Painful Wrist
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Wrist pain
Wrist discomfort
Sharp pain in the wrist
Pain in wrist joints
Wrist broken or sprained
Discomfort in wrist joint
About the Symptom
Wrist pain may affect either or both wrists. The wrist is the joint between the hand and forearm. The pain may be pressing, sharp or dull in nature.
Possible Causes
Generally, Painful wrist can be related to:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
A chronic inflammatory disease where the body's immune system attacks multiple joints, most commonly in the hands and feet. The cause and trigger is unknown.
- Tenosynovitis
Tendons are cartilage structures that connect muscle to bone. Tenosynovitis happens when the layer or tunnel around the tendon gets inflamed. Causes include overuse or repetitive strain on the tendon.
- Adult Still's Disease
A rare systemic inflammatory disease characterized by high fevers, a pink rash, sore throat and body aches that persist for weeks. The exact cause is unknown but is thought to be triggered by an infection. Some patients will have only one episode of it, while others may have several recurrent episodes.
- Hyperuricemia
- Hand Eczema
- Cervical Spondylosis
- Neuropathic Pain
- COVID-19
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Painful wrist may be related to these serious diseases:
- Distal Radius Fracture
This describes a break in the bone of the radius at the level of the wrist. There are various types or patterns of distal radius fractures.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Are your wrists hurting?
Reviewed By:
Kent C Doan, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr Doan Graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and completed residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Colorado. He completed additional fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the prestigious Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in complex and revision knee and shoulder surgery at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute. He also holds an assistant professorship at the University of Kansas City.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Jan 29, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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FAQs
Q.
What could cause pain in the outer wrist joint?
A.
Pain in the outer wrist joint can be caused by issues related to the ulnar side of the wrist, such as injuries from sports like tennis, or stiffness after a fracture in the wrist area.
References:
Yamabe E, Nakamura T, Pham P, & Yoshioka H. (2012). The athlete's wrist: ulnar-sided pain. Seminars in musculoskeletal radiology, 23047280.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23047280/
Logli AL, Loushin SR, Orlando AF, Tetzloff S, Kaufman KR, & Kakar S. (2022). Ulnar Wrist Pain in a Tennis Player: Case Review and .... JBJS reviews, 35394979.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35394979/
Egol KA, Karia R, Zingman A, Lee S, & Paksima N. (2014). Hand stiffness following distal radius fractures: who gets it .... Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Disease (2013), 25986354.
Q.
What could cause simultaneous pain in my wrist and shoulder joint?
A.
Pain in both your wrist and shoulder could be due to joint impingement or complex regional pain syndrome after a stroke.
References:
Kim YW, Kim Y, Kim JM, Hong JS, Lim HS, & Kim HS. (2016). Is poststroke complex regional pain syndrome the .... Medicine, 27495051.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27495051/
Billi A, Catalucci A, Barile A, & Masciocchi C. (1998). Joint impingement syndrome: clinical features. European journal of radiology, 9652500.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9652500/
Hiemeyer K, Joist R, & Menninger H. (1989). [Assessment of the functional origin of shoulder pain in chronic .... Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie, 2781874.
Q.
What might cause joint pain in my wrist, elbow, and shoulder simultaneously?
A.
Joint pain in the wrist, elbow, and shoulder at the same time may be caused by conditions like arthritis, joint impingement, or other joint issues.
References:
Tanaka E, Saito A, Kamitsuji S, Yamada T, Nakajima A, Taniguchi A, et al. (2005). Impact of shoulder, elbow, and knee joint involvement on .... Arthritis and rheumatism, 16342105.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16342105/
Billi A, Catalucci A, Barile A, & Masciocchi C. (1998). Joint impingement syndrome: clinical features. European journal of radiology, 9652500.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9652500/
Buckwalter JA, Saltzman C, & Brown T. (2004). The impact of osteoarthritis: implications for research. Clinical orthopaedics and related research, 15480076.
Q.
What might cause pain in both my finger joints and wrist?
A.
Pain in your finger joints and wrist might be caused by rheumatoid arthritis or other conditions affecting the hand, like degeneration.
