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.