The wrist and hand are a collection of small bones and ligaments, each able to be damaged and cause pain. Wrist and hand pain has many possible causes — arthritis, tendonitis, and fractures among them. One way to approach it is to define the location of the pain, which gives clues to the cause. This wrist pain location diagram helps you identify the likely causes by area.
How to use the wrist pain location diagram
Below is the wrist and hand from the dorsal (back) and volar (palm) sides. Find the area matching your pain, then follow the links to the likely causes.
Your doctor will ask where the pain is, what makes it better or worse, and whether you have other symptoms — pins and needles, numbness, clicking, or catching. A history of trauma or a fall on the wrist is also a useful clue.
A thorough clinical examination follows. Your doctor carefully palpates the bones, joints, and tendons of the painful area, and may perform special tests — the ulnar grind test for a TFCC tear, Watson’s test for scapholunate instability, and Tinel’s sign for carpal tunnel syndrome.
We usually order tests to confirm the diagnosis. An X-ray checks the position of the wrist bones and excludes a fracture or arthritis. An MRI outlines soft-tissue problems, including tendon and ligament damage. An ultrasound shows swelling in joints and tendons, and lets us guide injections accurately into the structures of the wrist and hand.
Volar radial wrist pain
- Base of thumb arthritis
- De Quervain's tenosynovitis
- STT joint arthritis
- Wrist joint arthritis
- Scaphoid fracture
- Scaphoid Stress Fracture
- Flexor Carpi Radialis Tendonitis
- Anterior Interosseous Syndrome
Dorsal radial wrist pain
Dorsal ulnar wrist pain
Volar ulnar wrist pain
- Flexor carpi ulnaris tendonitis
- Wrist arthritis
- Hook of hamate fracture
- Hamate Stress Fracture
- Guyon's canal syndrome
Volar hand pain
- Trigger finger
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Dupuytren's contracture
Finger pain
- Finger joint arthritis
- Trigger finger
- A2 Pulley injury (Climber's finger)
- Flexor digit tendonitis
Thumb pain
Dorsal Forearm Pain
Frequently asked questions about wrist pain location
What does pain on the thumb side of the wrist mean?
Thumb-side (radial) wrist pain commonly points to De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, base of thumb arthritis, or a scaphoid problem. The exact spot — front or back of the wrist — narrows it further.
What does pain on the little-finger side of the wrist mean?
Little-finger-side (ulnar) wrist pain often means a TFCC tear, ECU tendonitis, or DRUJ arthritis at the back, or a hamate problem or Guyon’s canal syndrome on the palm side.
When should I see a doctor about wrist pain?
See a doctor if the pain follows a fall (to exclude a fracture), doesn’t settle within a couple of weeks, comes with numbness, pins and needles, or clicking, or stops you using the hand normally. Early diagnosis of problems such as a scaphoid fracture or scapholunate injury matters, because missed injuries can lead to long-term problems.
Can wrist pain be more than one thing at once?
Yes. The wrist is small and densely packed, so two problems can overlap — for example, arthritis with a coexisting tendonitis. This is why an accurate examination, often with imaging, matters more than the location alone.
Final word from Sport Doctor London about the wrist pain location diagram
A wrist pain location diagram is a helpful starting point, but it doesn’t replace a proper assessment. The wrist is complex, and accurate diagnosis usually needs a clinical examination supported by imaging. See a sports medicine doctor experienced in wrist and hand conditions.
To book a one-stop wrist and hand assessment with Dr Masci in London, contact the team here or call +44 (0) 203 488 0350.
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