Wrist pain is a common ailment that can affect anyone, from office workers typing at a desk to athletes pushing their limits in physical activity. Whether caused by repetitive strain, injury, or conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, wrist pain can severely impact daily life, making even simple tasks challenging. While traditional treatments often rely on medication or surgery, acupuncture offers a natural and effective alternative for pain relief and healing. Rooted in centuries of Traditional Oriental Medicine, acupuncture works by stimulating the body’s energy flow to reduce inflammation, promote circulation, and trigger the body’s innate healing mechanisms. In this article, we’ll explore how acupuncture can be an invaluable solution for wrist pain, helping you regain mobility, reduce discomfort, and improve your overall well-being.
What is wrist pain?
Wrist pain is often caused by sprains or fractures from sudden injuries. But wrist pain also can result from long-term problems, such as repetitive stress, arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Because so many factors can lead to wrist pain, diagnosing the exact cause can be difficult. But an accurate diagnosis is essential for proper treatment and healing.
Symptoms
Wrist pain may vary, depending on the cause. For example, osteoarthritis pain often is described as being similar to a dull toothache. Carpal tunnel syndrome usually causes a pins and needles feeling. This tingling sensation often occurs in the thumb and index and middle fingers, especially at night. The precise location of wrist pain also provides clues to what’s behind the symptoms.
When to see a doctor
Not all wrist pain requires medical care. Minor sprains and strains usually respond to ice, rest and pain medicines you can buy without a prescription. But if pain and swelling last longer than a few days or become worse, see your healthcare professional. Delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to poor healing, reduced range of motion and long-term disability.
Causes
Damage to any of the parts of your wrist can cause pain and affect your ability to use your wrist and hand. The damage may result from:
Injuries
- Sudden impacts. Wrist injuries often occur when you fall forward onto your outstretched hand. This can cause sprains, strains and even fractures. A scaphoid fracture involves a bone on the thumb side of the wrist. This type of fracture may not show up on X-rays immediately after the injury.
- Repetitive stress. Any activity that involves wrist motion that you do again and again can inflame the tissues around joints or cause stress fractures. Some examples include hitting a tennis ball, bowing a cello or driving cross-country. The risk of injury is increased when you perform the movement for hours on end without a break. De Quervain tenosynovitis is a repetitive stress injury that causes pain at the base of the thumb.
Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis. This type of arthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones deteriorates over time. Osteoarthritis in the wrist is uncommon and usually occurs only in people who have injured that wrist in the past.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. A disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues, rheumatoid arthritis commonly involves the wrist. If one wrist is affected, the other one usually is too.
Other diseases and conditions
- Carpal tunnel syndrome. This syndrome develops when there’s increased pressure on the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is a passageway in the palm side of the wrist.
- Ganglion cysts. These soft tissue cysts occur most often on the part of the wrist opposite the palm. Ganglion cysts may be painful, and pain may either worsen or improve with activity.
- Kienbock disease. This disorder typically affects young adults and involves the progressive collapse of one of the small bones in the wrist. Kienbock disease occurs when there is not enough blood supply to this bone.
Risk factors
Wrist pain can happen to anyone — whether you’re very sedentary, very active or somewhere in between. But the risk may be increased by:
- Sports participation. Wrist injuries are common in many sports, both those that involve impact and those that involve repetitive stress on the wrist. These can include football, bowling, golf, gymnastics, snowboarding and tennis.
- Repetitive work. Almost any repetitive activity that involves your hands and wrists may cause wrist pain. Even knitting and cutting hair, if performed forcefully enough and often enough, can lead to significant wrist pain.
- Certain diseases or conditions. Pregnancy, diabetes, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis and gout may increase the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Prevention
It’s impossible to prevent the unforeseen events that often cause wrist injuries, but these basic tips may offer some protection:
- Build bone strength. Getting adequate amounts of calcium can help prevent fractures. For most adults, that means 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams a day.
- Prevent falls. Falling forward onto an outstretched hand is the main cause of most wrist injuries. To help prevent falls, wear sensible shoes. Remove home hazards. Light up your living space. And install grab bars in your bathroom and handrails on your stairways, if necessary.
- Use protective gear for athletic activities. Wear wrist guards for high-risk activities, such as football, snowboarding and in-line skating.
- Pay attention to ergonomics. If you spend long periods at a keyboard, take regular breaks. When you type, keep your wrists in a relaxed, neutral position. An ergonomic keyboard and a foam or gel wrist support may help.
Acupuncture for Wrist pain in Tokyo
While traditional treatments like pain medications or surgery can offer temporary relief, they often come with side effects or long recovery times. Acupuncture, an ancient healing technique from Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM), offers a natural, drug-free alternative for wrist pain relief.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture involves the insertion of extremely fine needles into specific points on the body, known as acupuncture points, to stimulate energy flow and promote the body’s natural healing processes. The practice has been refined over thousands of years in oriental countries and is based on the concept of body’s vital energy. According to TOM, when energy flows smoothly through the body, a person experiences good health. However, when this energy is blocked or unbalanced, it can lead to pain, illness, or injury.
