wrist pain but no swelling

by lisa
(lake forest ca)

Hello, i have been experiencing pain in my right wrist, on the inside, below my thumb for about 2 weeks. i am not quite sure what i did to it. i do work out 5 days a week, and train with weights, this has been my routine for over 15 years so i thnk my bones are pretty strong?

but i think i may have strained or maybe sprained it? but i have not had any swelling, or bruising, or bumps, the vein on the side of my wrist swells a bit occasionally.

i have iced it, i have been wearing a wrist brace for a few days now , which helps. but it still hurts.

i,m trying to just wait it out for a few weeks and not go to the dr. what do you think it could be considering the absence of swelling, etc

thanks
lisa

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Joshua Answers:

Hi Lisa.

You don't have to have swelling to have a Process of Inflammation.

You can have pain, even debilitating pain, without injury, without swelling, etc. Then again, you can have injury and pain and no swelling WITH injury.

Having said that, it's unlikely that Wrist splints and braces are going

to fix anything.

So I don't know what it could be, let's find out.

1. Do you think that it's Dequervains Tendonitis?

2. Do you think that it's Wrist Tendonitis?

3. Did you do anything that would have strained or sprained it?

4. How heavy do you lift?

5. How's your nutritional/caloric intake?

6. History of pain or injury?

7. Overall health?

8. What's your Vitamin D level?

9. How exactly have you iced it?

10. Describe the pain. Details details details.

11. Anything else relevant or interesting?

----------------------
Please reply using the comment link below. Do not submit a new submission to answer/reply, it's too hard for me to find where it's supposed to go.

And, comments have a 3,000 character limit so you may have to comment twice.
-----------------------

Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com

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Comments for wrist pain but no swelling

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Jan 04, 2013
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Does Tendonitis cause swelling, wrist pain and swelling in fingers
by: Katelyn P

Okay so I've had pain in my wrist and forearm for about a week now, and it seems to be getting worse to where I can barely open a soda or turn a steering wheel. I can't bend it back or forward because it causes pain and across the top of my hand I have pain.

I thought I might have sprained it, but I don't recall doing anything to sprain it. I'm debating on going to a Dr because I would hate to go if it's nothing serious. Also I just recently noticed the ring that used to be kind of loose is now so tight around my finger it leaves marks and I can't where it.

So my question is does Tendonitis cause swelling in the fingers?

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Katelyn.

Generally speaking, tendonitis does not cause swelling.

Having said that, the Process of Inflammation is a factor in the Tendonitis Pain Causing Dynamic.

So it's not impossible that the nervous system thinks there's a problem and kicked in some inflammation, which traps fluid in the area and releases pain enhancing chemical.

But, could also be protein insufficiency, hormonal, or a whole host of other issues.

So.

1. A little swelling, or a lot?
2. What do you do with your hands/arms that might be related to wrist tendonitis?
3. Overall health?
4. Age?
5. How's it gone in the two weeks since you posted the question?

The more details, the better.

May 13, 2014
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Wrist pain, weakness, hurts to bend back
by: Steven

This morning on 03/02/2013. I suffered pain with my wrist when i bent it back. I tried using my hands to sit up and my wrist was in pain. I feel like i lost strength.

I feel like it needs to crack but it will not, i feel like its just uncomfortable. I tried going to the bathroom and pulling the nob i felt slight pain for a second. I grew up playing video games since i was 5 i think. I am 21 now. I type allot on keyboard for pc or playstation 3. I do do allot of repetitive things. I maybe exercise 2 or 4 times a month for the past 4 years. i have been eating process foods, frozen dinners my dad and i buy.

I dont smoke but i drink 3 times a month average and in the drinking i have 1 to 4 beers or 2 shots of liqueur. I drink wine sometimes maybe 3 times a month. have frozen vegetables with my dinners sometimes, but sometimes its all pasta like foods or chicken.

What do i do? I have allergies started last year i am allergic to dust mites, cat, grass pollen. I have mild scoliosis. I ride my bicycle in spring/summer

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Steven.

What to do? Make it better.

Reverse the tightness, reverse the inflammation, reverse the nutritional insufficiency.

Right off, learn How To Reduce Inflammation

New onset of allergies may be a sign that your immune system isn't up to snuff/is overtaxed. I wonder how much gluten you eat and how that inflammatory agent is affecting your immune system function.

I'm not too worried about the tendonitis symptoms, do some effective self care and see what happens with that.

It's been a good while since you posted this. Give us an update (has it gotten better, has it gotten worse?), and we'll go from there.

See related: Can't Lift A Coffee Mug Due To Wrist Tendonitis

Sep 10, 2014
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Wrist pain, no swelling, wrist popping
by: Gina

Hi Joshua,
For the past week I have been experiencing pain in my wrist on the lateral side from my 1st metacarpral to the trapezius and scaphoid area that seemed to come on suddenly and without injury that I can recall. There is no swelling, no redness, no tingling/numbness, just a continuous aching pain that turns into a very sharp stabbing pain when performing certain actions such as abduction and adduction of my hand and when I lift my sons. This morning i was feeling a very interesting 'pop' in my wrist when I made those movements. I'm not sure what it is and if I should wait it out or have it looked at.
Thanks!!

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Joshua Comments

Hi Gina.

-Probably- there's just some chronic spasm going on, such that muscles are tight and staying tight. So it's like you have a clenched fist (the muscle is clenched, anyway) and then you try to clench some more (by moving to do something) and then all of a sudden you feel pain, which is muscle spasm essentially.

THis also explains the wrist popping, as tight muscles cause other muscles to tighten, so structures crossing the joint are tightening up and compressing the joint. Compressed joints have to 'jump' through their range of motion when they're compressed...thus the pop.

Start massaging the area. Find the tight spots and see if you can feel a twitch and/or constant twitches in there.

See: Magnesium For Tendonitis

Mar 19, 2015
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wrist pain in the joining of your lower arm to the wrist/hand
by: Gaby

Hi. I fell down the stairs the other day and hit my wrist against the banister and there has been no swelling or bruising along my arm.

