Conditions and injuries of the finger, hand, wrist, forearm and elbow: what they are, how they behave, and when they stop being minor.
Digital artists get thumb, wrist and elbow pain from pinching a thin stylus, drawing from the wrist and holding shortcut keys. Most early cases settle in 2 to 6 weeks once the pressure curve, grip and setup change.
Pole and aerial wrist, forearm and elbow pain is usually grip overload, and most of it settles in 6 to 12 weeks with a change in load, not complete rest. Elbow tendon pain can take 3 to 6 months.
Sushi chefs get trigger finger, thumb base pain and carpal tunnel from shaping rice, deep cuts from single-bevel knives, and fish infections that can move fast. What each looks like, how fast to act, and when you can get back behind the counter.
Most juggling, poi and flow arts wrist or elbow pain is tendon overload from repetition, and it usually settles in 6 to 12 weeks with shorter practice blocks, lighter props and tendon loading. A fingertip that droops after a missed catch is the exception: splint it this week.
Most cashier wrist pain is tendon overload from twisting to find barcodes thousands of times a shift. Caught while it settles overnight, it usually calms in 2 to 6 weeks with setup changes, rotation and a break routine.
Interpreter hand and wrist pain is usually tendon or nerve overload from fast signing with no natural pauses. Caught early, most settles in 2 to 6 weeks with team rotation, capped weekly hours and a short warm-up routine.
Most rugby finger injuries can be buddy-taped and played within days. Jersey finger (repair ideally within 7 to 10 days) and a knuckle cut by a tooth (same day) can’t wait. Broken fingers take 6 to 12 weeks to heal.
Photographers’ hand and wrist pain is usually overuse from holding the camera out in a fixed grip. Plain overuse settles in 1 to 3 weeks once you change the hold; tendon problems like De Quervain’s or tennis elbow take 6 to 12 weeks or longer.
Archery pain belongs to one hand or the other: sore or numb string fingers and inner elbow pain in the drawing arm, palm and wrist pain in the bow hand. Most settles in 1 to 6 weeks with a better tab, a relaxed bow grip and less volume; elbow tendon pain takes 3 to 6 months.
Potters’ wrist and thumb pain usually comes from wedging with the wrists bent fully back and from centering. Wedging overload often settles in 1 to 3 weeks with a lower table; tendon problems take 6 to 12 weeks, and most potters keep throwing.