References:
Grassi W, De Angelis R, Lamanna G, & Cervini C. (1998). The clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis. European journal of radiology, 9652497.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9652497/
Stäbler A, Heuck A, & Reiser M. (1997). Imaging of the hand: degeneration, impingement and .... European journal of radiology, 9283840.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9283840/
Gschwend N. (1998). The rheumatic hand. Der Orthopade, 28246816.
Q.
Why do I feel pain in my wrist joint when bending backwards?
A.
Pain in your wrist when bending it backwards might be related to how you use your wrist during work or daily activities.
References:
Grant KA, Habes DJ, & Tepper AL. (1995). Work activities and musculoskeletal complaints among .... Applied ergonomics, 15677041.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15677041/
Chung MK, Lee I, & Kee D. (2005). Quantitative postural load assessment for whole body .... Ergonomics, 16040522.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16040522/
Kulich HR, Bass SR, Griscavage JS, Vijayvargiya A, Slowik JS, & Koontz AM. (2020). An ergonomic comparison of three different patient .... Applied ergonomics, 32678780.
Q.
What are the possible causes of sharp pain in the wrist joint?
A.
Sharp wrist pain can be caused by different issues, such as injuries to the bones, ligaments, or tendons, or conditions like arthritis or nerve problems.
References:
Liao JC, Chong AK, & Tan DM. (2013). Causes and assessment of subacute and chronic wrist pain. Singapore medical journal, 24154586.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24154586/
DaSilva MF, Goodman AD, Gil JA, & Akelman E. (2017). Evaluation of Ulnar-sided Wrist Pain. The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 28737618.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28737618/
Yamabe E, Nakamura T, Pham P, & Yoshioka H. (2012). The athlete's wrist: ulnar-sided pain. Seminars in musculoskeletal radiology, 23047280.
Q.
What are the possible reasons for my wrist joint hurting?
A.
Wrist pain can be caused by various issues like ligament injuries, inflammation, or other conditions that do not involve fractures.
References:
Green DP. (1985). The sore wrist without a fracture. Instructional course lectures, 3833952.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3833952/
Oneson SR, Scales LM, Erickson SJ, & Timins ME. (1996). MR imaging of the painful wrist. Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc, 8888387.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8888387/
Manaster BJ, Mann RJ, & Rubenstein S. (1989). Wrist Pain: Correlation of Clinical and Plain Film Findings .... The Journal of hand surgery, 2661651.
Q.
Where exactly is the wrist joint located in the body?
A.
The wrist joint is where your hand connects to your arm, made up of several small bones and ligaments.
References:
Erwin J, & Varacallo MA. (2025). Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Wrist Joint. Unknown Journal, 30521200.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30521200/
Berger RA. (2001). The anatomy of the ligaments of the wrist and distal .... Clinical orthopaedics and related research, 11210966.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11210966/
Volz RG, Lieb M, & Benjamin J. (1980). Biomechanics of the wrist. Clinical orthopaedics and related research, 7408289.
Q.
Why do I feel pain in my wrist joint when bending it?
A.
Wrist pain when bending could be due to conditions like arthritis or a rare syndrome affecting tendons. Injuries, like fractures, may also cause wrist pain.
References:
Hamitouche K, Roux JL, Baeten Y, & Allieu Y. (2000). [Linburg-Comstock syndrome. Epidemiologic and anatomic .... Chirurgie de la main, 10904829.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10904829/
Dillon C, Petersen M, & Tanaka S. (2002). Self-reported hand and wrist arthritis and occupation. American journal of industrial medicine, 12271479.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12271479/
Ribeiro LM, & Botton MA. (2019). Isolated Trapezoid Fracture in a Boxer. The American journal of case reports, 31164626.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Prasad G, Bhalli MJ. Assessing wrist pain: a simple guide. Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2020 May 2;81(5):1-7. doi: 10.12968/hmed.2019.0051. Epub 2020 May 11. PMID: 32468936.
https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/abs/10.12968/hmed.2019.0051NHS
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-pain/wrist-pain/