How To Manage Wrist Pain This Holiday Season – Top Tips

On any other day, your wrist pain is a bother. At your keyboard, during your favorite hobbies, or as you exercise, wrist pain nags the enjoyment out of daily life. But during the holiday season—when there’s chopping to do and decorations to hang—wrist pain is even more unwelcome.

At Palmetto Bone & Joint in Chapin, SC, we’ve seen and treated nearly all the causes of wrist pain. From carpal tunnel syndrome to osteoarthritis, injuries to overuse, we know how to get to the bottom of your wrist pain and offer solutions that last. 

In the meantime, here’s how you can manage your wrist pain during the busy holiday season. 

Managing Your Wrist Pain During the Holidays – A Guide

Carrots, onions, potatoes, turkey carving—during the holidays, your wrist and your cutting board see a lot of action. If your wrist pain is sudden or intense, call Palmetto Bone & Joint at (864) 833-3046 or contact us online.

How to Relieve Wrist Pain in Chapin, SC

What causes wrist pain? Unfortunately, there are as many wrist pain causes as there are chores for the holidays. The most common causes include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Osteoarthritis
• Wrist tendinitis 
• Wrist bursitis
• Wrist sprains
• Repetitive strain injury (overuse)
• More
  

Regardless of the cause, these top tips should keep you in peak form for your guests, your merrymaking, and your sincerest holiday wishes. 

Tip #1 – Rest & Observe

It’s a hard pill to swallow, especially when you have a lot to do, but when an activity causes your wrist pain to flare, it’s important to build in breaks. 

If chopping vegetables increases your discomfort, look to modern kitchen gadgets for relief. Food processors, mandolins, and even pre-chopped vegetables from the store can save you plenty of aggravation and time.

You may already know how to fight through the pain. You may even ignore it for the most part. But when you feel a pang in your wrist, make note of what you’re doing and devise a way to rest regularly. Don’t be afraid to substitute manual for automated or assisted labor. 

Tip #2 – Invest in Protective Wrist Tech

During the holidays, some tasks can’t be offloaded to a gadget. You’ll want to set your table just right, decorate your tree as you like it, and clean the house to your standards. Now is the perfect time to invest in a 21st-century wrist brace.

Modern fabrics are breathable and control moisture for enhanced comfort. Some wrist braces also compress to limit inflammation and pain. For less than $25, you can find the best wrist braces on the market today—each of which is comfortable, effective, or even FDA-approved.

Tip #3 – Keep a Well-Stocked Medicine Cabinet

You’ve probably experimented with OTC (over the counter) pain medications before. But not every common drug is fit for treating wrist pain quickly and effectively. Everyone reacts differently to OTC drugs. You may need to try several solutions throughout the holidays to find a medicine that works for you.

For wrist pain, we recommend the following OTC drugs. Check with your doctor before using:

• Naproxen (Aleve)
• Ibuprofen (Advil)
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Together with frequent rest and the right wrist brace, OTC medication can keep holiday wrist pain at bay while you host, dazzle, and enjoy yourself.

Tip #4 – Treat Acute Pain with R.I.C.E.

Even if you’re medicating, wearing a brace, and taking OTC medication to manage your wrist pain, there may be moments of acute pain where nothing seems to work. In these instances, it’s important to remember the RICE method for joint pain. 

R – Rest
I – Ice
C – Compression
E – Elevation

Taking even half an hour with the RICE method can put wrist pain to bed and get you back in the business of making this holiday season one for the record books.

What Doctor Do I See for Wrist Pain? When?

It’s easy to think that wrist pain is a fact of life—especially if you’ve been putting up with it for years and years. But if you’re looking for a gift to give yourself this holiday season, consider a future without wrist pain.

The orthopedic doctors at Palmetto Bone & Joint can pair your wrist pain with numerous surgical and non-surgical solutions. Contact us if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• You’re unable to move your wrist without severe pain
• You have visible or drastic swelling at the wrist/hand
• You have a fever of 100°F or higher
• You experience persistent pain despite treatment
• Your wrist, fingers, or hand have become misshapen

You can live without wrist pain—all it takes is making an appointment at Palmetto Bone & Joint in Chapin, Newberry, or Clinton, SC.

Enjoy The Holidays With Less Wrist Pain in Chapin, SC

Make this holiday season your stand against frequent and troublesome wrist pain. By taking the steps outlined above, you can prepare, enjoy, and remember this holiday season fondly. 

To find a solution for your chronic wrist pain, trust the expert orthopedic doctors at Palmetto Bone & Joint! Happy holidays!

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Keep Chopping, Decorating, & Moving This Holiday Season & Beyond

At Palmetto Bone & Joint, we keep South Carolina moving! Our orthopedic doctors and surgeons are experts in joint pain of every kind—knee pain, back pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, and—of course—wrist pain. Don’t let joint pain drag you down. Call us today at (864) 833-3046 or contact us online.