Hand and Wrist Pain
Hand and wrist pain is very common with numerous causes. Hand and wrist pain may occur from a traumatic injury as a result of a sudden impact, repetitive stress, or disease affecting any aspect of the complex structure of bones, ligaments, and connective tissue that make up the hand and wrist.
The Hand and Wrist Structures
The anatomy of the hand and wrist is made up of 27 small bones. There are more than 30 muscles in your hands, wrists and forearms that control the hand and wrist. These muscles and bones are attached together by tendons. Tendons and the median nerve pass through a bony space in the wrist, known as the carpal tunnel. Because of this complex structure, hand and wrist pain may be caused by one or a combination of inflammatory conditions, degenerative disease, heredity, or injury.
Conditions that Cause Hand and Wrist Pain
Fortunately, most episodes of hand and wrist pain are not a sign of a serious, long-term condition and will typically resolve in a few days or weeks.
However, there are several conditions that can cause hand and wrist pain:
Hand Conditions
Wrist Conditions
When to See a Doctor for Hand and Wrist Pain
One important point regarding hand and wrist pain is not to assume the injury is insignificant. Many significant injuries may initially present with just mild pain hand and wrist pain. Some red flags that your injury may require an evaluation by Dr. Donnelly include:
Just because you can move the fingers, hand and/or wrist does not mean there is no bone fracture or tendon injury. This unfortunate assumption can lead to delay in both diagnosis and treatment, which can ultimately impair function.