Pain on the ulnar side of the wrist — the outer wrist on the little-finger side — is one of the most common wrist complaints. So many different structures pack into a small area and produce overlapping symptoms. Getting to the right diagnosis takes a thorough assessment. So what causes ulnar-sided wrist pain, how [...]
Anterior interosseous nerve syndrome — often called AIN palsy — is a rare but important cause of forearm and hand weakness. It typically affects athletes, manual workers, and anyone doing repetitive gripping or rotation. Unlike other median nerve problems, AIN syndrome causes muscle weakness without numbness or tingling. So how do we spot AIN [...]
Several conditions cause hand pain, weakness, or numbness, but one important diagnosis to consider is Guyon's canal syndrome. This occurs when the ulnar nerve is compressed at the wrist as it passes through a narrow tunnel called Guyon's canal. It's sometimes called ulnar nerve entrapment of the wrist, or ulnar tunnel syndrome, and it [...]
Wrist pain is a common complaint in young gymnasts, because of the high-impact forces the sport places through the hands. One specific overuse injury in this group is gymnast's wrist — also known as distal radial epiphysitis. It results from repetitive stress at the growth plate at the end of the radius, and recognising [...]
Pain at the back of the wrist is common, affecting both athletes and office workers. One often under-recognised cause is dorsal wrist impingement syndrome. It occurs when the soft tissues at the back of the wrist become trapped or compressed as the wrist bends backwards. So what is dorsal wrist impingement, and how do [...]
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common nerve compression caused by entrapment of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hand — particularly the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Mild cases may respond to physiotherapy, while more severe cases may require [...]
Noticing a lump on wrist can be concerning, particularly if it causes pain. While most wrist lumps are benign and painless, some may cause discomfort or be a sign of a more serious problem. As a sports medicine doctor, I often assess patients who are worried about a lump in wrist. What causes a [...]
Many people spend hours each day using a computer mouse. It's essential for both work and leisure, but repetitive mouse use can lead to thumb pain — a complaint we often hear in sports medicine clinics. If your thumb hurts from mouse use, it helps to understand the possible causes, how to assess it, [...]
Wartenberg's syndrome is an uncommon but important condition to recognise, particularly in sports medicine. It's caused by injury to the superficial branch of the radial nerve, producing symptoms in the hand and wrist. This guide covers the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Wartenberg's syndrome. What is Wartenberg's syndrome? Wartenberg's syndrome results from [...]
Kienbock's disease is a rare but serious condition affecting the wrist, characterised by bone death (avascular necrosis) of the lunate bone. The lunate is a crucial carpal bone that plays a key role in wrist stability. When the blood supply to the lunate is disrupted, the bone begins to deteriorate, resulting in pain, stiffness, [...]
