Wrist Pain: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Wrist pain can make simple activities such as typing, gripping a steering wheel, opening a jar, lifting weights or carrying groceries difficult. Because the wrist contains multiple bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and nerves, pain in this area can have many different causes.

Common sources of wrist pain include sprains, fractures, repetitive strain, tendon problems, arthritis and nerve conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Elite Sports Medicine evaluates where the pain occurs, how it began, which movements aggravate it and whether weakness, swelling, numbness or tingling is present. Treatment is then based on the underlying condition rather than treating all wrist pain the same way.

What Causes Wrist Pain?

Wrist pain can develop suddenly after an injury or gradually from repetitive loading, joint changes or nerve irritation.

Common causes include:

• Wrist sprains
• Wrist fractures
• Tendon irritation or tendinopathy
• Repetitive strain
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
• Arthritis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Ganglion cysts
• Sports injuries
• Work-related injuries
• Falls onto an outstretched hand

The location and type of symptoms can provide important clues about which structures are involved.

Where Can Wrist Pain Be Felt?

Wrist pain may occur on the thumb side, little-finger side, palm side or back of the wrist.

Some conditions cause a very localized area of tenderness, while others produce pain extending into the hand or forearm.

The exact location matters because pain on the thumb side of the wrist may have different causes than pain on the little-finger side or pain accompanied by numbness in the fingers.

Can a Wrist Sprain Cause Wrist Pain?

Yes.

A wrist sprain occurs when ligaments supporting the wrist are stretched or injured. This commonly happens after falling onto an outstretched hand or during sports and other activities that force the wrist beyond its normal range.

Symptoms can include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Tenderness
• Pain with movement
• Reduced grip strength

A mild sprain and a fracture can sometimes produce similar symptoms, so significant pain after trauma should not automatically be assumed to be “just a sprain.”

How Do I Know if My Wrist Is Sprained or Broken?

It is not always possible to tell from symptoms alone.

Both wrist sprains and fractures can cause:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Difficulty moving the wrist
• Difficulty gripping

A deformity, severe tenderness, significant swelling or inability to use the wrist normally increases concern for a fracture.

Certain wrist fractures can also be subtle. A scaphoid fracture, for example, may cause pain near the base of the thumb and may not always be obvious immediately after an injury.

When a fracture is possible, medical evaluation and imaging may be necessary.

Can Repetitive Motion Cause Wrist Pain?

Yes.

Repeated gripping, lifting or wrist movement can irritate tendons and other tissues around the wrist.

Symptoms may develop in people who repeatedly use:

• Hand tools
• Sports equipment
• Musical instruments
• Computer equipment
• Manufacturing equipment
• Exercise weights
• Gardening tools

Repetition alone is not necessarily harmful. Problems are more likely when the amount or intensity of activity exceeds what the tissues are currently prepared to tolerate.

Can Tendonitis Cause Wrist Pain?

Yes. Several tendons cross the wrist and can become painful from repetitive or excessive loading.

Persistent tendon pain is often better described as tendinopathy rather than simply ongoing inflammation.

Elite’s broader tendonitis and tendinopathy treatment approach focuses on managing aggravating activity and progressively restoring the strength and capacity of the involved tissues.

What Is De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis?

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis affects tendons along the thumb side of the wrist.

People may experience pain near the base of the thumb that becomes worse when:

• Gripping
• Pinching
• Lifting
• Turning the wrist
• Moving the thumb
• Carrying certain objects

Because several conditions can cause thumb-side wrist pain, an examination can help distinguish De Quervain’s from a sprain, arthritis or other wrist problems.

Can Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Cause Wrist Pain?

Yes, but carpal tunnel syndrome is only one possible cause of wrist and hand symptoms.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist.

Typical symptoms include:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Burning sensations
• Hand weakness
• Symptoms involving the thumb, index, middle and part of the ring finger
• Nighttime symptoms
• Difficulty gripping or holding objects

Patients whose symptoms primarily involve numbness, tingling or weakness in this pattern may be experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome rather than a general mechanical wrist problem.

Is All Wrist Numbness Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

No.

Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve, so its sensory symptoms typically involve the thumb, index, middle and part of the ring finger rather than the little finger.

Numbness or tingling can also result from irritation of other nerves or from conditions involving the neck, arm, elbow or hand.

That’s why the pattern of numbness and tingling in the arms or hands matters when determining what may be causing the symptoms.

Can Arthritis Cause Wrist Pain?

Yes.

Different forms of arthritis can affect the wrist and cause pain, stiffness and swelling.

Osteoarthritis can develop after previous wrist trauma or joint degeneration, while rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune condition that commonly affects the wrists.

Arthritis treatment differs substantially from treatment for a sprain, tendon problem or nerve compression, making an accurate diagnosis important.

Can a Ganglion Cyst Cause Wrist Pain?

Yes, although some ganglion cysts cause no pain at all.

Ganglion cysts are fluid-filled lumps that commonly develop around the hand or wrist. Depending on their size and location, they may cause discomfort, interfere with movement or create pressure on nearby structures.

A lump around the wrist should be evaluated rather than assumed to be a muscle or joint problem.

Can Sports Cause Wrist Pain?

Wrist injuries occur in many sports, particularly those involving falls, impact, repetitive gripping or weight bearing through the hands.

Examples include:

• Gymnastics
• Tennis
• Golf
• Snowboarding
• Weightlifting
• Football
• Racquet sports
• Cycling

Treatment and return to sport depend on what structure was injured and the physical demands of the activity.

Can Weightlifting Cause Wrist Pain?

It can.

