No one can deny the importance of keeping our wrists well-functioning. Our wrists are critical for our hands and forearms to keep up with everyday tasks. Wrist pain significantly impedes our movement and efficiency. It’s inconvenient, causes discomfort, and possibly leads to debilitating consequences if it’s not given immediate attention.
Have you been experiencing wrist pain, particularly after sleeping? Sleeping is when the body repairs itself, but falling asleep in the wrong position could cause long-term health problems. If you’re experiencing wrist pain after sleeping, you’re not alone. Wrist problems aren’t rare; in fact, 20% of primary care consultations are due to musculoskeletal problems, including wrist ailments.
Wrist Pain Overview
Wrist pain is the result of damage to tissues and nerves in most cases. For example, engaging in strenuous activities at the gym or work can lead to sudden pain. Wrist pain may be acute or chronic. If you are experiencing acute wrist pain, home remedies such as stretching, rest, and applying a cold compress can help relieve the pain.
However, if the pain persists, it’s best to visit an orthopedic clinic. Chronic pain may indicate wrist damage that the body can’t repair naturally. A close inspection of the wrist by an orthopedic doctor can help determine the underlying cause of chronic wrist pain.
How Can Sleeping Cause Wrist Pain?
The body is at rest for a long time while you sleep. The lack of motion inhibits circulation, so bodily fluids build up during sleep, stiffening connective tissues. The body becomes rigid and less flexible, and you may experience swelling, stiffness, and wrist pain.
Involuntary movements while sleeping or sleeping in an unhealthy position can also cause wrist pain. The wrist might end up flexed or stretched, inhibiting normal blood circulation to nerves. Nerves not receiving sufficient blood supply can lead to numbness and can eventually lead to wrist pain.
How Sleeping Could Cause Long-Term Wrist Pain
Pain might become a long-term issue if its cause is not detected and treated early. Read on to learn more about the different ailments related to sleep that can cause wrist pain.
1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
You control your hand and fingers through the tendons and nerves that pass through a tube in your forearm, called the carpal tunnel. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the result of compression on the median nerve. As a result, the wrist becomes inflamed and eventually develops pain.
Sleeping in the wrong position may contribute to the likelihood of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, as flexing in any direction for a prolonged period can place pressure on the median nerve.
2. Sleep Injuries
It sounds unlikely, but injuring yourself while sleeping is possible. If you sleep on your hand, you may flex your wrist in a way that overextends or pulls a muscle or tendon. If your sleep is deep enough, you may overstretch your tissues for a long time, causing injury.
Sleeping on your hand can place excessive stress on your nerves, resulting in stiffness or pain in the morning.
3. Kienbock’s Disease
Sleeping on your hand or arm is unlikely to cause severe nerve damage, but it’s not impossible. Kienbock’s disease is caused by a lack of blood supply to one of the small bones in the wrist. Repetitively sleeping in a position that decreases blood flow to your wrist may increase your chances of getting this disease.
Treating Wrist Pain in North Dakota
Sleeping is a time for rest and healing. However, sleeping in the wrong position — such as sleeping on your hands — could cause orthopedic problems. You could develop new problems or exacerbate old ones, resulting in acute or chronic wrist pain.
Proper care for your musculoskeletal health starts with looking for a trusted health partner. Here at The Bone & Joint Center, we want to help people live their best lives without worry. We aim to provide quality health services to relieve your wrist pain effectively.
If you would like to know more about our services and other treatments for wrist pain, you may call the orthopedic specialists at The Bone & Joint Center at (701) 946-7400 / (866) 900-8650. You may also visit our appointment request page to learn more and schedule an appointment with us.
