Wrist Pain
Wrist pain is any discomfort in the wrist. It’s often caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. Other common causes include wrist injury, arthritis, and gout. An injury to your wrist can also cause pain. Wrist injuries include sprains, broken bones, and tendonitis. Swelling, bruising, or disfigured joints near the wrist may be symptoms of a wrist injury. Some wrist injuries can happen right away due to the trauma of an impact. Others may develop slowly over time.
The following conditions are common causes of wrist pain.
The median nerve is one of the three major nerves in the forearm. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed, or pinched. It is located on the palm side of your hand, providing sensation to the following parts of the hand:
- Thumb
- Index finger
- Middle finger
- Part of the ring finger
It also provides the electrical impulse to the muscle leading to the thumb. Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur in one or both of your hands.
Swelling in the wrist causes the compression in carpal tunnel syndrome. The pain is due to excess pressure in your wrist and on the median nerve.
Aside from causing wrist pain, carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to numbness, weakness, and tingling on the side of your hand near the thumb.
Wrist swelling can occur and trigger carpal tunnel syndrome due to any of the following conditions:
- Performing repetitive tasks with your hands, such as typing, drawing, or sewing
- Being overweight, pregnant, or going through menopause
- Having certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, or an underactive thyroid
Wrist pain may be accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Swollen fingers
- Difficulty making a fist or gripping objects
- Numbness or tingling sensation in the hands
- Pain, numbness, or tingling that gets worse at night
- Sudden, sharp pain in the hand
- Swelling or redness around the wrist
- Warmth in a joint near the wrist
Call your doctor immediately if your wrist is warm and red and if you have a fever over 100°F (37.8°C).
These symptoms could signal infectious (septic) arthritis, which is a serious illness. You should also contact your doctor right away if you can’t move your wrist or if your hand looks abnormal. You may have broken a bone.
Your doctor should also evaluate wrist pain that becomes worse or interferes with your ability to do daily tasks.
