Eight Bones · Many Moving Parts
Wrist Conditions
The wrist is a stack of eight small bones held together by ligaments and cartilage, and it rotates, bends and bears load all at once. That complexity is why wrist pain is often hard to pin down — and why a focused evaluation matters.
(623) 264-3300Where Wrist Pain Tends to Come From
Where the pain sits on the wrist is often the first useful clue.
Pinky Side (Ulnar)
TFCC injury, ulnocarpal impaction, ECU tendon instability — often worse with rotation
Thumb Side (Radial)
Scaphoid problems, thumb base arthritis and tendon inflammation near the thumb
Center of the Wrist
Scapholunate ligament injury and cartilage wear between the wrist bones
Entire Hand, Nighttime
Numbness and tingling that wakes you may point to nerve compression rather than the joint
Conditions
Wrist Conditions We Treat
Each condition below has its own page explaining the diagnosis, treatment options and what recovery involves.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Numbness, tingling, weakness and discomfort caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist.
Learn moreNerveCubital Tunnel Syndrome
Compression of the ulnar nerve that can cause numbness and weakness affecting the small and ring fingers.
Learn moreLigament & CartilageTFCC Injury
Tears of the triangular fibrocartilage complex — the cushion on the pinky side of the wrist that stabilizes rotation.
Learn moreLigament & CartilageScapholunate Ligament Injury
Injury to the key ligament connecting the scaphoid and lunate, which can lead to wrist instability and arthritis.
Learn moreLigament & CartilageUlnocarpal Impaction
Ulnar-sided wrist pain caused by the forearm bone abutting the small wrist bones and cartilage.
Learn moreTendonECU Tendon Instability
Instability of the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon, a common cause of ulnar-sided wrist pain in athletes.
Learn moreFractures & TraumaWrist Fracture
Broken bones of the wrist, including distal radius fractures — the most common fracture of the upper extremity.
Learn moreArthritisWrist Arthritis
Joint wear affecting the wrist, including SLAC wrist arthritis that develops after ligament injury.
Learn moreDiagnosis & TreatmentWrist Arthroscopy
A minimally invasive technique used to see inside the wrist joint and treat ligament, cartilage and bone problems.
Learn moreGetting an Answer
Why Wrist Pain Is Hard to Sort Out
Several different structures sit within a few millimeters of each other, and the symptoms they produce overlap. A structured evaluation narrows the list quickly.
Examination in Specific Positions
Pain reproduced by a particular movement or load tells us which structure is involved.
Targeted Imaging
X-rays show bone and alignment. When ligament or cartilage injury is suspected, MRI or a small injection of numbing medicine can localize the source.
Arthroscopy When Needed
A camera inside the joint is sometimes the only way to see a ligament tear clearly — and it can often be treated at the same time.
Related Areas
Wrist symptoms often overlap with problems in the hand or the nerve pathways above the wrist.
Get to the Bottom of Your Wrist Pain
Wrist pain that lingers, catches or limits what you can lift is worth evaluating. Identifying the structure involved is what makes treatment effective.