Hand and Wrist Pain

Relief for your hand pain

Are you experiencing discomfort or limited mobility because of new or worsening hand or wrist pain? Reid Health's dedicated team of hand experts is here for you, offering the specialized care and expertise you need to regain function and mobility in your hands and wrists.  

We understand the impact hand conditions can have on your daily life, and we’re committed to offering effective treatment options tailored to your individual needs.

Expert collaboration for your hand care needs

At Reid, our expert orthopedic and plastic surgeons work together closely to deliver advanced care for your hand condition.  

Whenever possible, our team uses nonsurgical solutions — including rehabilitation — to address your pain and help you find long-term relief. When nonsurgical care doesn’t help, you have access to a range of advanced and minimally invasive procedures.  

Common causes of hand and wrist pain

Your hands and wrists make up a very small, intricate part of your body. Your hand contains 27 bones, and your wrist is made up of eight. Your fingers and wrists move thanks to a complex network of tendons, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. Injuries to any of these bones, nerves, or soft tissues can lead to pain.  

Arthritis

Arthritis in the hands and wrists can develop from many common forms of the disease, including:

• Osteoarthritis: The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis causes a gradual breakdown of cartilage and tissues within the joint.
• Gout: This type of arthritis results from the buildup of uric acid, which forms crystals that cause inflammation, pain, and swelling in the joints.
• Psoriatic arthritis: This autoimmune disease develops when the immune system mistakenly targets the areas where tendons and ligaments attach to bones, causing inflammation and discomfort.
• Rheumatoid arthritis: Another autoimmune condition, this type occurs when the immune system attacks the tissues within the joints, resulting in pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common nerve disorders in the U.S. It develops when swelling in your wrist puts pressure on the median nerve, which provides feeling and movement to parts of your hand. The condition causes tingling and numbness in the palm, thumb, and index, middle, and ring fingers, as well as:

• Hand weakness
• Problems with finger coordination
• Thumb and wrist pain
• Weak grip

Generally, your orthopedic team at Reid Health will begin with nonsurgical treatments, such as wrist splints to reduce pressure on the median nerve. However, a procedure called carpal tunnel release can be very effective. In this surgery, your orthopedic surgeon cuts a ligament at the top of your carpal tunnel to relieve pressure and create more space for the median nerve.

De Quervain tenosynovitis

Two tendons run from the thumb to the side of the wrist in each of your hands. De Quervain tenosynovitis develops when both of these tendons swell.  

It’s caused by repetitive hand and thumb movements, such as gripping grocery bags or lifting a child in and out of a car seat. It can also be caused by playing sports that require repetitive movements, such as tennis, rowing, or golf.

Symptoms of De Quervain tenosynovitis include:

• Numbness or stiffness in the thumb or wrist
• Pain when bending the thumb
• Popping feeling when moving your thumb or wrist
• Wrist pain
• Wrist swelling

Your hand specialist might recommend starting with rest or splints. For chronic pain, we might recommend surgery that releases pressure on your tendons.

Dupuytren's contracture

Dupuytren's contracture causes your fingers to bend in toward the palm, making it difficult to fully straighten them out. This occurs when tissue in your palm thickens, forming cords that restrict finger movement.  

Early signs include finger curling and nodules on your palm that might gradually become larger and thicker.

Orthopedic specialists and plastic surgeons at Reid can treat Dupuytren's contracture with nonsurgical treatments. Options range from corticosteroid injections, which can address pain and other symptoms, to collagenase injections, which use enzymes to break up the collagen that forms the cords causing the contraction. A similar treatment, called needle aponeurotomy, uses a needle to break up the cord.  

You might need surgery if those treatments don’t work.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis occurs when tendons in your hand and wrist swell or become inflamed. It’s caused by overuse from repetitive movements, including playing sports such as tennis or golf, writing by hand, typing, or lifting heavy objects.

Signs and symptoms of tendonitis in your hand or wrist include:

• Hand pain
• Pain that worsens with movement
• Pain, even at night
• Stiffness
• Wrist pain

The best thing you can do to treat tendonitis is rest and avoid activities that strain your swollen tendon. Your hand specialist could also recommend physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the tendon or splints or braces to keep the tendons from moving.  

If needed, orthopedic surgeons can perform minimally invasive surgery to repair the damaged tendon.

Trigger finger

Trigger finger, or stenosing tenosynovitis, is a condition where one of your fingers or thumbs becomes stuck in a bent position and then straightens with a snap, like the release of a trigger. It occurs when the tendons in your finger become inflamed and no longer glide smoothly through the tendon sheath.  

In addition to feeling like your finger is catching, popping, or locking, you might also notice a bump on the underside of your finger or thumb.

You’re more likely to develop trigger finger as you age and if you have diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment options range from rest, splinting, and anti-inflammatory medicine to corticosteroid injections, which also reduce inflammation. If those treatments aren’t effective, you might need surgery to release the affected tendon.