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There are many causes of wrist pain. You can often ease the pain yourself. But see a GP if the pain does not improve.
If you see a GP about pain in your wrist, they'll usually suggest you try these things:
rest your wrist when you can
put an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) in a towel and place it on your wrist for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
keep your hands and wrists moving with gentle exercises to help ease pain and stiffness
take paracetamol to ease the pain
take off any jewellery if your hand looks swollen
stop or cut down activities that are causing the pain – for example, typing, using vibrating tools for work, or playing an instrument
wear a splint to support your wrist and ease pain, especially at night – you can get these at most pharmacies and supermarkets
think about using gadgets or tools to make difficult or painful tasks easier – for example, to open jars or chop vegetables
think about getting a soft pad to support your wrist when typing
do not use ibuprofen in the first 48 hours after an injury
do not use heat packs or have hot baths for the first 2 to 3 days after an injury
do not lift heavy objects or grip anything too tightly
You can ask a pharmacist about:
These might be signs of a broken wrist.
If you have wrist pain, you might be able to refer yourself directly to services for help with your condition without seeing a GP.
To find out if there are any services in your area:
Wrist pain is often caused by bruising or injuring your wrist.
Your symptoms might also give you an idea of what's causing the pain in your wrist.
| Symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Pain, swelling and bruising, difficult to move wrist or grip anything | Sprained wrist |
| Pain, swelling and stiffness at the base of the thumb (near the wrist) that lasts a long time, may be hard to move fingers and thumb, may have a lump | Tendonitis (de Quervain's disease) or arthritis |
| Aching pain that's worse at night, tingling, numbness or pins and needles in the fingers, hand or arm, a weak thumb or difficulty gripping | Carpal tunnel syndrome |
| Smooth lump on top of the wrist, may be painful | Ganglion cyst |
| Sudden, sharp wrist pain, swelling, a popping or snapping sound during the injury | Broken wrist |
Do not worry if you're not sure what the problem is.
Follow the advice on this page and see a GP if the pain does not get better in 2 weeks.
