Radial Wrist Pain

Written By: Chloe Wilson BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
Reviewed By: SPE Medical Review Board

What Causes Radial Wrist Pain?

1. Tendon Injuries

Irritation, inflammation or tearing of one of the outer wrist tendons can cause radial wrist pain.

• De Quervain Tenosynovitis: common cause of outer wrist pain that extends to the base of the thumb on the back of the hand. It is caused by repetitive overuse, particularly gripping or grasping work. The pain gets worse with wrist and hand movements, particularly lifting, pinching, twisting or gripping motions and there may be some weakness, stiffness and catching sensations. FIND OUT MORE >
  
  
• Flexor Carpi Radialis Tendonitis: causes pain over the front (palm side) of the outer wrist. Also an overuse injury, it particularly affects people who play golf or racket sports, and manual laborers, and gets worse when bending the wrist or gripping. FIND OUT MORE >
  
  
• Extensor Policis Longus Tendonitis: causes pain over the back of the outer wrist due to inflammation from repetitive overuse. This type of radial wrist pain gets worse when straightening the thumb and often affects drummers
  
  
• Intersection Syndrome: causes pain on the back of the outer wrist that doesn’t extend into the hand. Typically caused by repetitive wrist movements e.g. rowing and weight-lifting, it results in pain on outside of wrist and crepitus (cracking/popping) just below the wrist. FIND OUT MORE >

2. Bone Injuries

Damage to the radius or outer carpal bones is another common cause of radial wrist pain

• Distal Radius Fracture: a break in the outer wrist bone, typically caused by falling onto an outstretched hand. There is usually an obvious deformity and intense wrist pain. There are lots of different types of distal radius fracture depending on the location and severity of the break, the most common being Colles fractures and Smith’s fracture. FIND OUT MORE >
  
  
• Scaphoid Fracture: a break in one of the small hand bones, usually from falling onto an outstretched hand. The classic symptom is pain when you press on the “anatomical snuffbox”, the hollow between the thumb tendons on the back of the wrist when you do a “thumbs-up”.
  
  
• Arthritis: wear and tear in one or more of the joints on the outer wrist or hand. Common types include radiocarpal arthritis (between wrist and hand bones) and CMC arthritis (between the bones at the base of the thumb). Common features of arthritis include weakness and stiffness, particularly after periods of rest

3. Ligament Injuries

Overstretching or tearing of one the hand ligaments is another possible cause of radial wrist pain, the most common being:

• Scapholunate Ligament Sprain: injury to the ligament between two of the small outer hand bones (scaphoid and lunate), usually from falling onto your hand. It causes radial wrist pain when extending the wrist back, instability, stiffness, weakness and grinding in the wrist
  
  
• Radiocarpal Ligament Sprain: damage to the outer wrist ligament that connects the radius to the outer carpal bones. May be caused by repetitive stress, forceful twisting or falling onto your hand. 

Wrist sprains can range from mild to severe, depending on the amount of damage to the ligament and usually cause outer wrist pain, inflammation, weakness and stiffness.

4. Nerve Damage

Pain on the outside of the wrist that is associated with tingling and numbness in the wrist or hand is usually due to damage to the radial nerve:

• Superficial Radial Nerve Impingement: aka Wartenberg’s Syndrome, is where the radial nerve is compressed near the back of the wrist. It causes outer forearm and wrist pain with tingling and numbness in the back of the hand, thumb and index finger.

Another common injury of the radial nerve is radial tunnel syndrome but that occurs closer to the elbow, resulting in pain on the back of the forearm.

5. Medical Conditions

Some medical conditions can also cause pain on the outside of the wrist:

• Ganglion Cyst: where a small firm lump forms on the front or back of the outer wrist. Ganglion cysts often fluctuate in size and are usually completely painless, unless they start pressing on neighboring structures. They are completely harmless and often disappear on their own
  
  
• Wrist Bursitis: inflammation of the radial bursa, a small fluid filled sac that reduces friction around the thumb tendons. It is typically caused by repetitive wrist and thumb movements or sustained pressure through the wrist e.g. cycling
  
  
• Gout Wrist: causes sudden intense pain, swelling, redness and heat in the wrist due to a build-up of uric acid. Symptoms often start at night. Gout is sometimes associated with hard lumps around the wrist, known as tophi.

