That familiar ache, the nighttime tingling, the grip that just doesn’t feel right anymore. Wrist pain has a way of creeping into everything, and for a lot of people, the first assumption is carpal tunnel syndrome. Sometimes that is exactly right. But often, the real cause is something else entirely, and that distinction makes all the difference in how well and how quickly you recover.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed as it passes through a narrow passageway in the wrist, typically causing numbness, tingling, or weakness in the thumb, index, and middle fingers. It’s one of the most common nerve conditions we treat, and also one of the most frequently self-diagnosed.
Why Wrist Pain Is Harder to Diagnose Than It Looks
Many conditions mimic carpal tunnel syndrome. Tendon inflammation, ligament injuries, joint problems, and even irritation in the neck or upper back can all produce pain, numbness, or tingling in the wrist and hand. Getting the right diagnosis matters because the wrong treatment will not get you better, and the right one will.
How We Find the Actual Cause
We start with a thorough history and follow it with a targeted physical exam, looking at muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments, and joints from your neck down. We have on-site X-ray and can order MRI, CT, or ultrasound when more detail is needed.
“Wrist pain almost never tells the whole story on its own. We need to understand not just where it hurts, but why, and what else in the body might be contributing. That is where lasting relief actually starts,” says Dr. Kim Privitera of Woodstock Chiropractic.
What Treatment Looks Like
Once we know what we are dealing with, we build a care plan around it. That may include massage and manual therapy, rehabilitative exercises, gentle joint adjustments, light therapy, kinesio-taping, or electric muscle stimulation. We also give you practical guidance on home care, bracing, and posture, including how you sleep.
Ready to Get Back to Full Strength?
Wrist pain that goes untreated, or gets treated for the wrong thing, tends to stick around far longer than it needs to. If your wrist has been bothering you, come in and let’s take a look. Contact Woodstock Chiropractic today to schedule at our Portland or Gresham location.