Elbow, Wrist, & Hand Pain Relief Fort Wayne, IN

Elbow, Wrist, and Hand Pain Relief Fort Wayne

Do Your Elbows, Wrists, or Hands Hurt?

Physical Therapy Can Help You Find Relief for Pain in Your Upper Extremities

There are numerous reasons why you may experience pain in these parts of your body. Whether your pain is stemming from an injury, ailment, or some other underlying condition, ProTailored Physical Therapy is here to help.

Your elbows, wrists, and hands are used thousands of times throughout the day. Just think about your typical morning routine: you get out of bed, brush your teeth, shower, get dressed, make breakfast, and begin your commute to work. In just that short amount of time, your elbows, wrists, and hands performed hundreds of different movements!

Contact our Fort Wayne, IN physical therapy office today at 260-739-0300 to schedule your consultation and find out how we can help you relieve your painful symptoms!

Physical therapy and upper extremity pain

elbow wrist hand pain relief Fort Wayne, IN

Whatever condition may be causing your upper extremity pain, ProTailored Physical Therapy can help. With our advanced treatment methods, we can alleviate your pain, restore your range of motion, and return you to your normal life.

One of our Fort Wayne, IN physical therapists, will conduct a comprehensive examination to determine the source of your pain and the severity of your condition. Afterward, our physical therapist will construct a personalized treatment plan based on your individual needs.

This may include any combination of specialized treatments as our physical therapist deems fit, such as targeted exercises and stretches, treating poor joint mechanics and tight tissues through hands-on manual therapy techniques with dry needling, cupping, massage and joint mobilization, ice and heat therapies, and/or IASTM to provide quick pain relief and get you on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.

What’s causing my elbow, wrist, or hand pain?

Several joints, bones, muscles, and tendons make up your upper extremities. Because of their complex nature, it can sometimes be difficult to figure out where the pain is stemming from.

A few of the most common conditions leading to elbow, wrist, or hand pain include:

Elbow Bursitis

At the end of everyone’s elbow is a fluid-filled sac called the “bursa” that serves as a cushion to the elbow bone, also known as the “ulna.” Bursitis can occur when the bursa is compressed due to an injury or repetitive motion, resulting in pain and swelling. Because of this, it is common to see this condition in athletes and students. Elbow pain can be called many things, depending on what activity caused the pain. For example, a tennis player may refer to their elbow pain as “tennis elbow,” a golfer may call their elbow pain “golfer’s elbow,” and a student may say they have “student’s elbow.”

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Much like carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome is another common form of nerve damage that can lead to elbow, wrist, and hand pain. It is caused by repetitive pressure on the ulnar nerve, which is located on the outside of your elbow and is commonly referred to as the “funny bone.” When pressure is put on the cubital tunnel and surrounding nerves, it can cause tingling, numbness, and pain.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

The American Physical Therapy Association states that carpal tunnel syndrome impacts approximately 5% of all Americans. The main job of the carpal tunnel is to protect the median nerve on the inside of your wrist, as well as the tendons you use to bend your fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the carpal tunnel becomes constricted or pinched, which can result in pain within the nerve that can extend throughout your entire arm. A constricted carpal tunnel is typically caused by an injury or by repetitive job-related use, such as assembly-line work, keyboard-heavy work, or driving heavy machinery.

Arthritis

Arthritis is very common and affects approximately 53 million Americans. In fact, according to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis is the most common form of disability in the United States. There are many different forms of arthritis, but it is typically caused by repetitive motions or an injury that impacts the cartilage within the joints of your elbow, wrist, or hand.

Sprains/Strains

Sprains and strains to the elbow, wrist, or hand can also result in pain.

Why do I have these symptoms?

Most upper extremity injuries result in short-term pain; however, if your pain lingers for three months or longer, it is considered chronic. Chronic pain may indicate a deeper issue that needs addressing.

Elbow, wrist, and hand pain may range from mild to severe, and it may come and go throughout the day. It is also common to feel a tingling or numb sensation, especially in the fingers. Depending on the severity of your condition or injury, it may also limit the way you perform your daily tasks at home and work.

If elbow, wrist, or hand pain is limiting your daily life, don’t hesitate to consult with one of our Fort Wayne, IN physical therapists as soon as possible to find the relief you seek.

Common Questions Regarding Elbow, Wrist, & Hand Pain:

Can I avoid surgery by going to physical or occupational therapy?

Physical and occupational therapy can be very effective forms of treatment for numerous elbow, wrist, and hand injuries. Many diagnoses (such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis, Tennis Elbow, Golfers Elbow, etc.) can effectively be treated conservatively with intervention provided by physical and occupational therapists.

What would conservative treatment of my elbow, wrist, or hand pain look like?

Here at ProTailored Physical Therapy, we follow our “4 Stages of Recovery” model. We first target your pain and inflammation through various manual techniques including, but not limited to, instrument-assisted soft-tissue mobilization (better known as “scraping”), dry needling, cupping, and manual releases of musculature. After we have diminished your pain, treatment sessions will focus more-so on regaining any strength and/or mobility that was lost as a result of your injury through manual stretching techniques and exercises. We do this to enable you to get back to the life you love living – we want to get you back to doing the hobbies and activities you love, but without pain!

What is the difference between Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow?

With Tennis Elbow, your pain will present on the outside of your elbow, and activities requiring you to pull your wrist back will flare your symptoms.

Golfer’s Elbow, your pain will present on the inside of your elbow, and activities requiring you to pull your wrist down will flare your symptoms.

Can Physical or Occupational Therapy help get rid of the painful numbness and tingling in my hand/elbow?

Our Doctor’s of Physical and Occupational Therapy are trained to help discern where along the nerve route impingement/damage may be occurring. With this information – we can provide effective treatment designed to relieve pressure on the nerve and ultimately decrease/eliminate your pain!

Find quick pain relief today

Don’t be limited by your elbow, wrist, or hand pain any longer. Contact our Fort Wayne, IN physical therapy office today to secure your appointment.

We’ll get you started on the right path toward quality treatment, so you can grab ahold of your active life again!

Visit our four clinic locations in North Fort Wayne, Northwest Fort Wayne, Southwest Fort Wayne, and Central Fort Wayne today!

Read our blog post on 3 Easy At-Home Exercises For Wrist Pain by clicking here!

Read our blog post on relieving that Tennis Elbow by clicking here!