“I have a dull feeling and pain in my wrist. Is it the start of arthritis?”
I am having a strange, dull, stiff pain in my wrist which sometimes even extends up to the fingers and becomes tingly. Could it indicate the start of arthritis?
3 Answers
This symptom could potentially be the start of arthritis. However, I would look at the symptoms as a reason to be evaluated to know specifically what is going on. Arthritis of the wrist is not as common as arthritis of the hips or knees or back or some other joints. Wrist pain can be the sign of what we will term an overuse injury, perhaps a tendonitis, perhaps a prior injury that may lead to a post traumatic arthritis. While numbness in the 1st 3 fingers is often related to carpal tunnel syndrome, wrist pain can be a sign as well. Additionally, chronic infections can present as wrist pain and wrist arthritis and wrist arthritis can be a consequence of an earlier inflammatory condition such as juvenile arthritis or Still's disease. Again, I would recommend evaluation so that you will have peace of mind and a treatment plan
Good evening,
Osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis affects most people in a variety of ways and in a variety of joints. The symptoms of dull pain with extension to fingers however would be a bit more suspicious for conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. This is a fairly common condition whereby a nerve in the wrist gets irritated and injured leading to dull achy pain in the wrist and hand often with tingling, burning and numbness. Often people with this condition are woken up at night due to numbness and achiness in the hand which improves with wiggling or shaking the hand. Using a splint for carpal tunnel at night often leads to gradual improvement in symptoms although it is always wise to seek an evaluation to clarify the exact cause which often is possible with a physical exam, some imaging studies and possibly some blood tests.
Mishal Abdullah.
Osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis affects most people in a variety of ways and in a variety of joints. The symptoms of dull pain with extension to fingers however would be a bit more suspicious for conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. This is a fairly common condition whereby a nerve in the wrist gets irritated and injured leading to dull achy pain in the wrist and hand often with tingling, burning and numbness. Often people with this condition are woken up at night due to numbness and achiness in the hand which improves with wiggling or shaking the hand. Using a splint for carpal tunnel at night often leads to gradual improvement in symptoms although it is always wise to seek an evaluation to clarify the exact cause which often is possible with a physical exam, some imaging studies and possibly some blood tests.
Mishal Abdullah.
Once you mention tingling, the concern might be carpal tunnel syndrome versus arthritis since you did not mention any joint pain.
David G. Borenstein, M.D. MACP., MACR.
David G. Borenstein, M.D. MACP., MACR.