Heavy lifting, repetitive gripping and certain wrist positions can increase stress on the tendons, ligaments and joints of the wrist.

Pain does not always mean that weightlifting must be stopped completely. Depending on the injury, modifications may include reducing weight, changing grip position, changing exercises or temporarily avoiding movements that significantly aggravate symptoms.

The goal is usually a gradual return to normal loading as strength and tolerance improve.

Can a Car Accident Injure the Wrist?

Yes.

During a collision, drivers may tightly grip the steering wheel or brace against impact. Passengers may instinctively extend their hands to protect themselves.

These forces can contribute to:

• Wrist sprains
• Fractures
• Tendon injuries
• Joint pain
• Hand injuries
• Nerve symptoms

Wrist pain after a collision may occur alongside injuries to other parts of the body. Elite Sports Medicine’s personal injury treatment can address musculoskeletal injuries resulting from car accidents and other traumatic events.

Can a Chiropractor Help With Wrist Pain?

Chiropractic care may be appropriate for certain musculoskeletal causes of wrist pain.

The first step is determining what is causing the symptoms.

An evaluation may include:

• Location of pain
• Range of motion
• Tenderness
• Swelling
• Grip strength
• Wrist and forearm strength
• How the injury occurred
• Activities that reproduce symptoms
• Numbness or tingling
• Previous wrist injuries

Conservative care may be appropriate for certain sprains, repetitive-strain problems, mobility limitations and musculoskeletal wrist conditions.

A suspected fracture, significant ligament injury, persistent neurological deficit or other condition requiring medical treatment should be referred appropriately.

How Does Elite Sports Medicine Treat Wrist Pain?

Treatment depends on the diagnosis rather than the presence of wrist pain alone.

A conservative treatment plan may include:

Activity modification: Activities that significantly aggravate symptoms may temporarily be reduced or changed.

Manual therapy: Gentle joint or soft tissue techniques may be used when appropriate for pain or mobility limitations.

Soft tissue treatment: Soft tissue therapy may be useful when muscular or tendon-related symptoms are part of the condition.

Therapeutic exercise: Exercises may be used to restore wrist and forearm strength, mobility and load tolerance.

Bracing or splinting: Some wrist injuries and nerve conditions benefit from temporary external support.

Ergonomic or activity changes: Workstation setup, hand position, tool use and repetitive tasks may be modified when they aggravate symptoms.

Physical therapy: More structured physical therapy may be appropriate for rehabilitation following certain wrist injuries or persistent problems.

Do Wrist Adjustments Help Wrist Pain?

Manual treatment of the wrist may help certain patients with musculoskeletal pain or restricted movement.

However, we should not describe wrist pain as generally resulting from bones being “out of alignment” or say that adjustments reposition the wrist and remove the cause of pain.

The wrist contains numerous joints, tendons, ligaments and nerves, so treatment depends on which structure is involved.

Chiropractic adjustments may be one component of treatment when examination findings indicate that manual joint treatment is appropriate.

Should I Wear a Wrist Brace?

Sometimes.

A brace or splint may temporarily protect an injured structure or reduce aggravating movement.

The type of support depends on the problem. For example, nighttime wrist splinting is commonly used for mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome, while certain sprains may require temporary support during healing.

A brace should not substitute for evaluation when there is significant trauma, persistent weakness, neurological symptoms or concern for a fracture.

Should I Use Ice or Heat for Wrist Pain?

Either can be useful for comfort depending on the condition.

Ice is commonly used after a recent injury or when swelling is present. Heat may feel more comfortable for some people with stiffness or muscular discomfort.

Neither addresses every cause of wrist pain, so treatment should not depend entirely on heat or ice when symptoms persist.

Do I Need an X-Ray for Wrist Pain?

Not everyone with wrist pain needs imaging.

An X-ray may be appropriate when a fracture, arthritis or other bony problem is suspected.

Depending on the condition, clinicians may also use:

• Ultrasound for some tendon, ligament or cyst problems
• MRI for certain soft tissue or structural injuries
• CT for more detailed evaluation of bone
• Nerve conduction testing or EMG when nerve compression is suspected

Imaging should be chosen according to the suspected diagnosis rather than ordered routinely for every painful wrist.

When Should Wrist Pain Be Evaluated?

Seek evaluation when wrist pain:

• Persists or worsens
• Follows a significant fall or other injury
• Causes substantial swelling
• Limits normal wrist or hand movement
• Makes gripping difficult
• Is associated with numbness or tingling
• Causes progressive weakness
• Is accompanied by a visible deformity
• Interferes with work, exercise or daily activity

Severe pain, deformity, loss of sensation or inability to use the hand after trauma warrants prompt medical attention.

Why Choose Elite Sports Medicine for Wrist Pain Treatment?

Effective wrist pain treatment begins by identifying which structure is causing the problem.

Elite Sports Medicine evaluates wrist motion, strength, tenderness, neurological symptoms and the activities that reproduce pain before developing an individualized treatment plan.

Depending on the condition, treatment may include chiropractic care, manual therapy, soft tissue techniques, therapeutic exercise and physical therapy. When imaging, orthopedic evaluation or another type of medical care is needed, Elite’s multidisciplinary approach allows treatment to be coordinated appropriately.

Elite Sports Medicine provides wrist pain treatment in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles (LAX), Montebello, West LA, Orange, and South Central LA.

Schedule a Wrist Pain Evaluation

If wrist pain, stiffness, weakness or limited movement is making it difficult to work, exercise or use your hand normally, an evaluation can help determine what is causing your symptoms and what treatment is appropriate.

Request an appointment with Elite Sports Medicine in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles (LAX), Montebello, West LA, Orange, and South Central LA.