Joe A Shaw PA-C - 6/12/2008

Question
Dr. Shaw,

Thank you for your time. Since I was about 10 years old I have had a coming and going pain in my left wrist.  It comes out of no where and feels like a throbbing pain.  When I was a kid everyone played it off as growing pains.  I am 31 years old now and experience this wrist pain about once a week at least.  What are some causes of wrist pain?   My left ring finger also throbs in the same way in the morning.  Could this be connected to the wrist pain?

Answer
Tanya,
That is something I havent run across...21 yr history of undiagnosed wrist pain. Of course you should see a hand orthopedist for evaluation.
The first thing that comes to mind is Kienbocks disease which is uncommon and esp in a 10 yr old..if that is when it started. The cause is unknown, but it is where the blood supply is damaged to the carpal lunate bone (a bone in your wrist)It can follow a single major injury, but can be caused by multiple minor injuries. The person can have chronic wrist pain, tenderness, decreased wrist motion esp flexing wrist inwards. The pain may be aggravated by passive flexion of the long finger. A similar condition is called Preiser's disease.
Treatment is stretching exercises, moist heat, carpal tunnel splint, rest and NSAIDs.The splint should keep the wrist straight not flexed or cocked up (some carpal tunnel braces have a metal stay or splint that can be made straight) and you should avoid extreme wrist positions. Eventually surgery may be necessary but sometimes this fails to completely resolve the symptoms.
hope this helps
JShaw PA-C

http://www.carpal-tunnel-symptoms.com/FLA-orthopedics.html