Medically reviewed by: Mark A. Yaffe, MD, certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, subspecialty certified in hand surgery. Last reviewed: October 5, 2026
WRIST ARTHRITIS TREATMENT IN Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove & Elk Grove Village
Advanced Wrist Arthritis Treatment in The Chicago Area
Dr. Mark Yaffe(opens in a new tab) is an orthopedic specialist with a subspecialty focus on hand and wrist conditions, including advanced wrist arthritis. When wrist cartilage has worn away, even simple tasks like lifting a pan, turning a doorknob or pushing up from a chair can bring deep, aching pain. Dr. Yaffe’s goal is to relieve that pain and keep your wrist useful with the least invasive approach that will work for you.
Whether your wrist pain has built up gradually or followed an old injury, Dr. Yaffe offers a thorough evaluation and a plan matched to how advanced the arthritis is. As part of his broader hand and wrist care(opens in a new tab), he starts with non-surgical treatment, including injections for arthritis, and offers a minimally invasive soft-tissue procedure, selective wrist neurectomy, for appropriate patients when surgery is the right next step.
Dr. Yaffe takes the time to listen to your concerns and explains your options so you can decide what fits your goals. If you are ready to find relief with one of the hand & wrist doctors serving Schaumburg(opens in a new tab), Buffalo Grove(opens in a new tab), and Elk Grove Village(opens in a new tab), request your first appointment with Dr. Yaffe today.
Deep Wrist Pain, Stiffness & Weak Grip
Signs and Symptoms of Advanced Wrist Arthritis
Wrist arthritis develops when the cartilage between the small bones of the wrist wears away, so the bones rub against each other. In advanced cases, the damage involves more than one joint in the wrist. Common signs include:
- Deep, aching wrist pain: Pain that is felt with use and, as arthritis advances, sometimes at rest or at night.
- Pain commonly worsens with lifting, gripping, pushing up from a chair or bearing weight through the hand.
- Stiffness and limited motion: Difficulty bending the wrist back or forward, or turning the hand.
- Swelling and tenderness: A puffy, tender wrist, often worse after activity.
- Grinding, clicking or catching: A rough or crunching feeling when the wrist moves.
- Weak grip and reduced function: Trouble carrying, gripping or using the hand for work and hobbies.
- Advanced wrist arthritis often develops years after an old wrist injury, such as a fracture or ligament tear, which is one reason a past injury is worth mentioning at your visit.
SPLINTS, INJECTIONS & SELECTIVE WRIST NEURECTOMY
Advanced Wrist Arthritis Treatment Options
The right treatment depends on how advanced the arthritis is and how much it limits your daily life. Most patients begin with non-surgical care. Dr. Yaffe’s options include:
- Non-surgical care: Splinting or bracing, anti-inflammatory medication, activity changes, hand therapy, and injections for arthritis in the wrists. These measures aim to relieve pain and protect the joint, and they can be effective, particularly in earlier stages.
- Selective wrist neurectomy: A soft-tissue-only procedure that takes about 20 minutes and is aimed at relieving wrist arthritis pain. It avoids bone fusion procedures and bone removal. Not every patient is a candidate, and Dr. Yaffe will tell you whether it fits your wrist.
- Minimally-Invasive Surgery(opens in a new tab): Dr. Yaffe uses techniques developed specifically for the hand and wrist, with the goal of reducing recovery time and getting you back to work and the activities you enjoy as soon as possible.
- Joint Replacement Surgery(opens in a new tab): Dr. Yaffe’s upper-extremity joint replacement options include the hand and wrist. Whether replacement is appropriate for your wrist depends on your exam and imaging, and he will discuss all of your choices with you.
Surgery is considered when pain continues despite non-surgical treatment and limits what you need to do each day. There is no single right time, and Dr. Yaffe will walk through your options with you. This page is for education and does not replace an examination, so an in-person evaluation with X-rays is the way to confirm your diagnosis and the best plan for you.
About your surgeon. Dr. Mark A. Yaffe is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in orthopaedic surgery, with a subspecialty certification in hand surgery, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He earned his M.D. at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, completed his orthopaedic residency at Northwestern, and trained in hand and upper extremity surgery at The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center. He was named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor in 2026 and a Chicago Magazine Top Doctor in 2025. Read Dr. Yaffe's full bio.(opens in a new tab)
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes wrist arthritis?
Wrist arthritis most often follows a past injury, such as a wrist fracture that involved the joint surface, a scaphoid fracture or a torn wrist ligament, even many years later. It can also develop from general wear of the cartilage with age or from inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Yaffe evaluates each patient to understand what is behind their symptoms.
What does “advanced” wrist arthritis mean?
Advanced wrist arthritis means the cartilage loss has progressed beyond one small joint, so more of the wrist is affected and the bones may rub together. Pain, stiffness and weakness are usually more persistent at this stage. Dr. Yaffe uses your exam and X-rays to see how far the arthritis has progressed and what treatment fits.
How is wrist arthritis diagnosed?
Diagnosis starts with your history, including any past wrist injuries, and a hands-on exam to check motion, strength and tenderness. X-rays show the pattern of joint wear, and additional imaging may be used if more detail is needed. This helps Dr. Yaffe recommend the right level of treatment.
Can wrist arthritis be treated without surgery?
Often, yes. In many cases, non-surgical treatment is all that is required, including splinting or bracing, anti-inflammatory medication, activity changes, hand therapy and injections for arthritis. These options cannot reverse arthritis, but they can reduce pain and help you keep using your wrist comfortably.
Do injections help arthritis in the wrist?
Injections can reduce inflammation and ease pain for some patients, but the relief varies from person to person and is often temporary. They do not repair worn cartilage. Dr. Yaffe can explain whether an injection makes sense for you, and which type, based on your exam and X-rays.
What is selective wrist neurectomy?
Selective wrist neurectomy is a soft-tissue-only procedure that takes about 20 minutes and is designed to relieve wrist arthritis pain by targeting the nerves that carry pain from the joint. It avoids bone fusion procedures and bone removal. It is part of Dr. Yaffe’s minimally invasive surgery(opens in a new tab) options for appropriate patients. Results vary by patient, and Dr. Yaffe will discuss whether it fits your situation and what to expect.
What can I expect during my recovery from wrist surgery?
Recovery depends on the procedure performed. Dr. Yaffe will give you specific instructions for protecting the wrist, wound care, when to begin moving it, and when to return to your usual activities. Many patients work with Certified Hand Therapists to regain motion and strength. Recovery timelines vary from patient to patient.
How can I get started with the best hand and wrist specialist near me?
At Dr. Yaffe’s practice, we want it to be as easy as possible to get started on your road to relief. Just use our simple online appointment request(opens in a new tab) tool, and it helps to note any past wrist injuries and which activities hurt most.
Get Your Wrist Arthritis Evaluated by a Hand & Wrist Specialist
Expert Orthopedic Care from Mark A. Yaffe, M.D.