And the pain doesn't go away and I cannot move my wrist . Do you perhaps know what has happened?

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Gaby.

Did you hit the wrist against something, or did you land on it (get hit with a bat, or fall and catch yourself in something like a push up position)?

Describe what the impact looked like (did you impact against bone, or more the 'meat'_=)? Where exactly did the impact happen?

How bad is the pain?

How limited is the movement?

Apr 19, 2015
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Wrist Pain from setting weights down
by: Cess

Hi, my wrist hurts when i twist it, it happened last march 29, 2015 when i used to do push-up row at the gym.

i used 10lbs each for my left&right arm, i think i put all my weight on my right arm after in doing the push up row, because i didnt carefully put down the barbell gently on the floor while doing that and that maybe the reason why mg wrist hurt.

the pain on the first one week is tolerable (2/10) but now i really feel the pain when i twist it (7/10) what could be the remedy for this?

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Cess.

Read the thread, follow the links you find in the thread. Keep reading.

There's plenty to learn and do.

Then come back with questions, updates, etc.

Oct 10, 2015
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pain in my right wrist, no swelling, I presume it's tendonitis
by: Liz

Hi Joshua

I'm 55 years old and I've recently been getting pain in my right wrist which I presume is tendonitis. There's a tender point on the inside of my right wrist directly underneath my little finger. There's no swelling or numbness.

The pain usually lasts for a couple of days and then subsides with rest. I'm right handed and I think the pain is caused by my spending a lot of time drawing and painting.

I try to work for no longer than an hour without a break, but the pain is occurring more frequently and I'm worried that it'll become permanent.

I think it might go if I stopped drawing and painting but it's an important part of my life and I really don't want to do that. The artwork that I do is detailed and involves frequent small movements of my wrist with my fingers curled around a thin pencil or paintbrush.

I would be interested to know if you could recommend any treatments or exercises and if you think any adaptations to my work tools might help - I've seen somewhere recommended that a wider pencil or brush so that the fingers are less curled could help.

I'm otherwise fit and healthy and take no medication. (I'm reluctant to take anti-inflammatories due to the potential side effects of long term use.)

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Liz.

1. The pain isn't caused by drawing etc. It's present because your body is not functioning optimally/can't function at the level that you are active at. It's not working right, and it's not recovering.

2. Anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen are fine to get you through the day, but are not a good long term option, plus they come with potentially negative side effects.

3. I wouldn't worry that it will become 'permanent' in the sense of the word, but it is predictable that things won't get better. Meaning, taking time off won't help/won't allow symptoms to go away. And/or they will go away but will come right back with use.

Tendonitis is 100% reversible, so even if you've had pain for 20 years, I don't consider that 'permanent'. I consider it 'not reversed yet'.

4. If you stop drawing it predictably won't go away. The pain might, but will return with use. Tendonitis is a dynamic, made up of multiple factors, and some of those factors are strucutral changes (shortening and tightening) that aren't reversed with Rest.

There's a big difference between Rest and Relaxation

May 07, 2016
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wrist arm and neck pain
by: Anonymous

My mom picked up a bottle by the cap because there was no handle on it. She is 66 has diabetes and a heart problem along with being a typist for years.

Now 30 years later, she picks up a 5litre bottle and her whole hand from the thumb, wrist , arm and neck hurts!

I have checked for everything I can think of. There is very little swelling to the thumb, but there is no swelling to the wrist and no bumps, bruises, cuts or any indication of injury, The healthy wrist and the painful wrist look identical.

I gave mom an Excedrin but she says it does not help. I even put a magnetic wrist band on the wrist to hep some. But the pain does not make sense! What is going on?

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Joshua COmments:

Hi Anonymous.

It totally makes sense.

1. She has diabetes, so her entire system isn't working right and lacking nutrition.

2. She has heart issues. I don't know what they are, but in general, that points to the body not working correctly and lacking nutrition.

3. She has tendonitis symptoms. Tendonitis can show up most anywhere.

It's a dynamic made up of multiple factors. And one can have debilitating pain without anything visible like redness or obvious swelling.

See: What Is Tendonitis?

4. Read this thread. Follow the links and read those pages too. That will help you make sense of what's going on.

May 10, 2016
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wrist pain but no swelling..
by: Anonymous

So this morning I was getting dressed and I felt something pop in my left wrist (underneath my thumb).

I Don't know much about wrist problems but this pain is unbearable. Ice doesn't help nor does ibuprofen. Please help.

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Joshua Comments:

Did you injure yourself? Meaning, did something rip/tear?

You can have bad pain without a tear injury, but at this point, having said only what you've said, you need to get an MRI or otherwise determine what's going on (or isn't) in there.

Jun 09, 2016
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3 years of pain after push ups
by: Anonymous

Hi!
so about 3 years ago in the middle of my workout I was doing pushups and felt a pop in my wrist.

after that I had this lump on my wrist and it would protrude when I would bend my wrist forward.

eventually the lump went away but ever since then, no more push ups, no more dips.. I am unable to put all my weight on it.

If im in push up position (for example) I cant extend my arm completely because the pain in my wrist is too much... almost like my brain isn't receive the information to bend my wrist any more..

I know I should have went to the doctors -yes I am silly. however its getting to the point that even lying in bed normal- doing nothing with my wrist i'm feeling an ache all the way up my forearm..

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Anonymous.

Well, it sounds like you either:
A. tore a tendon
B. tore some connective tissue that held the tendon in place.

It makes sense that it would be a good move to verify what's going on in there.

Depending on what exactly is affected in there, treatment options vary.

Having said that, have you done any self care to make things better?

Jul 06, 2016
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wrist Pain
by: Anonymous

HI . i’ve been experiencing wrist pain for four months now . my wrist is not swelled , but when i twist it i felt a brisk pain at the wrist area like my tendons/ veins / arteries got tear ( below my pinky/baby finger ) however i can move my wrist upwards and downwards without feeling pain .

I’ve visited several chinese doctors , although it did recover a lil , but still it didn’t fully recover . and while i rotate my wrist , it produces lots of cracking sound ( might be because i didn’t use it for a long time?) .

