William B. Bell, MD

You should see a hand surgeon if your hand pain:

• Follows an injury with swelling, deformity, bruising, or an inability to move the fingers or wrist
• Is severe, lasts more than 1–2 weeks, or gets worse despite rest, ice, compression, and elevation
• Comes with numbness, tingling, weakness, or frequent dropping of objects
• Includes redness, warmth, fever, or other signs of infection (especially after a cut or puncture)
• Wakes you at night or limits work, sports, or everyday activities
• Features locking, catching, or clicking in the fingers or wrist
• Follows a crush injury, high-energy trauma, or a suspected fracture or dislocation
• Is linked to a new lump, rapidly increasing swelling, or unexplained weight loss

Seek urgent care immediately if you lose feeling in a finger, cannot bend or straighten a finger after an injury, notice pale or bluish skin, or have severe pain with fast-increasing swelling.

Prompt evaluation can prevent long-term stiffness and nerve or tendon damage. A hand surgeon can determine the cause and review treatments such as splinting, therapy, medications, injections, or surgery when appropriate.

Gentle, targeted movements can reduce stiffness, improve flexibility, and support healing in the elbow and arm. Start with low-intensity exercises, focus on pain-free range of motion, and progress gradually as symptoms allow.  Click this link to learn exercises for elbow and arm pain relief. https://emergeortho.com/news/exercises-for-elbow-and-arm-pain-relief/

Chronic wrist pain can stem from repetitive strain injuries, arthritis (including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), tendonitis or tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, previous fractures that healed poorly, ganglion cysts, nerve compression, and underlying conditions like gout or diabetes. Poor ergonomics, prolonged computer use, and certain sports or occupations may increase risk.