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Wrist and hand pain

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Most cases of hand and wrist pain will not be a sign of a serious or long-term problem and will settle in a few days or weeks with some simple self-care you can do at home.

There are several conditions that can cause pain or other symptoms in the hands and wrists, including types of arthritis.

For further information on managing conditions of the wrist and hand you can access these resources:

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Hand Disorders | The British Society for Surgery of the Hand (bssh.ac.uk)
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Hand and wrist pain | Causes, exercises, treatments (versusarthritis.org)
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Hand pain - NHS

 

Carpal Tunnel

You may find this useful resource by NHS England helpful to understand the treatment choices available to treat your carpal tunnel syndrome condition. You can talk about this further with your clinician according to your individual situation and needs during your consultation.

Trigger

For guidance on appropriate exercises for the wrist and hand you can watch this video:

Some hand conditions may require you to wear a support for the wrist or hand to allow you to rest your joint and tendons.

Your physiotherapist will provide you with guidance on how to wear it and when to wear it.

You may find the video below helpful in understanding how and when to use your wrist and hand supports.

Most wrist and hand problems can normally by managed by your GP, physiotherapist or with self-management strategies.

If you have any of the following symptoms, you should seek medical help more urgently:

  • You have had a high impact injury with extreme pain and swelling and think you may have broken a bone. There was a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of the injury.
  • You have extreme pain with swelling without any injury.
  • Any part of your hand, wrist or fingers is a funny shape or colour.
  • You have lost the feeling of part or all of your hand.
  • You can’t move your hand, wrist or fingers properly.