When i visit the hospital , the doctor told me that it might be due to nervous thingy , so i’m really unsure of what's happening inside my wrist , what could be the problem?

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Anonymous.

Sounds like a tendonitis dynamic to me.

Meaning, too tight muscle and connective tissue, inflammation process, and lack of nutrition.

Tight muscles in the forearm pull on the tendons that connect to the hand. That compresses the wrist joint and causes the cracking sound.

Read this entire thread and follow the links (and read those pages).

Sep 07, 2016
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Wrist feels sprained, no swelling
by: Daytona

Hi
A few days ago I noticed a bad pain in my wrist when I bent it. I don't know how, but I thought I sprained it.

The pain has been getting worse as the days go by, and I've lost more movement in my hand (but there's been no swelling or bruising).

I can barely bend my wrist forward or back, and my fingers are weak. I type a lot for work, so that hasn't helped it.

I have wrapped it in a tensor bandage for a few days, but I don't think that's doing anything. I'm 19 and don't have a lot of time to go to the doctor. It's only been about three or four days since the pain started. Is it serious enough that I should get it checked out?

It's starting to hurt bad, and I don't remember doing anything that could've sprained/ hurt my wrist.

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Daytona.

If you're worried enough to think about getting it checked out by a doctor, that's never a bad idea.

They'll (probably) do an xray (though that will only show a bone fracture scenario).

They'll unlikely do an MRI (which will show tendon issues etc) because it's far more expensive.

The problem with seeing a doctor in your described scenario is there's not much they can do anything about it other than tell you to rest and suggest painkillers and anti-inflammatories.

The problem with not seeing a doctor, is that if it's something medically dangerous there's a likelihood they can catch it.

Maybe you're actually injured, -probably- you're just having an acute tendonitis symptom (from a change in nutritional status or something).

1. Have you taken any fluoroquinolone antibiotics recently or ever?

2. Do you have any other health issues going on?

Sep 25, 2016
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Wrist pain from 200lb box falling on it
by: Anonymous

Two days ago was loading an 18 wheeler and when we were all lifting a 200 lbs wooden box into the truck, it fell and landed on my right wrist.

At first I couldn't move anything at all but it wasn't and still isn't bruised, swollen, etc.

I can move it around but it hurts to the touch.

Most of the pain is on the right inside of my wrist straight down from thumb and on the back of my hand in a line coming down my ring finger. Not sure if sprained.

I don't want to go to the doctor for them to say nothing is wrong with it.

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Anonymous.

Did the box -fall- on your wrist? Like an impact and we should worry about crush injury?

Or were you holding it all the way down?

Oct 14, 2016
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Wrist Pain
by: Laisa

I woke up two days ago with this acute pain in my left wrist.

Since then i cant'bend my wrists down as i can feel the pain instantly however i can move it backwards.

The pain starts at the base of my thumb even when i bring my mu pointer and thumb together in a bending formation. There is no swelling.

What can i do and is it serious?

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Laisa.

I don't know if it's serious. Presuming it's not a blood clot or something weirdly medical, you're probably just having a 'weird' pain dynamic.

Slept on it wrong maybe such that something was problematically compressed for to long a time, or one or more muscles were stuck firing really hard all night, or both, and/or your nutrition has finally hit a low and your body can't work properly, etc.

I'd ice dip A LOT as described on the How To Redue Inflammation page (see the link in this thread) for a few days, and let me know what happens.

Oct 17, 2016
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Wrist pain after fall
by: Stephanie

Hello,
My wrist pain started after a fall.

While dancing I twisted my ankle and came down on my hands.

They hurt the next day pretty good but I knew they took a big hit, no swelling or bruising. A week later they still hurt.

It got considerably better, but now the pain radiates up my arm. It comes from the thumb side, although I do get some pain on the finger side as well. I'm just wondering why it would feel better from the initial hit then start getting worse.

I do have 2 small children that I am lifting on a regular basis.

Thank you.

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Stephanie.

The answer to your question is 'The Pain Causing Dynamic'. See the link to that topic in this thread.

Basically, your body adapted to the initial acute pain, but while that was happening, the body was also responding in different ways.

Which ultimately lead to tightness and pain somewhere down the road.

And, 'considerably' better doesn't mean better...it just means 'less pain'.

Also, see the 'how to reduce inflammation' link and do a bunch of ice dipping.

Let me know what happens.

Nov 04, 2016
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Sharp pain right below the thumb on the back of the left hand
by: Ayesha

On 12th oct, 2016 i was travelling and was in the train when suddenly a heavy bag fell on my left hand from the top seat.

My hand was paining for sometime and then the pain vanished.

Next day i noticed that whenever i touch a particular spot on my left hand i used to feel a sharp pain. The pain is on the back of my left hand right between the thumb and the wrist.

It's been 2 weeks since i injured my hand & the pain is still very much there on the particular spot. There is no swelling or redness.

I don't have any problem while moving my arms or carrying heavy stuff. It just pains when i touch that particular spot.

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Joshua Comments:

Hello Ayesha.

It sounds like you just have a Bone Bruise.

Those hurt, and can hurt for a long time, but aren't dangerous or anything.

Ultimately, there was an impact on your hand, and the skin, bone, connective tissue in between, maybe a vein or artery, was hit and is now bruised and causing pain.

Nov 20, 2016
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Wrist pain
by: Anonymous

I have a question, i think i sprained my wrist about 2 or 3 months ago and it finally started feeling better and i could fully use it but today i shoveled snow and now my wrist is hurting just like it did before so could i have rehurt it again?

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Anonymous.

I think the obvious answer is 'yes'.

But more accurately, you previously hurt it, you still have a Pain Causing Dynamic in play, and you irritated an already irritated dynamic with the shoveling.

Ultimately, your wrist/forearm ecology is now on a downward spiral...with progressive muscle/connective tissue tightness, chronic process of inflammation, and nutritional insufficiency.

You most likely don't have a rip/tear injury (so you didn't rehurt that) but you don't have to have an actual injury to have progressive pain and problem.

Nov 26, 2016
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Pain in wrist with no swelling
by: Veronica

Hi,

I am having wrist pain in right hand with no swelling. Its at a place where arm and hand is joined.

