When to Seek Treatment for Hand or Wrist Pain
If you or your child has hand or wrist pain or other symptoms that haven’t improved with rest or over-the-counter pain relievers, it may be time to see an orthopaedic specialist.
Duke Orthopaedic Urgent Care
Our Orthopaedic Urgent Care clinic can provide expert treatments for a wide range of hand and wrist conditions and can refer you to a Duke orthopaedic specialist for follow-up care. This clinic is open seven days a week. Get fast service with no unnecessary exposure to illness. No appointment is needed; walk-ins are welcome.
About Hand and Wrist Problems
Some problems with the appearance or function of the hand or wrist are congenital, meaning you are born with them. Others can result from a variety of injuries or conditions.
Accident or TraumaFractures can result from sports activities, a fall, or an accident. Serious accidents can cause amputation of a hand, finger, or thumb that surgeons may be able to reattach.
Compressed Nerves (Neuropathies)Repeated movements such as typing, working on an assembly line, or playing golf or racquet sports can cause compression of the nerves in the hands and wrists -- leading to numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness. Common nerve-compression problems include
carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome.
Tendon Inflammation or Injury
Tendons are fibrous tissues that connect muscles to bones. When the tendons in the hand and wrist area become inflamed or damaged, they can cause disorders such as trigger finger, trigger thumb, de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, wrist tendinitis, finger tendon ruptures/lacerations, and distal biceps and triceps ruptures. Tendon problems are sometimes caused by overuse.
Ligament or Cartilage Injury
Ligaments and cartilage are connective tissue that help stabilize and protect our joints. They can get damaged or torn as a result of traumatic injury or overuse. One common condition is a tear in the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) -- cartilage found on the pinkie side of the wrist.
ArthritisThis joint inflammation causes pain, swelling, and -- in severe cases -- joint deformity. The most common type, osteoarthritis, is caused by wear and tear and tends to occur with age. It can also develop from overuse or following an injury.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease -- where the body mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues -- and can occur in children as well as adults.
Ganglion CystThis fluid-filled sac usually forms on the front or back the back of the wrist joint.