In the case of wrist pain, acupuncture can help restore the flow of vital energy to the affected area, reduce inflammation, promote healing, and relieve pain.
How acupuncture helps with wrist pain
Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for various types of wrist pain, including tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, sprains, strains, and arthritis. Here’s how acupuncture works to address these issues:
- Reduces Inflammation: One of the primary benefits of acupuncture for wrist pain is its ability to reduce inflammation. Conditions like tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome often involve inflammation of the tendons, ligaments, and nerves in the wrist. By inserting acupuncture needles into specific points, the treatment helps to calm the inflammatory response, easing pain and stiffness.
- Improves Blood Circulation: Acupuncture promotes better blood flow to the wrist area, which can accelerate healing by delivering oxygen and nutrients to the injured tissues. Improved circulation also helps to remove metabolic waste products from the area, contributing to a reduction in swelling and inflammation.
- Triggers Natural Pain Relief: Acupuncture stimulates the body’s nervous system, triggering the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers. Endorphins work to block pain signals and promote feelings of well-being, providing lasting relief for wrist pain.
- Relaxes Muscles: Conditions like wrist tendonitis or sprains often lead to muscle tension around the wrist joint. Acupuncture can help relax the tight muscles in the affected area, reducing tension and increasing flexibility. As the muscles become more relaxed, the wrist’s range of motion improves, making it easier to move without discomfort.
- Balances Energy Flow: In Traditional Oriental Medicine, wrist pain is often viewed as a result of blocked or stagnant energy in the body. By inserting needles into specific acupuncture points, acupuncture helps restore the smooth flow of energy throughout the body. This restoration of balance helps to promote healing and prevent future pain.
Conditions treated with acupuncture for wrist pain
Acupuncture can be an effective treatment for a wide range of wrist-related conditions. Some of the most common conditions that acupuncture can help treat include:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: This condition occurs when the median nerve in the wrist is compressed, leading to symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and pain in the wrist and hand. Acupuncture can help relieve pressure on the nerve, reduce inflammation, and promote healing.
- Wrist Tendonitis: Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon, often caused by overuse or repetitive movements. Acupuncture can reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and relieve pain associated with tendonitis.
- Wrist Sprains and Strains: Acupuncture can speed up recovery by increasing blood flow to the injured area and promoting tissue repair. It also helps alleviate pain and reduce swelling.
- Arthritis: Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can affect the wrist, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. Acupuncture helps by reducing inflammation, relieving pain, and improving joint mobility.
The acupuncture treatment process
When you visit an acupuncture clinic for wrist pain, the practitioner will typically begin by assessing your condition. This may involve discussing your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle factors that could be contributing to your wrist pain. Once they have a thorough understanding of your condition, the acupuncturist will create a personalized treatment plan to address your specific needs.
During an acupuncture session, thin needles are inserted into specific acupuncture points on the body. For wrist pain, these points are usually located in the wrist, forearm, and sometimes other areas like the neck or back, depending on the root cause of the pain. The needles are left in place for 15 to 30 minutes while the body responds to the stimulation. Most patients report feeling little to no discomfort during the treatment, although they may experience a sense of relaxation or warmth as the needles work.
The number of acupuncture sessions required will vary depending on the severity of your wrist pain and the duration of your symptoms. For acute pain, patients may need only a few sessions, while chronic conditions may require more frequent treatments over the course of several weeks or months.
Some key acupuncture points for treating wrist pain
1. Hegu (LI4)
Location: This point is located on the dorsum (back) of the hand, between the thumb and index finger. To find it, pinch the skin between your thumb and index finger, and the point lies at the highest part of the muscle bulge.
Benefits: Hegu is one of the most commonly used acupuncture points to relieve pain, including wrist pain. It is known for its ability to regulate the flow of life energy throughout the body, relieve pain, and reduce inflammation. Hegu is also used to alleviate pain in the upper limbs and for treating conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.
2. Shousanli (LI10)
Location: LI10 is located on the forearm, approximately two finger widths below the elbow, on the outer side of the arm.
Benefits: This point is effective for treating pain in the arm, wrist, and hand, especially for conditions such as tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and general muscle soreness. Shousanli helps to promote blood circulation and release muscle tension in the forearm and wrist, offering both pain relief and improved mobility.
3. Yangchi (SJ4)
Location: Yangchi is located on the back of the wrist, in the depression between the tendons of the extensor digitorum communis and extensor carpi radialis muscles, just below the wrist joint.
Benefits: Yangchi is particularly effective for wrist pain and joint stiffness. It can be used to treat conditions like wrist sprains, tendonitis, and stiffness caused by repetitive movements. This point is known to promote the flow of Life energy and blood in the wrist area, alleviating pain and improving flexibility.
4. Wai Guan (SJ5)
Location: Located approximately two finger widths above the wrist joint, on the outer side of the forearm, in the depression between the radius bone and the tendon of the extensor muscle.
Benefits: Wai Guan is effective for conditions related to both the wrist and forearm. It is commonly used to relieve pain and inflammation associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist tendonitis, and general wrist discomfort. It also helps with symptoms of stiffness and limited range of motion. This point is known for its ability to regulate Life energy in the upper limbs and reduce muscle tension.