I feel pain if i move my hand downward or backward.

I can do my daily work but some little pain is always there. I haven't got any injury inside neither i have met with any accident. It suddenly started one day.

Please suggest.

Thanks.

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Joshua Comments:

Well, it's safe to say that the pain started one day, but that the pain causing dynamic has been progressing for some time.

That can be progressive lack of nutrition (so your body can't work correctly), progressive tightening of muscle and connective tissue, progressive and/or chronic process of inflammation.

What have you done to so far to help get rid of the pain and problem?

Dec 05, 2016
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right wrist hurts with no swelling
by: kaylee

I have been having pain in my right wrist for about maybe 2 weeks, I don't remember doing anything to damage it.

It hurts so much when I put pressure on it, sometimes when I move my wrist, or even make a fist. What should I do?

Should I go get it checked out, or should i just let it go?

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Kaylee.

Well, I don't know.

Probably you should go get it checked out if you're having sudden and extreme pain for no reason.

Chances are small that it's something 'bad', but you just never know. It's not normal for you to go from 'everything is fine' to 'I have significant pain in my wrist for no reason'.

And I don't know your scenario, just the details you've provided.

Maybe you have osteoporosis and fractured something. I'd need more info to have more of an opinion.

Dec 06, 2016
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Hurt wrist and pain still 5 days later
by: Briana olszewski

Hey I hurt my wrist in gym playing volleyball and that was 5 days ago.

I hit the ball the wrong way when I was going to spike it and I was in extreme pain and have been since it happened and the pain just keeps getting worse.

I won't go to the doctors and I'm only 17. It hurts to do anything.

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Joshua Comments:

Well, whether you go to the doctor or not, it would be very helpful to know if you did or did not tear an tendon or ligament, or break a bone, or both.

You may want to start ice dipping as described on the 'how to reduce inflammation' page (see link in this thread).

Dec 17, 2016
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Wrist pain, no swelling, no sprain,no injury
by: David

I have been having this pain for over 5years, my wrist aches, I cant lift anything that is slightly heavy, not even to open a deep freezer.

I have gone to see a doctor and he said nothing was wrong with my wrist.

The pain is on my right wrist, I cant bend it backwards without feeling the pain.

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Joshua Comments:

Hi David.

It's probably not a wrist problem, though it hurts at the wrist.

You're stuck in a pain/dysfunction dynamic.

1. Lack of nutrition so structures/symptoms can't function properly.

2. Forearm muscles are stuck too tight. Forearm connective tissue structures are stuck too tight, which helps 'stuck' the muscles. Thus when you bend your wrist, your wrist joint gets compressed by already-too-tight structures.

3. Chronic inflammation process. Releases pain enhancing chemical that makes everything hurt more, tells the brain there's a problem, etc.

Dec 28, 2016
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Wrist pain
by: Anonymous

For the last couple months my left wrist hurts I cannot put any pressure on my wrist at all when I poke at to find the pain it's right it starts at where your hand meet your arm on the inside.

At first I thought I did something in my sleep but it started in October and then went away and then started back up beginning of November and it stayed with pain.

Jan 03, 2017
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hi
by: Anonymous

I fell and hurt my wrist really badly my family thinks its sprained but my friend whose a nurse said it could be broken or fractured.

My dad said that it cant be worse then a sprain because there was no swelling the nurse disagrees whats your insight.

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Anonymous.

I have no idea.

An xray will rule out fracture or break.

Also, your levels of pain, and if you have any limits on mobility or strength of your hand/wrist, can be clues.

Also, there is no 100% rule that says some things will swell and some things won't, so that's an indicator, but a poor indicator.

Jan 12, 2017
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Hurt my wrist at gymnastics no swelling but lots of pain
by: Anonymous

I fell off the beam recently and hit my wrist really hard and it hurts when I put pressure on it.

Everyone thinks that I may have hurt my ligament should I go see a doctor?

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Anonygymnast.

Probably you should, if only to rule out a broken bone.

Injury to ligaments and cartilage and such won't show up on an xray, so that won't be much use.

How bad does it hurt?

How exactly did you land on it?

How long ago did this happen?

What have you done for the pain?

Feb 06, 2017
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Wrist injury
by: Laura

I injured my left wrist at work on 12/1/16 picking up 4 or 5 bags of 35lb dog food from floor level while on the forklift.

I've had 2 sets of xrays taken, an MRI and today 2/6/17 had a nerve conduction study and EMG tests completed.

2 months after the injury I am still physically unable to bend my wrist up or down without pain, it literally will not bend all the way no matter how hard I try.. Any idea what may be causing my problem?

I return to the specialist on the 15th but am just curious to see if anyone has had a similar problem.

Also I have been wearing a wrist brace nearly 24/7 per the 3 Dr's I've seen so far.

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Laura.

1. What exactly if anything did the Xrays, MRI, EMG tests show?

2. Say more about your wrist not moving? How not? Why not? Because of pain? Or because mechanically it won't/can't move?

Feb 11, 2017
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wrist pain numb fingers and throbbing at night
by: clarissa

Hi have been having wrist pains for a couple days I have a bulge on the left side where my pinky is that looks like a bone is kind of sticking out I don't now how to tell if it's broken or sprained but it hurts like crazy. My fingers sometimes go numb. It's mostly throbs at night that when the pain is worse.

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Joshua Comments:

Did you do something to break it?

How bad does it hurt?

Is your bone actually sticking out? What does that mean, exactly?

What fingers go numb?

Apr 09, 2017
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wriist pain sore to the touch but no swelling
by: Richie

My wrist is sore to touch snd when i bend ut a certain way , there is no swelling or bruising. i am a plasterer.

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Richie.

That's most likely a function of the pain enhancing chemical put out by the inflammation process.

You use your hands over time...muscles get tight and stay tight (progressively over time), a small but chronic process of inflammation kicks in and stays kicked in (progressively over time), and you use up and get short (and more short) on nutrition required for the muscles to work properly.

