Conditions and injuries of the finger, hand, wrist, forearm and elbow: what they are, how they behave, and when they stop being minor.
Neutral wrist splint at night for carpal tunnel, a cock-up for sprains and tendon pain, a thumb spica for De Quervain’s and thumb arthritis. Most people need one for 3 to 6 weeks, not months.
Yes. A pinched nerve root in the neck (cervical radiculopathy) can numb the hand. Pain down the arm, symptoms that change with head position and arm weakness point to the neck, not carpal tunnel.
Most musicians’ hand pain is overuse that settles in 2 to 12 weeks with smarter practice. A finger that curls only at the instrument and never hurts is focal dystonia, and it needs a specialist, not rest.
Most gaming wrist and hand pain is overload that settles in 2 to 12 weeks with shorter sessions, three setup fixes and strength work. Numbness is a nerve, and you don’t play through it.
Climber’s elbow and brachialis pain need at least 12 weeks of progressive loading; a lumbrical tear takes about 4 to 12 weeks, with pockets back last. How to tell them apart and when a pop needs a surgeon.
Most boxing and MMA hand injuries are a broken metacarpal, a torn knuckle sling (boxer’s knuckle), a worn knuckle or wrist, or a fight bite. Bag work usually returns around 12 weeks after a fracture; a tooth cut over a knuckle needs seeing today.
Most jammed fingers in basketball and volleyball are back on court, buddy taped, in 1 to 3 weeks. Mallet finger, central slip tears and PIP fracture-dislocations look identical on day one, so run the 60-second check before you tape.
Most golf hand pain is lead-wrist or elbow tendon overload that settles in 6 to 12 weeks with less mat volume, thicker grips and forearm work. Pain that started with one heavy shot may be a hook of hamate fracture that X-rays miss.
Wrist pain in down dog and plank is usually a range problem, not an injury, and most settles in 2 to 6 weeks with fists, a wedge and daily extension work. The ten-second test, the exercises, and when to get it checked.
Gym wrist pain comes from three loaded positions: wrist bent back, wrist rotating under load, or heavy hanging grip. Swap the position and most settle in 2 to 6 weeks; little-finger-side pain, numbness or a pop needs checking.