. This helps your joints stay strong, flexible, and less likely to get hurt again.

Ergonomic Tips

We’ll show you how to sit or stand so your elbow and wrist don’t get strained during things like homework or using your phone.

Prognosis For Elbow & Wrist Pain

Elbow Pain

If your elbow hurts, here’s what might happen depending on why. Knowing what’s causing your elbow or wrist pain helps chiropractors and other healthcare professionals decide how to help you feel better and keep doing the things you love.

Acute Injuries

If you break your elbow or sprain it, it usually gets better in weeks to months if you rest it and do the exercises your chiropractor gives you.

Overuse Injuries

Overuse injuries such as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow can feel better if you rest and do physical therapy.

Chronic Conditions

If you have arthritis, chiropractors can help you manage the pain and keep your elbow on a maintenance care and give you treatment on a regular basis, advise on nutrition, over the counter medicines, a wide range of supplements supporting your recovery and lifestyle, and advise on the need for surgery if it’s bad.

Nerve Problems

If a nerve in your elbow is squished, doctors might use a splint or do surgery if it’s really bad.

Wrist Pain

If your wrist hurts, the prognosis depends on certain conditions.

Fractures

If you break your wrist, how long it takes to heal depends on how bad it is. You might need to wear a cast and do exercises to make it stronger.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If your hand feels tingly and it’s hard to use, a splint might help if it’s not too bad. If it’s worse, doctors might need to do surgery.

Arthritis

If your wrist is swollen and hurts because of arthritis, doctors can help with medicine and chiropractic can help with therapy and changes to how you live.

Tendon Problems

If the tendons in your wrist are hurt, resting, icing, and doing exercises your chiropractor gives you can help them get better.

By following these tips and working with our Bournemouth chiropractors at Charminster Chiropractic Clinic, you can receive chiropractic treatment for your elbow and wrist pain to improve your chances of pain relief, better elbow and wrist function and pain-free movements. Book your chiropractic appointment here today!