Understanding your pain
What hand and wrist pain feels like
Hand and wrist pain is aching, soreness, stiffness or weakness in the wrist, palm, thumb or fingers, and sometimes the nearby elbow. It may come on suddenly after an injury or build up over time. It can be constant, or it may show up only when you use your hand.
Our providers evaluate and treat a range of hand and wrist symptoms, including pain, stiffness, weakness, numbness and tingling.
What may be causing it
Common causes of hand and wrist pain
Common causes of hand and wrist pain include:
- Arthritis in the hand and wrist
- Work-related or sports-related strain and injury
- Sprains
- Tennis elbow, which causes pain on the outside of the elbow and can affect the forearm and wrist
- Stiffness in the thumb, fingers, wrist or elbow
Joint pain in other parts of the body has many of the same causes.
When to book a visit
When to see a pain specialist for hand or wrist pain
Hand and wrist pain can make simple tasks like typing, gripping or opening a jar hard, so it is worth having it checked.
Consider an appointment if your hand or wrist pain:
- lasts for weeks or keeps coming back;
- does not improve with rest and simple home care;
- limits your work, hobbies or sleep;
- comes with stiffness, swelling or a joint that is hard to move;
- comes with numbness, tingling or weakness in the hand.
When to get care right away
Get care right away if you have a deformed wrist or hand after an injury, a hand that is cold, pale or blue, or sudden severe swelling.
Your evaluation
How we evaluate hand and wrist pain
Your visit starts with a conversation and an examination.
We listen
Your provider asks where the pain is, when it started, what you do with your hands at work or play, and what you have tried.
We examine
Your provider examines your hand and wrist, checks your grip, movement and strength, and reviews your health history. Imaging such as an X-ray or MRI may be used when it will help show what is happening.
We explain
You will hear what may be causing the pain and which options might fit. If a procedure is recommended, the team explains the steps, the possible risks and what recovery looks like before you decide. If your symptoms point to a problem the practice does not treat, your provider will tell you.
Your care options
Treatment options for hand and wrist pain
Treatment depends on what is causing your pain. Your provider begins with the least invasive choices that fit your situation.
- Medication management A plan that can include anti-inflammatory medicines, used carefully.
- Cortisone steroid injections Used to reduce inflammation in or around a joint.
- Trigger point injections For tight, tender spots in muscle in the forearm or hand.
- Regenerative medicine Treatments some patients consider for ongoing joint pain. Research on these treatments is still developing, and they are usually not covered by insurance.
Not every option suits every person, and your plan is based on your evaluation.
Common questions
Questions about hand and wrist pain
Your provider can answer questions about your own care at your visit.
What can cause this pain to last for months?
Hand and wrist pain can last when the cause is ongoing. Arthritis, repeated strain from work or sports, an old sprain or injury, and tight muscles in the forearm can all keep pain going. An exam helps find out which one fits you.
What treatment options do you offer?
Options may include medication management, cortisone steroid injections, trigger point injections and regenerative medicine, based on the cause of your pain. Your provider reviews the choices with you after your evaluation, including what each treatment can and cannot do.
When is an injection considered?
An injection may be considered when hand or wrist pain and inflammation continue despite rest, home care or medicine. A cortisone steroid injection is used to reduce inflammation in or around a joint, and a trigger point injection targets a tight spot in a muscle. Not everyone needs one, and your provider decides with you after an exam.
Clinical references
This page shares general information. It is not medical advice and does not replace a visit with a qualified clinician.