Tendinitis of the wrist

Low urgency
--

Tendinitis of the wrist is the irritation and swelling of the tendons of the wrist, which are the fibrous structures that connect the muscle to the bone and help it move.

It is usually the result of overuse of the tendon during work or sports, either due to excessive force or poor wrist positioning. Loss of elasticity of the tendon as well as aging contribute to its occurrence.

Symptoms include pain in the affected area and inability to move the joint.

The presumptive diagnosis is made by clinical questioning and physical examination. In many cases, it is necessary to confirm the suspicion with imaging tests: X-rays and ultrasound.

The main treatment is rest. Since these are overuse injuries, the person should rest the area for a few days (at least 7) with the help of heat or cold in the affected area. Anti-inflammatory medications will help reduce both pain and inflammation. Muscle stretching exercises will be necessary in the following days for a satisfactory resolution of the problem.

Bibliographic references
  1. Karim Khan, Alex Scott. Overview of overuse (chronic) tendinopathy. UpToDate. May 11, 2015.
  2. Millar NL, Hueber AJ, Reilly JH, et al. Inflammation is present in early human tendinopathy. Am J Sports Med 2010; 38:2085.
  3. Maffulli N, Wong J, Almekinders LC. Types and epidemiology of tendinopathy. Clin Sports Med 2003; 22:675.
  4. Langford C A. Trastornos periarticulares de las extremidades. Harrison, Principios de Medicina Interna. 19ª Edición. Tomo 2, 2221 y 2248
  5. Gijón J. Balsa A. Reumatismos extraarticulres. Farreras Rozman. Medicina Interna. Volumen I. Duodécima edición. 1070:1071.
Author
Dr. Oscar Garcia-Esquirol
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    Wrist pain


    Pain in the hand when picking up objects


    Tingling feeling in your hand


    Joints feel like two rubbers rubbing against each other during movement


    Pain increases with movement and subsides with rest

Symptoms to watch out for

Pain that does not subside with analgesics.
Fever (temperature higher than 100.4 ºF)

Self-care

Take over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatories.
Relative rest, rest until symptoms subside.
Apply local cold to the injured area 3 times a day to reduce inflammation.
Avoid sudden movements.