Wrist and Hand Conditions

Wrist and/or hand pain is very common. Although wrist and hand pain can be very painful, there is rarely a serious cause for the pain. For lots of people that experience wrist and hand pain, the pain will usually settle on its own within 6-12 weeks. This page will guide you to manage your recovery from wrist and hand pain and also advise when to seek help.

  • If your wrist and/or hand pain has been ongoing for longer than 3 months, you may find further useful information in the Persistent Pain page
  • If your pain or reduced function is due to osteoarthritis you may find useful information in the Osteoarthritis page
  • If your pain or reduced function is due to a rheumatological condition, you may find useful information in the rheumatological conditions section- please Rheumatological Conditions page

  • The wrist is made of multiple bones. It is comprised of the radius and ulna (forearm bones), as well as 8 small bones called carpal bones
  • Each hand consists of 27 bones in total which allow for us to manipulate objects with precision and provide us with a large range of motion
  • Many people get wrist and hand pain without any actual damage to the joints or other structures (e.g. muscles, tendons and ligaments)
  • Graded movement and exercise in most cases is not harmful to your wrist and hand and will actually help your pain by making these joints stronger and more mobile
  • There are lots of things you can do by yourself to help you manage your wrist/hand

A number of different factors can contribute to the start of wrist and hand pain. These include:

  • An injury or trauma to the wrist affecting muscles, bones, ligaments, and/or tendons
  • A sudden change in your activity levels (either increasing or decreasing) – this can include things such as repetitively lifting a new baby or picking up a new hobby such as playing piano or guitar
  • Nerve irritation that may arise from the neck, elbow or hand, ex: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Conditions such as fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, or Rheumatoid arthritis
  • A period of life changes such as: increased stress, low mood, poor sleep, increased fear or worry
  • General lifestyle factors such as smoking and/or not maintaining a healthy weight or diet

  • Pain into the wrist and/or fingers
  • Stiffness
  • Swelling
  • Tingling into the hand and/or fingers
  • Reduced grip strength

For general wrist and hand exercises, click the link below.