What could be causing the pain on the pinky side of your wrist?

Approximately 10% of people in the U.S. experience pain in the wrists and hands at some point during their lifetimes. If you’re one of them, you may want to know what the cause could be. Take a look through some common causes and the reasons why physical therapy may be able to provide relief. The pain on the pinky side of your wrist doesn’t have to limit your daily activities any longer than it may already have. 

What are some potential causes of pain on the pinky side of your wrist?

There are various reasons why someone might experience this type of pain on the side of their wrist. Here are some of the most common causes:

• Arthritis — Arthritis is one condition that can cause pain on the pinky side of your wrist. It causes joint inflammation and commonly affects the hands and wrist. If you feel a stiff, achy pain in the pinky side of your wrist, you may be experiencing arthritis pain in your wrist joint. 
• Compressed nerve — A compressed nerve occurs when there is pressure on a nerve somewhere in the body. Bone growth, muscle, tendons or cartilage usually cause this pressure. A person who has a compressed nerve may feel tingling, numbness and pain in neighboring areas of the body where the nerve runs through. A compressed nerve in the arm, hand or back can sometimes cause pain on the pinky side of the wrist.
• Overuse injury — Overuse injuries can be another reason for pain on the pinky side of the wrist. Repetitive motions are often performed using the hands or wrist, like picking up objects, typing at a computer or grabbing hold of objects. When a tendon or muscle is overused, this can cause pain on the outside of the wrist.

How can physical therapy improve the pain on the pinky side of your wrist?

Physical therapy is capable of helping someone deal with their wrist pain. Here’s how physical therapy can help people improve their wrist condition:

• Reduce inflammation — Inflammation caused by an injury can lead to pain and swelling in the area. If you’re struggling with an injury in your wrist, physical therapy can use exercise and instruments to bring blood flow to the wrist and reduce inflammation.
• Improve muscle strength — Physical therapy can improve your muscle strength, which in turn can possibly reduce the pain on the pinky side of your wrist. If you’re dealing with muscle strain or tension, exercises designed to build muscle strength can increase the capacity of your wrist and reduce stress on it.
• Increase range of motion — Physical therapists can help you increase the range of motion in your wrist. Pain and inflammation can make it difficult to use your wrist without difficulty. A physical therapist can use exercise to promote blood flow that, in turn, reduces inflammation. They can help you restore mobility in your wrist and manage the pain you’re experiencing.
• Show patients how to prevent re-injury — Another way that physical therapy can help if you have pain on the pinky side of your wrist is by teaching you how to avoid re-injury. Pain in the wrist may be recurring if you don’t realize that some movements may be exacerbating your condition, like repetitive movements. Your physical therapist can educate you on what you should be mindful of during the recovery process to reduce the amount of time you experience pain.

Back in Motion can treat the pain you’re experiencing on the pinky side of your wrist

Our team of physical therapy professionals at Back in Motion Physical Therapy can address the source of your pain. They’ll use a variety of treatments and techniques to treat your wrist, including manual therapy, strength training and stability exercises. At Back in Motion, we’re committed to doing our best to improve your wrist pain and help you get back to feeling your best. Don’t let pain on the pinky side of your wrist keep you from doing the daily activities you love any longer. We can help you start feeling better and improve your quality of life.

If you have any questions or concerns about how else we can improve the condition of your wrist, we encourage you to reach out to us. Let us walk you through the treatment process and the additional specialty programs we offer. 

Start your treatment with us as soon as possible. Contact us today to schedule your initial appointment.