Targeted relief for chronic wrist pain.

Wrist embolization addresses chronic wrist tendinopathy and persistent inflammation that hasn't resolved with conservative care. It's most useful when imaging confirms abnormal blood vessel growth (neovascularization) in the affected tendons — a hallmark of chronic tendon pain.

Yes — chronic post-injury wrist pain is one of the most common reasons patients come to us. After an acute injury, the healing process can leave behind abnormal blood vessel growth in the tendons (neovascularization), driving persistent inflammation and pain long after the original injury should have healed. Embolization directly addresses that inflammatory tissue, often providing meaningful relief when months of conservative care have not.

Open wrist surgery comes with weeks of immobilization, possible loss of range of motion, and a real recovery curve. Embolization is a 30–60 minute outpatient procedure under local anesthetic with no incision, no cast, and most patients back to daily activities within days.

Embolization techniques have been used in interventional radiology for decades. Their application to chronic tendinopathy in joints like the wrist, shoulder, and knee is more recent — but built on the same well-established catheter principles, with growing peer-reviewed support.

No. The access site is numbed with local anesthetic and the catheter is passed through a small puncture, usually at the wrist or forearm. Most patients describe the procedure as straightforward and pain-free.

Many patients return to office work the next day. Heavy manual work or wrist-intensive activities (typing-heavy roles, surgeons, musicians) may benefit from 3–7 days of modified activity. Your specialist will give you specific guidance based on your job and the procedure.

Improvement is typically gradual over 4–8 weeks. If your symptoms do not improve as expected, additional options including repeat embolization, neuromodulation, or surgical referral remain available. We follow up to track progress.

Coverage varies by carrier and plan. Our team verifies benefits and pursues prior authorization where required. Wrist embolization for chronic tendinopathy is increasingly covered by major insurers as evidence grows.