I Was Playing Golf and Now My Wrist Hurts.

Golf accelerates the club with enormous speed, and the wrist is right in the path of that force. It is not surprising that wrist pain is common among golfers. The pain can come from the muscles and tendons that cross the wrist, from the small ligaments that hold the wrist bones together, or from a bone fracture.

Which structure is injured matters, because the treatment is very different depending on the cause.

Common Golf-Related Wrist Injuries

• Wrist sprains — stretching or tearing of the ligaments that support the wrist
• TFCC injuries — damage to the complex of cartilage and ligaments on the pinky side of the wrist (ulnar side)
• Scapholunate ligament injuries — damage to the ligament between two wrist bones that can lead to instability
• Tendonitis or tenosynovitis of the wrist tendons
• Wrist fractures, which can range from hairline cracks to displaced breaks

Where Does It Hurt?

The location of the pain gives clues. Pain on the pinky side of the wrist is typical of TFCC injuries. Pain on the thumb side is more associated with the scaphoid or the tendons there. Pain deep in the wrist may suggest a ligament injury or instability. Whatever the pattern, tenderness and instability that persist deserve a closer look.

Designating the Right Treatment

Some wrist injuries heal with rest and therapy. Others — particularly ligament injuries that create instability, or TFCC tears that do not settle — may benefit from more directed treatment such as splinting, injections, or in some cases surgery such as wrist arthroscopy or TFCC repair. Imaging and a focused examination help determine which approach fits.