Wrist and hand pain can be as a result of many conditions, as well as a direct injury to the area itself. Some of the most common conditions are osteoarthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome; specific information regarding these conditions can be found below.
Another common condition is referred pain from the spine; if you are experiencing pain further up the arm or in the neck, it may be worth looking at the neck and upper back section on the specific conditions page of the website.
If the wrist or hand appears very different to the other one, for example it is discoloured, very swollen or misshapen following an injury, it is important to have it properly assessed; often this can be done at your GP surgery without the need for attending the hospital. However, milder, more general problems will often improve with simple exercises, modifying your activities for a short period and maybe trying a wrist or thumb support.
Information regarding how to self-manage your wrist and hand pain, as well as when it may be necessary to access specialist assessment are outlined in the advice and exercises leaflets to the right of this page.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median nerve is squeezed where it passes through the wrist. These simple exercises may help.
NHS England has produced an MSK Decision Support Tool which can hep you in making informed choices about carpal tunnel syndrome. The link is provided on the right of this page.
Dupuytren’s Contracture is a condition where the fingers bend in towards the palm, physiotherapy may not slow progression of the condition however your FCP can give you more information and potenital management options.
NHS England has produced an MSK Decision Support Tool which can hep you in making informed choices about Dupuytren's Contracture. The link is provided on the right of this page.
Charted society of Physiotherapy (CSP) have list of resources, supported by research. They contain information about different causes of hand pain and provide practical advice for managing it and simple exercises you can do in your home to aid your recovery.
The Versus Arthritis website contains detailed information on how to manage hand and wrist pain.
