Wrist and hand pain is common and can come from nerves, tendons, joints or a recent injury. Tingling at night, a thumb that hurts to grip, a finger that clicks or a new lump each point to different problems with different solutions. Many settle with the right advice and activity changes, while some need a GP or hand specialist.
Common wrist & hand conditions
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS, median nerve compression)
Carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on the median nerve as it passes through a narrow tunnel at the front of the wrist.
Read more→De Quervain's tenosynovitis (De Quervain's syndrome, mummy thumb)
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is irritation and thickening of the tunnel that two thumb tendons pass through on the thumb side of the wrist.
Read more→Trigger finger (trigger thumb, stenosing tenosynovitis)
Trigger finger is a condition where a finger or thumb catches, clicks or locks in a bent position because the tendon cannot glide smoothly through its tunnel in the palm.
Read more→Hand and thumb-base osteoarthritis (thumb CMC arthritis, basal thumb arthritis)
Hand osteoarthritis is a common joint condition that causes pain, stiffness and sometimes knobbly swelling in the finger joints and at the base of the thumb.
Read more→Wrist sprain (sprained wrist, wrist ligament injury)
A wrist sprain is an injury to the ligaments that hold the wrist bones together, usually from falling onto an outstretched hand.
Read more→Ganglion cyst (ganglion, wrist ganglion)
A ganglion cyst is a smooth, harmless lump filled with jelly-like fluid that grows from a joint or tendon lining, most often on the back of the wrist.
Read more→
Getting the right help
Not sure which of these fits? Our team can assess what is going on, explain it clearly and point you to the right care, including referral back to your GP where that is the better route.
Other areas
- Head and jaw pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Elbow pain
- Upper back and chest wall pain
- Lower back pain
- Hip, groin and pelvic pain
- Knee pain
- Shin and calf pain
- Ankle and foot pain
- Pain in pregnancy and after birth
- Aches and pains in children and young people
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about your symptoms, speak to your GP or call NHS 111.
