Together, they allow movement of the wrist, hand, and fingers. Wrist tendonitisĪ person’s wrist contains many tendons. Treatment for ganglion cysts varies from waiting to see if it will go away on its own, to wearing a splint, to draining it. Many times, ganglion cysts are painless, but if they’re putting pressure on a joint or nerve, they can cause pain in the wrist area. gymnasts (because of the repeated stress to their wrists).It’s not known what causes ganglion cysts, but, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, they tend to appear most often in: These benign, noncancerous, and usually harmless lumps occur most often in the hand, usually on the back of the wrist. untreated joint injuries due to overuse (such as knee bending).According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these factors include:

While arthritis can happen to anyone, especially as we age, there are some risk factors that can increase your chances of developing it. This increases the friction as the bones of the joint rub against each other, resulting in swelling and pain. The protective tissue is damaged and repeated motion. It is caused by a breakdown of the cartilage that covers the joints.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that’s common among older adults.

This can cause painful swelling, which may eventually result in bone erosion. It develops when the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of your joints, including your wrists.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that can affect both wrists.

There are many forms of arthritis, but the most common types that can affect the wrist include: Arthritis has many causes, including normal wear and tear, aging, and overworking the hands. The condition can cause swelling and stiffness in the affected body part.

other conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney diseaseĪrthritis is an inflammation of the joints.

eating a diet high in purine-rich foods, like red meat and certain types of seafood.

overconsuming foods and drinks high in fructose.

Gout pain frequently occurs in the knees, ankles, wrists, and feet. This excess uric acid can be deposited in the joints, resulting in pain and swelling. However, in some cases, the body produces too much uric acid, and in other cases, the body does not excrete uric acid sufficiently. Most uric acid is dissolved in the blood and removed from the body through urination. Uric acid is a chemical produced when your body breaks down foods that contain organic compounds called purines. Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that is typically caused by a buildup of uric acid. It’s also possible that the nerves or the tissue around the wrist can become injured, even if the bone is unharmed. Swelling, bruising, or disfigured joints near the wrist may be symptoms of a fracture, tendonitis, tendon, or ligament tear. Falling and catching yourself with your hands is a common way to injure the area. having a family history of carpal tunnel, as anatomic differences can run in familiesĪn injury to your wrist can also cause pain.having certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, or an underactive thyroid.performing repetitive tasks with your hands, such as typing, drawing, or sewing.Risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome include: tingling on the side of your hand near the thumb.Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur in one or both of your hands.Īside from causing wrist pain, carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to: The median nerve also provides the electrical impulse to the muscle leading to the thumb. It’s located on the palm side of your hand, providing sensation to the following parts of the hand: Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed, or pinched. The median nerve is one of the three major nerves in the forearm. The following conditions are common causes of wrist pain.

Girl drawing middle finger