Causes
How We Can Help You for Wrist Arthritis
Our doctors can help with your wrist arthritis. We have the specialized training and years of experience needed to precisely diagnose and effectively treat your condition.
We deliver world-class care to help relieve symptoms that may affect one or both wrists, including pain, swelling, redness, and warmth. Arthritis also may cause a clicking or snapping sound when you move your wrists and make it difficult for you to move them freely.
Working closely as a team, our doctors from multiple specialties emphasize noninvasive treatment whenever possible. Options may include physical therapy, splinting, medications, or injection therapy. When necessary, we also perform all forms of wrist surgery, from the common to the most complex.
In addition, Stanford Health Care patients with arthritis of the wrist may have opportunities to join research studies of new treatments not yet available anywhere else.
What We Offer You for Wrist Arthritis
- Specialized expertise from one of the world’s leading programs focused on diagnosing and treating arthritis of the wrist.
- Team-based treatment planning that brings together highly experienced specialists who create a comprehensive care plan personalized to your unique needs.
- Advanced treatment options, always emphasizing the least invasive approaches possible but also providing state-of-the-art surgery whenever needed.
- Full support that includes care planning and follow-up as well as strategies to prevent wrist arthritis from developing or getting worse.
- Clinical trial opportunities to join research studies of new innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis.
- Ease of access with highly trained specialists conveniently located close to where you work or live.
Treatment for Arthritis in Wrist
Arthritis is inflammation that develops in joints, causing pain and stiffness. Wrist arthritis can make simple activities, like gripping a steering wheel or opening a jar, painful or difficult.
At Stanford, our orthopaedic specialists are well known for the high-quality care they provide. Our team includes doctors who specialize in treating conditions that cause wrist pain, which means they regularly care for complex and rare cases of wrist arthritis.
If you have wrist arthritis, you may benefit from a range of nonsurgical therapies, such as physical therapy or splinting. In more advanced cases, your doctor may recommend surgery. Our goal is to guide you to the treatments that provide you relief while making it easier for you to use your wrist.
Get relief from all causes of wrist pain, including arthritis. Our orthopaedic care ranks among the best in the world.
Nonsurgical Treatment
Surgery
If you have mild wrist pain or stiffness, one or more nonsurgical therapies might be all you need for relief. Your treatment plan largely depends on the type of arthritis you have.
Lifestyle modifications
Changing your routine could help you feel better. Your doctor may recommend avoiding or modifying the activities that trigger symptoms. If your job requires moving your wrist a lot, taking regular breaks could help reduce inflammation and minimize the pain you feel.
Splinting
Your doctor may recommend that you wear a wrist splint for a certain number of hours each day or during certain activities. A splint takes the pressure off your wrist, easing inflammation.
Medications
Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription medications to target pain or other symptoms. We’ll help you find what works for you. If your symptoms are due to rheumatoid arthritis or another autoimmune condition, your doctor may recommend a medication to help slow the disease progression.
Injections
If other medications don’t relieve your pain, your doctor may recommend a cortisone injection. This medication goes right into the affected joint and reduces pain by combatting inflammation. A cortisone injection may provide pain relief for several weeks or months, so you may need more than one injection.
Physical therapy
Hand and wrist exercises help increase your range of motion, so you can do more with less pain. Our physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors (physiatrists) use the latest technologies and treatments in your care. Our team of highly trained physical and occupational therapists personalize a treatment plan to fit your challenges.
We may recommend surgery if other therapies don’t work or your symptoms significantly impact your daily life. Our goal is to improve your wrist function and reduce pain.
Stanford’s team of renowned orthopaedic surgeons is on the front lines of the latest surgical innovations. We use sophisticated instruments and always choose the least invasive approach appropriate for your circumstances. Your doctor explains all your options and then helps you decide which are right for you, depending on the specifics of your care.
Proximal row carpectomy
Doctors remove some of the carpal bones (between your forearm and palm). This procedure creates space among the remaining wrist bones to stop them from rubbing together, which may relieve pain. Proximal row carpectomy still lets you move your wrist.
Joint fusion (arthrodesis)
Doctors use plates or other tools to fuse (or meld) damaged bones together. Fusion stops you from moving a joint, but it may relieve pain due to the bones rubbing together. Your doctor may recommend fusing all (full) or some (partial) of the carpal bones together to treat your symptoms.
Total wrist arthroplasty
Doctors replace severely damaged bones and cartilage with artificial (plastic or metal) pieces. Total wrist replacement treats the most advanced cases of wrist arthritis. It may provide significant symptom relief while keeping some wrist function.
If you have mild wrist pain or stiffness, one or more nonsurgical therapies might be all you need for relief. Your treatment plan largely depends on the type of arthritis you have.
Lifestyle modifications
Changing your routine could help you feel better. Your doctor may recommend avoiding or modifying the activities that trigger symptoms. If your job requires moving your wrist a lot, taking regular breaks could help reduce inflammation and minimize the pain you feel.
Splinting
Your doctor may recommend that you wear a wrist splint for a certain number of hours each day or during certain activities. A splint takes the pressure off your wrist, easing inflammation.
Medications
Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription medications to target pain or other symptoms. We’ll help you find what works for you. If your symptoms are due to rheumatoid arthritis or another autoimmune condition, your doctor may recommend a medication to help slow the disease progression.
Injections
If other medications don’t relieve your pain, your doctor may recommend a cortisone injection. This medication goes right into the affected joint and reduces pain by combatting inflammation. A cortisone injection may provide pain relief for several weeks or months, so you may need more than one injection.
Physical therapy
Hand and wrist exercises help increase your range of motion, so you can do more with less pain. Our physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors (physiatrists) use the latest technologies and treatments in your care. Our team of highly trained physical and occupational therapists personalize a treatment plan to fit your challenges.
close Nonsurgical Treatment
We may recommend surgery if other therapies don’t work or your symptoms significantly impact your daily life. Our goal is to improve your wrist function and reduce pain.
Stanford’s team of renowned orthopaedic surgeons is on the front lines of the latest surgical innovations. We use sophisticated instruments and always choose the least invasive approach appropriate for your circumstances. Your doctor explains all your options and then helps you decide which are right for you, depending on the specifics of your care.
Proximal row carpectomy
Doctors remove some of the carpal bones (between your forearm and palm). This procedure creates space among the remaining wrist bones to stop them from rubbing together, which may relieve pain. Proximal row carpectomy still lets you move your wrist.
Joint fusion (arthrodesis)
Doctors use plates or other tools to fuse (or meld) damaged bones together. Fusion stops you from moving a joint, but it may relieve pain due to the bones rubbing together. Your doctor may recommend fusing all (full) or some (partial) of the carpal bones together to treat your symptoms.
Total wrist arthroplasty
Doctors replace severely damaged bones and cartilage with artificial (plastic or metal) pieces. Total wrist replacement treats the most advanced cases of wrist arthritis. It may provide significant symptom relief while keeping some wrist function.
close Surgery
INTERESTED IN AN ONLINE SECOND OPINION?
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Visit our online second opinion page to learn more.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may be eligible to participate in open clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies that are currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.
What Is Arthritis in Wrist?
Our Clinics
Get expert care for all types of arthritis affecting the hand and wrist. Stanford’s orthopaedic specialists confidently treat the most complex conditions, including wrist arthritis. We’ll help you find relief, with a treatment plan personalized to you.
450 Broadway Street
450 Broadway StreetRedwood City, CA 94063
Phone: 650-723-5643 Getting Here
To schedule an appointment, please call: 650-723-5643