Wrist Pain Evaluation: Why Diagnostic Imaging Is So Important

Wrist pain is a common ailment, especially among athletes, and plenty of proven treatments are available to treat your pain and get you back to normal.

The problem often lies, though, with determining what exactly is causing your pain. The wrist is  composed of many structures, including muscles, bones, tendons, nerves, and ligaments, any of which could be the source of your discomfort.

The pain could also be manifesting in any number of ways, including swelling, tenderness, tingling, numbness, decreased range of motion, weakness, popping sounds, and more.

Given all these potential issues, how can Dr. Adam Redlich and our team at A+ Athlete Sports Medicine diagnose and treat the problem?

One important tool at our disposal is imaging. It’s crucial because it allows us to visualize the underlying structures of your wrist that could be causing your pain that we can’t observe through a physical examination. 

Imaging lets us diagnose problems like fractures, soft tissue injuries, nerve compression, and more, so we can begin treating the issue.

Here’s more information about the role of diagnostic imaging in evaluating wrist pain.

What kinds of imaging can be done?

Various types of images provide different information as we seek to diagnose your pain:

X-rays

Usually the first step, X-rays can show fractures, but can’t show soft tissue.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a noninvasive technique to visualize soft tissues such as tendons, ligaments, and nerves.

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows details of:

• Bones
• Cartilage
• Nerves
• Ligaments
• Tendons

Because they can show soft tissues, MRIs are valuable for diagnosing more complex issues such as ligament tears or masses.

CT scan

A computed tomography (CT) scan offers detailed views of your bones that may show fractures not visible on X-ray.

Bone scan

Bone scans are less specific, but can detect early stress fractures and rule out certain issues as well.

Why is imaging important?

These images are important because they help provide an accurate diagnosis, which in turn leads to effective treatment. Imaging can also help determine the problem early, which means treatment can take place sooner, work more quickly, and prevent complications.

Imaging findings also lead to improved outcomes because they provide such accurate information to work with.

Dr. Redlich will determine if imaging is necessary based on his physical exam. It may not be an immediate need, but if the pain persists over time, the cause is unclear, or Dr. Redlich wants to confirm his diagnosis, it’s likely time for imaging.

If you’re fighting wrist pain, our experienced team at A+ Athlete Sports Medicine is here to get you back to normal as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment, call our offices in Robbinsville or Neptune, New Jersey, or request an appointment today with our easy online schedulers.