Hand & Wrist Pain

This hand condition occurs when a nerve – the median nerve – is compressed, which can result in pain, numbness, swelling, or tingling in the fingers or the wrist. Well-known causes of carpal tunnel syndrome are repetitive motions, such as frequent typing at work, disorders such as diabetes, and lifestyle factors such as smoking.

Painful inflammation of one or more tendons in the hand, fingers, thumb, or wrist may be caused by wear and tear, overuse, aging, or a previous injury that didn’t heal correctly. Additionally, tendons strained in an injury may eventually lead to tendonitis, which may become chronic if left untreated.

Injuries can sever tendons in the hand or fingers, which can lead to intense pain and the inability to use the hand or the affected fingers.

This common thumb injury occurs when you twist, turn, or bend your thumb beyond the limit of the ligaments that stabilize the joint. A sprained thumb can usually be treated at home with simple rest and ice to reduce swelling, if present. Severe thumb sprains may require medical attention.

Similar to a sprained thumb, a sprained wrist typically results in swelling, redness, bruising, dull or shooting pain, and the inability to bend the wrist. Sprained wrists can usually be treated at home with simple rest and ice to reduce swelling, if present. Severe wrist sprains may require medical attention.

Often referred to as a “broken hand,” “broken finger,” “broken thumb,” or a “broken wrist,” fractures in the hand, fingers, thumbs, or wrists result in severe pain and usually prevent sufferers from bending or straightening the affected area. A fracture should be treated immediately at the nearest emergency room.

The most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis results from normal wear and tear, overuse, and aging. Osteoarthritis breaks down the protective cartilage in the hand, fingers, or thumb, causing the bones to rub against each other, which leads to pain, stiffness, and inflexibility.

Commonly referred to as “R.A.,” this chronic autoimmune disorder is characterized by inflammation and damage to the cartilage in the hands, fingers, thumbs and wrists. This damage leads to swelling, stiffness, and pain.

Sometimes referred to as “Dupuytren’s disease,” “palmar fibromatosis,” or “Vikings disease,” this disorder causes the skin on the palm of the hand to thicken. Over time, the deformity may evolve into thick cords or lumps, and eventually the hand or wrist may contract and stiffen, preventing normal use. This disease can be caused by diabetes, or genetic factors that are sometimes found in people of Northern European origin.

Sometimes referred to as “radial styloid tenosynovitis,” this disorder causes tenderness and pain in the wrist, where the thumb and wrist meet. This pain is caused by the inflammation of the thumb tendon’s sheaths. Common causes include repetitive hand or wrist motions, such as excessive daily typing, or lifting a child into a car seat.

These non-cancerous growths are filled with fluid and can result in localized hand, finger, or wrist pain or irritation. The cause of these cysts is unknown.

Both cancerous and non-cancerous tumors of the hand or wrist can cause deformities of the fingers, hand, and wrist, such as lumps and blemishes. Tumors may or may not be painful, but seek medical care as soon as possible for a diagnosis.