5. Zhongzhu (SJ3)
Location: Zhongzhu is located on the top of the hand, in the depression between the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones.
Benefits: This point is used to clear heat and promote circulation in the wrist and hand. It is particularly effective for treating conditions like wrist pain, tendonitis, and inflammation. Zhongzhu can also help improve the function of the wrist by increasing mobility and reducing tightness in the joint.
6. Xia Guan (ST7)
Location: Xia Guan is located in front of the ear, at the junction of the upper and lower parts of the jaw.
Benefits: Though not directly on the wrist, Xia Guan is used to treat conditions that affect the upper body, including wrist pain. It is beneficial for conditions that involve both pain and stiffness, and it is often used in combination with other wrist-specific points to relieve tension in the forearms, hands, and wrists.
7. Taichong (LV3)
Location: Taichong is located on the foot, in the space between the first and second metatarsal bones, about two finger widths above the foot arch.
Benefits: Although this point is located far from the wrist, it plays an important role in balancing the body’s energy and can be especially helpful for treating chronic wrist pain caused by emotional stress or imbalances. Taichong is known to help move Life energy and blood throughout the body, and when combined with local wrist points, it can be effective in reducing long-term pain.
8. Neiguan (PC6)
Location: Located on the inner side of the forearm, about two finger widths above the wrist, between the tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis muscles.
Benefits: Neiguan is widely used for treating pain in the upper limbs, including the wrist, and is particularly beneficial for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome. It is known for its ability to relieve tension, reduce stress, and improve blood circulation. This point is also beneficial for calming the mind and reducing anxiety, which can exacerbate chronic pain conditions.
9. Shixuan (Extra Point)
Location: Shixuan consists of ten points located at the tips of the fingers and toes. For wrist pain, the points in the hand are targeted, particularly the fingertips.
Benefits: These points are often used for acute pain, including wrist pain caused by injury or inflammation. Stimulating Shixuan helps to dispel heat and clear toxins from the body, promoting faster recovery and relief from pain.
10. Jianjing (GB21)
Location: Jianjing is located on the shoulder, at the highest point of the trapezius muscle, about halfway between the neck and the shoulder.
Benefits: Although not directly on the wrist, this point is frequently used to relieve pain radiating from the shoulder or neck, which can affect the wrist. It’s particularly helpful when wrist pain is due to referred pain from upper body tension or poor posture. This point relaxes tight muscles and promotes Life energy flow, which can help alleviate wrist discomfort.
Complementary Treatments for Wrist Pain
In addition to acupuncture, many acupuncturists recommend complementary treatments to enhance the healing process. Some of these may include:
- Oriental Herbal Medicine: Herbs like turmeric, ginger, and willow bark are often used in TOM to reduce inflammation and promote healing in the wrist. Your acupuncturist may recommend a personalized herbal formula to complement your acupuncture treatment.
- Heat Therapy (Moxibustion): Moxibustion is a traditional heat therapy used in TOM to improve circulation and relax muscles. In this treatment, the practitioner applies heat to acupuncture points using a burning herb, such as mugwort, to stimulate healing.
- Lifestyle and Ergonomic Adjustments: Acupuncturists often provide advice on improving posture, ergonomics, and daily habits to prevent further strain on the wrist and promote long-term health.
Benefits of acupuncture for wrist pain
Acupuncture offers numerous benefits for those suffering from wrist pain:
- Drug-Free Pain Relief: Acupuncture provides an effective, natural alternative to pain medications, which may have side effects or lead to dependency.
- Improved Joint Function: Acupuncture promotes flexibility, mobility, and strength in the wrist, helping you regain full function of the joint.
- Holistic Healing: Acupuncture addresses not only the physical pain but also any underlying imbalances in the body’s energy system, promoting overall wellness.
- Faster Recovery: Acupuncture speeds up healing by increasing blood flow to the affected area and stimulating the body’s natural healing abilities.
- Reduced Inflammation: Acupuncture helps reduce swelling and inflammation, which are common causes of wrist pain.
Conclusion: Is acupuncture right for your wrist pain?
If you’re suffering from wrist pain and are looking for a natural, effective treatment, acupuncture may be the solution you’ve been searching for. With its ability to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, trigger natural pain relief, and promote healing, acupuncture offers a holistic approach to treating wrist pain without the need for medications or invasive procedures.
Whether you’re dealing with carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, sprains, arthritis, or any other form of wrist pain, acupuncture can help restore balance and improve your quality of life. If you’re interested in learning more about how acupuncture can benefit you, contact a licensed acupuncturist today to schedule a consultation and start your journey to pain relief and healing.
Discover the healing power of acupuncture at FuJi Wellness in Tokyo—where our expert practitioners tailor treatments specifically for your wrist pain, offering you a natural, effective, and rejuvenating path to lasting relief. Let us help you restore your vitality and freedom of movement in a serene, spa-like setting. Book your session today and experience the soothing benefits of acupuncture firsthand.
Fuji Wellness:
- Address: 132-0031 Matsushima 1-chome, 21-14, Tokyo, Japan
- Contact: Click here
- Email: sunnyphamsensei@gmail.com
