Have you been experiencing forearm pain recently or for quite some time? There could be many reasons for pain, from repetitive impact and overuse to arthritis and more. We’ll break down the top 5 forearm injuries that we typically see and what these issues entail. If you have recently suffered from a forearm injury, please don’t hesitate to contact an Austin Orthopedic Doctor and get the healing process started today.
These are the top 5 forearm injuries to watch out for per the Austin Orthopedic Doctor:
Recent Trauma
One of the top reasons for forearm pain is due to a recent trauma, like a fall, that may have caused a fracture, dislocation, sprain, strain, or damage to your ligaments or tendons. Depending on the severity of the trauma, your treatment plan could be as easy as resting and icing a sprain to needing a cast or surgery to rectify a fracture. Tendinitis, which is inflammation of a tendon, is also commonly caused by recent trauma or overuse, which can result in pain in the forearm. If you’re unsure of what damage was done during your recent trauma, it’s important that you see an Austin Orthopedic Doctor sooner rather than later to ensure your forearm is taken care of before irreparable damage is done.
Overuse
Another common reason for a forearm injury is overuse caused by repetitive motions. This is commonly seen in sports such as tennis, golf, and weightlifting. This high degree of pressure on muscles in the forearm can cause them to strain from overuse. Another common overuse injury is from excessive use of computers, causing stress on your forearms as a result. With many jobs becoming more heavily computer-based, this type of overuse of the forearms is becoming increasingly common for orthopedic doctors to see.
Arthritis
Arthritis can occur in the wrist, hand, and elbow which in turn can cause dull pain in your forearm. The most common symptoms in the forearm from arthritis are pain, stiffness, swelling, and numbness. While there are many forms of arthritis that can affect your arm, the most common ones we see are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Typically, we only see osteoarthritis in the wrist if the patient has a previous injury.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome usually start gradually and can include: tingling, numbness, and weakness in your hand and arm. It’s important to see a doctor if you believe you may have carpal tunnel syndrome because early treatment will help ensure it doesn’t get worse over time.
Compressed Nerves
The most common cause of compressed nerves is carpal tunnel syndrome. When nerves become compressed, it can cause pain, numbness, or a tingling feeling in and around the affected region. There are a variety of different syndromes that may be causing compressed nerves which causes pain in your forearm, so it’s imperative that you talk to a specialist if you think you are experiencing nerve entrapment.
Forearm injuries can cause extreme distress, and a treatment plan can greatly help your pain, so don’t wait – call an Austin Orthopedic doctor to get treated. If you have any questions about your forearm injury or if you’ve been living in pain for years, contact our office today. We’d love nothing more than to get you back to pain-free living!