So right now, you touch wherever and it hurts. Your brain is feeling that all the time, and compensating/adapting with more tightness and more inflammation to 'guard and protect'.

I'd get started on the Reversing Wrist Tendonitis program now (sooner rather than later).

If you get started now, it should/will take hardly any time or effort to get rid of the sore-to-the-touch scenario, and keep it away.

Said another way, if you get started now it should/will take hardly any time or effort to stop the progression of negative factors while simultaneously reversing the negative factors already in play.

Apr 09, 2017
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Wrist problem
by: Laura

Joshua,
MRI showed mild Tenosynovitis and minimal periarticular cystic erosion within the carpal bones, EMG was normal, per 1st ortho dr.

I had a 2nd opinion by an ortho dr and was told it was Tendinitis.

I am physically no matter how hard I push or pull am unable to bend the wrist all the way up or down and there is pain associated with attempting to bend the wrist in any direction. I have not worn the wrist brace at all since 2/15 and when I attempt to bend it to either side there is a popping sound with pain also.

Still no answer as to why I am unable to bend the wrist without pain.

Any suggestions or clues as to what may be the cause?

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Laura.

1. It's highly likely that your forearm muscles (that attach to tendons that cross the wrist joint) are too tight, and thus compressing the wrist (joints) too much.

2. This causes pain, and this causes a signal to the brain that 'hey, there's a problem here, don't let us lift more heavy things or we'll get injured'. So the brain won't send proper signals that allow movement etc.

So you definitely have tightness, and you may have a brain refusing to send movement signals in perceived self defense.

Along those lines, you could have a subluxated wrist bone, and the tightness is keeping it not only subluxated but compressed in it's bad position. That will send a signal to the brain that there's a problem, and the brain will lock things down with more tightness (not smart, but that's what it does).

3. That painful popping when you bend your wrist side to side is inflammed joints being forced to move through a restricted range. They have to 'pop' to get where they're going.

They don't like that, so it hurts.

I presume you mean that it's your joints popping, and not something else. Let me know if it's not the joint(s).

4. Splints/braces are a terrible long term option, because it restricts movement and causes/allows the connective tissue to shrink down/compress.

5. Tenosynovitis and joint degradation is a function of chronic tightness (and inflammation and nutritional insufficiency).

6. Have you ice dipped as per the How To Reduce Inflammation page?

If so, how much, and what happened?

Tightness doesn't exist in isolation, there's also inflammation (which makes things hurt more, and eats up nutrition) and nutritional insufficiency (without enough of the right nutrition, muscles literally can't relax/loosen.

Probably, you were already tight and short on nutrition, then you overdid it at work, by which I mean, you lifted more than your brain was happy with and it locked your already tight muscles even tighter, and now you're stuck there.

Doctors don't know anything about any of that, so they only look for actual rip/tear injury and/or tissue damage.

I of course suggest you follow the directions in the Reversing Wrist Tendonitis program (find the link in this thread) as it tells you what you need to do to reverse the tightness, inflammation, and nutritional insufficiency.

Apr 10, 2017
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Wrist problem
by: Laura

I have ice dipped with no relief, I was dipping about 3 - 4x''s / day for 15-20 minutes at a time.

When it pops with the side to side movement it sounds similar to cracking your knuckles so I'm assuming it's the joints.

I will follow the instructions you gave me and hopefully that helps. My work right now requires me to lift items up to 49lbs, would you recommend returning to work or should I wait until I regain full mobility?

----

Joshua Comments:

Hi Laura.

"I was dipping about 3 - 4x''s / day for 15-20 minutes at a time. "

Read the directions again... :)

You want to dip much more than that, but for 10-20 seconds per dip, not minutes.

You can continue to work/lift IF that work/lift doesn't increase your symptoms too much.

Ice dipping enough should/will lower pain levels and help counter any increase of symptoms from working/lifting. It's not a fix, but it's effective at lowering pain levels.

Having said that, we'll see how much X amount of work adds to symptoms.

Jun 05, 2017
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Hurting wrist for no reason
by: Debbie B.

The outside of my left wrist started hurting last week for no reason.

It is tender to the touch and if I move my wrist a certain way I I have been wearing a wrist brace because if I don't it hurts to use it.

I don't really do anything that could have caused injury. I am a nanny to a 2 year old boy. There isn't a whole lot of lifting involved.

Prior to this happening I did have issues with that hand going numb a lot while asleep.

It is very painful and I don't know what to do to stop the pain and irritation.

----

Joshua Comments:

Hi Debbie.

Do you sleep with a big pillow (meaning, is your neck/head 'propped' up at night)?

Do you sleep on your side and are laying on the side that goes numb while sleeping?

Jun 09, 2017
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RE: Wrist pain no swelling
by: Debbie B

I do not sleep on a big pillow and my sleeping positions have not changed so I don't get it. I did have someone say it might be arthritis. I have psoriasis and I know that sometimes arthritis accompanies it.

I have been wearing a wrist brace to bed and it is helping ease the pain at night.

----

Joshua Comments:

Hi Debbie.

Psoriasis (and rheumatoid arthritis) is a reversible auto-immune issue caused by inflammatory foods like gluten, and nutritional insufficiency.

Combine that with the wrist pain scenario you've described, I'd start focusing on your nutrition/on your body's ability to function correctly.

Do you eat bread/pasta? Stop.

Cut the sugar WAY down, no matter how much you eat.

Do that for a month and see what happens.

Jun 11, 2017
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RE
by: Debbie

I actually am not a bread or pasta eater. I also do not eat much sugar. I already spoke with someone who works at a dermatologist office and did my studying on psoriasis. It is not reversable. It is an auto immune disease and there is no cure unless you take biologic shots or pills to lower the immune system which I will not do.

It will calm down and almost go away then I will have a flare up. The arthritis associated with it is not the same.

It is psoriatic arthritis and can only be helped with the same biologic medications. I am pretty much stuck with this for the rest of my life sadly.

It can go into remission but never actually cured. My diet is very good. I don't smoke, don't drink coffee, don't drink or do any of the things they say not to do. It first came on when my dad passed away. I was a wreck emotionally and the stress brought it out.

