Wrist Pain

Kirkland, WA Wrist Pain Specialist

Dr. Galle is trained to diagnose and treat a wide range of wrist conditions that cause pain and dysfunction. Some common types of wrist pain include:

1. Fractures: Fractures of the wrist bones, such as radius or scaphoid, are common and can result from falls or trauma. These fractures require urgent evaluation as they cause significant pain and may require surgical intervention.
2. Nerve Pain: many patients describe a painful or tingling feeling.
3. Wrist Sprains: Injuries to the ligaments in the wrist can cause pain, swelling, and limited mobility.
4. Arthritis: Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can affect the wrist joints, quickly leading to pain, swelling and loss of function.
5. Tendinitis: Inflammation of the tendons in the wrist, such as De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, can cause pain with movement of the wrist and thumb.
6. Ganglion Cysts: These fluid-filled sacs can develop on the wrist joint or surrounding tendons, causing pain and discomfort commonly with a push-up type position of the wrist.
7. TFCC (Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex) Injuries: The TFCC is a wrist structure that can be injured due to trauma or degeneration, leading to pain on side of the wrist opposite the thumb. 
8. Arthroscopy: a minimally invasive surgical procedure that uses a small camera to look inside of a joint.

Dr. Galle uses various diagnostic tools, such as physical examination, imaging studies (X-rays, MRI), and sometimes arthroscopy, to diagnose the cause of wrist pain. Treatment options may include rest, immobilization with splints or casts, physical therapy, medications, injections, or surgical intervention, depending on the underlying condition and its severity.