Condition
Hand and wrist pain
The hand packs bones, joints, tendons and nerves into a small space, so even minor problems can interfere with work and daily life. Numb fingers at night, a finger that catches, or wrist pain after a fall each have a characteristic cause. The centre’s hand and reconstructive surgery service treats these, from splints and injections to microsurgery.
What it feels like
- Numbness or tingling in the thumb, index and middle fingers, often at night
- A finger that catches or locks when bent, then snaps straight
- Pain at the base of the thumb when gripping or twisting
- Wrist pain and swelling after a fall on an outstretched hand
- A lump on the back of the wrist or hand
- Weakness of grip, or dropping things
Common causes
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Compression of the median nerve at the wrist, causing night-time numbness and tingling that may be shaken off.
Trigger finger and tendon problems
Thickening of a tendon or its sheath, so the finger catches as it bends. Pain on the thumb side of the wrist (De Quervain’s) has a similar cause.
Arthritis
Wear at the base of the thumb or the finger joints, or inflammatory arthritis affecting several joints.
Fractures
Wrist and finger fractures after falls or sport. Some, such as scaphoid fractures, may not show on the first X-ray.
Cuts and crush injuries
Deep cuts can divide tendons or nerves, and crush injuries can damage several structures at once.
When to seek care straight away
Be seen the same day, or call the emergency line, if:
- A deep cut with loss of movement or feeling in a finger
- Deformity of the wrist or a finger after an injury
- Cold, pale or blue fingers after an injury
- Rapidly spreading redness, swelling or severe pain, which may be an infection
How it is assessed at the centre
- 01A consultation and examination of movement, strength, sensation and the tendons.
- 02Digital X-ray on site for fractures and arthritis.
- 03Nerve conduction studies or an ultrasound scan, arranged where carpal tunnel syndrome or a tendon problem needs to be confirmed.
Treatment options
Splints, injections and hand therapy
Night splints and injections for carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger, with exercises from the on-site physiotherapy department.
Carpal tunnel and trigger finger release
Short procedures that free the compressed nerve or catching tendon when non-surgical treatment has not helped.
Tendon and nerve repair and microsurgery
Repair of cut tendons and nerves using an operating microscope, and reconstruction after complex injuries.
Fracture fixation
Wrist and hand fractures are set in a cast or fixed surgically, depending on the bone and the displacement.
Questions patients ask
- Will carpal tunnel syndrome go away by itself?
- Mild cases, and those during pregnancy, often improve with a night splint. Persistent numbness, weakness or wasting of the thumb muscles are reasons to consider release surgery.
- I fell on my hand and the X-ray was normal, but it still hurts. What now?
- Some wrist fractures, particularly of the scaphoid bone, do not show on the first X-ray. Continued pain in the wrist after a fall should be re-examined and may need a repeat X-ray or further scan.
- How do I book a consultation?
- Call 080 2664 3970 or 96201 51588 during consultation hours, Monday to Saturday, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
- What if it happens at night or on a Sunday?
- Accident and trauma care is available at any hour. Call the emergency line, 98450 75749.
This page is general information about hand and wrist pain and does not replace a consultation. Last updated 14 October 2026.
Appointments
Talk to a consultant about it.
Consultations run in two sessions each day, 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm. For emergencies, the 98450 75749 line is answered at any hour.
Find us
#146, "Nikitha", East End ‘C’ Main9th Block, Jayanagar (behind Jayadeva Hospital)Bengaluru 560069Directions in Google Maps