My father had it, my aunt has it and I got it as well so the gene was in my family.

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Debbie.

Well, I'm right 98% of the time guessing that people eat gluten/sugar. :)

That's a good thing you're already not a bread/pasta/sugar eater.

"It is not reversable. It is an auto immune disease and there is no cure "

I don't get into arguments on this, but I disagree.

Dermatologists as a profession believe it's incurable. Pharmaceutical industry is happy to push that it's incurable.

The medical industry for some mind boggling reason believes that auto-immune disease exists out of the blue, magically, for no reason.

But, auto-immune disease exists for specific reasons. As a general statement I'll guess/assert that your gut ecology is damaged (maybe not the best descriptor, but let's go with 'damaged', or 'out of whack', or 'off kilter', or 'not working correctly') which includes some amount of erosion of the gut lining, inflammation of the gut lining, and a non-optimal population of good probiotic bugs (a smaller population than the 'bad' bugs).

This means you are getting less nutrition from the food you eat, and that you have chronic inflammation in the gut. And that means the gut lining gets damaged. And that means that proteins etc leak through the gut lining into the blood stream, and long story short that's auto-immune disease.

(BTW that whole 'take drugs to suppress the immune system' is CRAZY, so I'm super happy you don't want to go that route.)

Your family has a history of psoriasis, which points to potentially your blood line is extra sensitive to one or more of any number of things that put your into the inflammatory gut mode (compared to a thousand other people), and or your particular blood line expresses inflammatory gut in a specif way, like psoriasis instead of rheumatoid arthritis.

There's tons of info and research out there pointing to that auto-immune is reversible/curable.

As a term I like 'reversible' better, as auto-immune is a progressive, predictable dynamic, the factors of which can be dialed down, reversed.

Anyhoo, that's a bit off topic from your hurting wrist (probably connected dynamics though). We can continue the auto-immune topic, or not, as you wish.

Maybe the joint is hurting some due to the auto-immune factors. Maybe the wrist is hurting due to, ultimately, lack of available nutrition and systemic inflammation (inflammation releases chemicals which enhance your sensitivity to pain).

Probably you also have the tight muscles and inflammation that comes with 'tendonitis', but tendonitis is often the result of nutritional insufficiency (which can be a result of a non-optimal gut ecology and chronic systemic inflammation).

Specifically for the wrist, that's where I'd start. Ice dipping and increased nutritional intake. And see what happens.

Jun 16, 2017
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RE
by: Debbie

Nutrition wise I actually eat quite healthy. I have never been a junk food eater. I eat a lot of fruits and veggies plus I take a good probiotic daily that is stomach acid resistant. I have also done much studying on psoriasis and my husband did as well seeing that he has had it since he was a teenager. When I am sick or stressed it gets worse. My doctor already diagnosed it as psoriatic arthritis and not tendonitis.

I understand what you're saying about gut health but I can assure you that has nothing to do with my case.

The last bad outbreak I had was following a bad case of bronchitis that lasted for weeks. Prior to that I got it bad once again after being very sick. I was working as a preschool teacher and was sick a lot.

Now I am nannying and feeling better health wise but the psoriasis is still bad. If you saw how many supplements I take you wouldn't believe it.

I live a very healthy lifestyle. As for what brought on this arthritis I am clueless. The burning pain, the popping and cracking and sharp pains identify with arthritis. I appreciate the information. Thank you.

----

Joshua Comments:

I believe you've done research, but I'm afraid I can't be assured that poor/damaged gut health/gut ecology isn't the cause of auto-immune issues. :)

Also, it sounds like you are/were sick a lot (lots of immune system strength/weakness stems from gut ecology). It makes me curious what your vitamin D levels are/have been.

"As for what brought on this arthritis I am clueless. The burning pain, the popping and cracking and sharp pains identify with arthritis. I appreciate the information. Thank you."

It could be a few things:

1. Long term progressive tendonitis dynamic (that causes compression of joints) finally catching up to you (joint pain and inflammation).

2. Nutritional insufficiency (that basically causes muscle tightness and thus joint compression, and inflammation). A 'healthy diet' isn't going to fix this if one is nutritionally lacking.

See the 'Magnesium For Tendonitis' link in this thread.

3. Auto-immune mechanism dialing up (and you feeling it in the joint(s)) for any number of reasons.

Jun 19, 2017
Rating

RE
by: Debbie

I appreciate all of the help. Thank you very much.

----

Joshua Comments:

You are very welcome.

I hope we speak again.

Jun 22, 2017
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Wrist sprain?
by: Anonymous

Hi
I went to the dr 3 days ago after having hurt my wrist at school by twisting it under pressure.

The dr said it was a sprain and it should get better within a week. Now my wrist is in a lot of pain, I can't move it properly and I am constantly supporting it with my other hand.

The dr recommended a wrist support, which I am also wearing. I have taken the maximum dosage of painkillers but it just keeps hurting.

Is this just a sprain?

----

Joshua Comments:

It's just a sprain unless you actually ripped/tore something in there.

Depending on what exactly happened, you probably just have a BIG inflammation response.

Ice dip as directed on the How To Reduce Inflammation page (see link in this thread).

Jun 23, 2017
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RE
by: Debbie B

I don't know if I mentioned it before but the reason I was sick as much as I was was because I was a preschool teacher. I dealt with a classroom of sick children on a daily basis.

My family also has a history of immune problems(lucky me). I am not concerned with the psoriasis as much as I am the arthritis. I can handle the itching and having to cover up. I cannot handle pain though. My threshold for pain is not very high. I appreciate all of the help.

----

Joshua Comments:

Well, the good news is, you can help the psoriasis by helping the arthritis.

Jun 25, 2017
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RE
by: Debbie

Yes this is true. For now I am using a topical Lidocaine ointment which is helping and I am sleeping with a brace on. During the day however I am keeping it off and trying to use it so it doesn't stiffen up. I do notice that when it is in the brace too long it hurts very bad.

I bought a copper fit brace today in hopes that it might also help.

Jul 11, 2017
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Wrist pain for over a week now
by: Anonymous

I've been having pains in my left wrist where it meets my hand.

I don't know exactly what I did to hurt it but my dad thinks I could've slept on it wrong and it will go away, but it's been at least a week and I still have the pain.

It dosen't have any swelling or bruising. But when I bend it backwards or forwards the pain intensifies.

I looked into some things and I thought maybe it was my TFCC but I do not know?

----

Joshua Comments:

Maybe your vitamin D level is low.

Maybe you don't have enough magnesium etc in your body for it to function correctly.

Maybe you stay up too late, get bad sleep, and your body isn't getting the necessary deep sleep it requires to be able to 'recover'.

Maybe you've played enough video games or typed on the computer/phone enough such that your body can't sustain that level of activity anymore due to the above.

If you didn't fall on it, etc, then it's unlikely that you're injured. But you can have all sorts of pain without having any injury, for a variety of reasons.

Jul 18, 2017
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wrist pain but no swelling
by: Anonymous

about a week ago, I felt a pop in my wrist. there was some discomfort but there was no swelling.

since then, I have had sharp pain in the wrist. I am able to lift things and move it around though.

do I have tendonitis or carpal tunnel or just a sprain.

---

Joshua Comments:

I have no way of knowing the answer to that question.

Aug 23, 2017
Rating

Fighting pain in my wrist
by: Anonymous

On July 7 2017 I broke my finger. I had it fixed and is now all better.

It still huts occasionally, but also my wrist had been hurting. My hand specialist doctor thinks I may have pulled some muscles, but non torn.

Not sure if this means anything for the next part, but I thought I would include it.

Five days ago i was skateboarding with my brother when I slipped backwards, I saved myself using only my right hand and my shoulder popped.

My shoulder no longer hurts unless i put it back behind me and up a little, but my wrist in the other hand hurts like h**l I am only 14 and i have never cussed before.

It really hurts to use like: typing this up, bending forwards or backwards, side to side and doing many daily movements. It hurts on the top of my hand, on the side by my thumb, and directly under the top of the wrist, but to the right more towards my thumb.

When I fell I got a cut in my hand which has healed fine, but on the lower part of my thumb there are multiple dots of red under my skin I think. I have been doing R.I.C.E and have not been using it for as much as I can.

It also hurts to make a fist, but I am not sure if that is just from when I broke my finger and pulled some tendons or ligaments, but it never hurt to make a fist before.

I have not been experiencing any bruising other than the blood spots on my lower part of my palm, or any swelling. Also I am trying not to go to the doctors.

Please tell me any advice you have it would be greatly appreciated.

----

Joshua Comments:

Hi Anonymous14.

Ice dip as directed on the How To Reduce Inflammation page (see link in this thread), and let me know what happens to the symptoms.

Fingertip to over the elbow, arctic cold, 10-15 second dips, AS MANY AS YOU CAN DO IN A DAY. 3 days of that.

You have a LOT of inflammation going on, which creates a lot of pain.

It may or may not be worth getting an MRI done (not an xray, that only shows broken bones which it doesn't sound like you have, buy hey who knows and xrays are cheaper) to see if there's a tear, but from what you say it doesn't sound like anything terrible.

Get the inflammation out and let's see what things feel like.

Sep 10, 2017
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Wrist pain but no swelling barely move it
by: MeKenzie

I was playing softball and ran into a fence not paying attention and trying to catch a fly ball my hand bent with my glove the direct where my fingers would touch my wrist .

It hurts to squeeze my hand push anything move my hand. But there isn't anything swollen. Just a lot of pain and hurts to move it. I've tried ice but doesnt hurt. Its hurts the worse when i bend my hand toward top of mt arm.

Sep 30, 2017
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Wrist Pain, Sometimes
by: Sam

My wrist has been hurting for a couple weeks now but only sometimes, I can put pressure on it and be fine but then later do almost the same motion and I will have a sharp pain on the outer side of my wrist underneath my pinky. Any ideas?

----

Joshua Comments:

Hi Sam.

I'd start with reading this entire thread, an follow the links and read those pages too.

Oct 03, 2017
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Wrist pain no swelling
by: Anonymous

Hello, today I was playing a game in a gym and got pushed into one of the concrete walls.

I hit my palm and wrist area very hard on the wall and the pain made my wrist and forearm go numb and weak for about 30 seconds and I had to sit down because of the pain, I was sitting on the floor later and getting up I pushed off the ground my wrists popped a bit I got that same pain again of weakness and numbness and it just gave out.

I did play in a soccer game today and There was no physical contact while I was playing but I did slip and land hard on my wrist again and had the same pain it was almost unbearable below my thumb and through out my arm and I had to come of the field.

I iced it for about 15-20 minutes but I still feel pain when I move it around.

I have had absolutely no swelling or bruising and I’m wondering if you can help tell me if this is just something like I hit it funny or if it’s something more serious thanks!

----

Joshua Comments

I have no way of telling if it's 'more serious' or not.

You could have fractured a bone, you could have compressed/bruised the nerve, you could have some bone bruising/joint bruising, etc.

You landed hard, so there's impact and repercussions from that.

Dec 26, 2017
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Wrist pain
by: Anonymous

Hi, i have been experiencing wrist pain for about 4 years, its in the middle of my wrist i dont have bruising or swelling, i cant lean on it because it feels like its broken, this only happens once a month for about a week. Please help.

----

Joshua Comments:

Hi Anonyous.

I'm happy to help.

Read the entire thread and the pages it links to.

Then come back with any questions you might have.

Jan 31, 2018
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Popping and a tolerable pain felt when bending wrist up and down
by: Karen

Hello Joshua, I'm Karen from the Philippines.
I woke up this morning (January 31 2018) feeling a numbness in my right hand,i had a hard time when i tried to bend my fingers (to form a clutching form), then i tried bending my wrist forward and back and i felt a slight pain and popping sound in my wrist joint. i suspect it might be because i slept on my right wrist. I'm not sure what this is but i hope you can suggest some cure or exercises i can do to relieve me of the pain.

----

Joshua Comments:

Hi Karen.

I'd start with ice dipping a bunch as described on the How To Reduce Inflammation page.

Also, read this entire thread, there's lots of info and suggestions here.

Feb 03, 2018
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wrist pain
by: Anonymous

I was doing a back handspring at tumbling and when my wrist hit the ground i heard a pop and my hand when numb for a minute or two.

I continued to tumble on it for the rest of the class. It’s been a few days and my wrist still hurts but only when i apply pressure to it or touch it in a certain dime sized spot. I’m not sure if i need to see a doctor because there is not swelling or bruising.

----

Joshua Comments:

If you had ripped/torn something, chances are high you'd be seeing more syptoms of that (more pain, swelling, inability to use, etc).

It seems you're pretty ok. See what happens.

Having said that, I'd ice dip (see link in previous comment) A LOT for the next week, as you 100% do have inflammation process (causing pain and other problem).

Pay attention to your wrist, see what happens.

Feb 13, 2018
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Hand and Wrist pain after injury
by: Anonymous

Hi there! I am experiencing sometimes severe pain in my hand and wrist after a fall 4 days ago. I am not exactly sure how I landed when I fell. I went to urgent care for an x-ray and there were no fractures seen.

I was told it was a contusion and given a brace, which doesn't seem to help much (nor does Ibuprophen). It is slightly bruised under the ring finger and pinky, no swelling, but I can feel a tender, raised area that feels like the bone is swollen (if a bone could swell) in my hand.

It's a bone that's lower than the middle of my hand, but higher than where it bends at the wrist, and if you moved upward from it, you'd eventually reach the pointer finger and part of the middle finger. Yesterday, most of the pain was at the base of my thumb, wrist and the thumb part of my palm. Today, the most painful sensation is when trying to type with my ring finger and pinky.

There's pain when I move my wrist upwards, and when I move it towards my thumb.

I'm having difficulty performing daily tasks like brushing my teeth or hair, typing, writing, etc. Sometimes the pain is sharp and excruciating (no dull ache, ok when at rest for the most part). Would you agree that it's a contusion, or could it be something else?

I'm trying to determine if I should go to an orthopedist, or give it more time to heal.

----

Joshua Comments:

Hi Anonymous.

What you're describing is pretty subtle, from a medical perspective.

There's no break, so they can't treat you for that.

You could get an mri to see if there's a tendon/ligament tear, but it's pretty small territory/hard to see.

Chances are you have a bone bruise and/or a joint bruise. These are painful and slow to go away, but aside from that are harmless/not a problem.

There's nothing a doctor can/will do about that, if they're even aware that such a thing exists.

If you do have a small ligament tear, there's not much to do about it anyway. Depending on the size of the structure, surgery can or can't help.

But chances are a surgeon wouldn't suggest doing surgery (depending on what exactly is going on in there, but from what you describe, chances are high it's nothng major/worth doing surgery on).

As per the last couple comments, I'd Ice Dip it like crazy for the next week or two. That will speed up recovery of the bone bruise/joint bruise.

(And, it's likely to hurt for a while. But ice dip and it will be less time.)

Feb 24, 2018
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wrist pain for 6 weeks
by: Danna

I hurt my wrist being a dum-dum and hitting the heavy bag with no wraps or gloves on, just naked fists.

I've done it before and my wrist healed quickly. This time I have this pain for 6 weeks already.

I have used Ace bandage, I have iced it. I have COMPLETELY stopped punching from the minute I hurt it.

For the longest time it just felt like it needs to crack and a couple of times it did crack and felt relief. The pain is now down to like 5% of the original amount of pain but I am not going to risk going back to the heavy bag yet.

I started taking glucosamine supplements because I also noticed my hip joints starting to hurt more when I stretch than they used to.

I have always put a lot of salt on everything, could it be sodium messing with my joints? And how many grams of protein do I need to be getting to avoid protein insufficiency? Sorry for such a long message. But I appreciate any help you can provide. Thank you !

----

Joshua Comments:

Hi Danna.

1. Table salt or sea salt?

2. For protein, it depends on your body size, activity levels, etc.

3. Why does your wrist hurt from hitting the bag? Did you bend it/over stretch it when punching?

Apr 23, 2018
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Wrist pain after riding a scooter
by: Baba

I have a wrist pain in right hand for almost 2months after riding scooter.also no swelling.what it would be?

----

Joshua Comments:

Hi Baba.

After reading this entire thread, and maybe following some of the links in this thread and reading those pages, what do you think it could be?

Apr 30, 2018
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Lower left wrist injury
by: Maaate

Hi Joshua,

A few days ago, I landed on an outstretched arm which hurt my lower left wrist while playing football. Though I thought it was fractured, I can move my wrist up and down freely, however there is pain when I do so. The pain is not severe, but can be at times, and my my wrist does feel a little weak. There is no swelling whatsoever, however I have applied tape onto it. I have not seen a doctor about it and don’t intend to unless it’s serious. I have also not taken any painkillers or stuff like that to treat my wrist.

Many thanks.

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Joshua Comments:

Hi Maaate.

1. You can have a fracture and not have severe pain.

2. How and where exactly does it hurt when you do what exactly?

Jul 30, 2018
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wrist joint paining
by: Anonymous

right hand wrist joint paining when i move my wrist up or down.
its paining since 1 week.
no swelling.
no colour change.
any pain relief idea from you would help me out. please.

thankyou!

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Joshua Comments:

Have you tried Ice Dipping as described on the How To Reduce Inflammation page (find link in this thread)?

Aug 08, 2018
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Wrist hurts like a sprain
by: Marie

About 3-4 weeks ago I woke up and my wrist hurt like I had sprained it but I never had a fall. It’s constant dull pain.

If I pick up anything or put any weight on it it’s a sharp pain and my thrums pops in and out of socket and it never did before.

Aug 08, 2018
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Unknown wrist pain
by: paige

Hi, for the past few days the inner side wrist (on thumb side) area has had some pain. I do not know what would have caused it.

I grab on to something, clench my fist, move it in circular motion, or even leaning my chin on my palm puts pressure and pain on my inner side of wrist.

Nothing has seem to be swelling up. It is just that specific area I have a problem with.

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