Common Symptoms

Common symptoms associated with radial wrist pain typically include:

• Pain: on outside of wrist and into the base of the thumb, that gets worse with movement or gripping activities
• Crepitus: clicking or grinding noises with movement
• Weakness: reduced grip strength and difficulty holding things
• Stiffness: reduced wrist and thumb movement
• Altered Sensation: tingling and/or numbness in the wrist and hand (thumb and index finger side)

When To See Your Doctor

If you have radial wrist pain, you should see your regular doctor if you experience:

• Pain that persists for several weeks without improvement
• Swelling, stiffness, or a weaker grip
• Clicking, popping, or grinding sensations in the wrist
• Pain that worsens with movement or activity
• A history of wrist or hand injuries

Seek immediate medical attention if you have:

• Intense pain following an injury, such as a fall or direct blow
• A noticeable deformity in the wrist
• Difficulty moving your wrist or fingers
• Ongoing numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hand
• Significant swelling or bruising

When in doubt, it’s best to see a doctor early for a proper diagnosis and timely treatment.

#CommissionsEarned from Amazon on qualifying purchases

Radial Wrist Pain Treatment

The best treatment for radial wrist pain will depend on what the underlying cause is, but may involve a combination of:

• RICE: Rest from aggravating activities
  Apply Ice to the wrist to reduce pain and swelling, e.g. ice packs or frozen veg.
  Use Compression to reduce swelling and improve support e.g. tubigrip compression bandage.
  And Elevate the wrist to reduce swelling e.g. by wearing a sling
  
  
• Medication: over-the-counter painkillers e.g. acetaminophen/paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories e.g. ibuprofen can be used to help reduce radial wrist pain and swelling
  
  
• Physical Therapy: exercises to help improve the strength, stability, movement and function in your wrist and hand can help you get back to your normal activities
  
  
• Wrist Splint/Supports: Wrist splints have a metal bar in them to hold the wrist in a neutral position so can be helpful with wrist fractures and nerve injuries. Elasticated wrist supports provide stability and support but still allow movement so are more appropriate for soft tissue injuries
  
  
• Orthotics: There are various aids you can get to help improve hand function such as hand strengthening kits, grip aids and jar openers which can really help if you are struggling with functional tasks
  
  
• Surgery: while many cases of outer wrist pain will settle down with home treatments, some may require surgery e.g. wrist fractures

How To Prevent Outer Wrist Pain

Here are some things you can do to reduce the risk of developing radial wrist pain:

• Wrist Guards: wear protective gear such as wrist guards if participating in high-risk activities e.g. skiing or skateboarding
• Reduce Repetitive Stress: take regular breaks if doing repetitive tasks and try and switch activities regularly
• Exercises: improve wrist strength, stability and flexibility with wrist, hand and forearm strengthening and stretching exercises
• Reduce Risk Of Falls: remove trip hazards e.g. rugs from your home, and if you have balance issues use a stick or frame when out. Take particular care on uneven surfaces e.g. curbs, steps and fields

Radial Wrist Pain Summary

Radial wrist pain is a common issue causing pain on the outer, thumb side, of the wrist.

The most common causes of pain on the outside of the wrist are distal radius fractures, scaphoid fractures and De Quervain tenosynovitis.

Common symptoms of radial wrist pain include outer wrist pain, swelling, weakness, clicking and reduced hand function.

Many cases of wrist pain on the outer side can be treated at home with RICE, medication, exercises and wrist supports, but some more serious injuries may require surgery.

You may also be interested in the following articles:

• Inner Wrist Pain
• Central Wrist Pain
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Wrist Pain Diagnosis Chart
• Forearm Pain Diagnosis
• Elbow Pain Diagnosis Chart

---

Related Articles

---

Medical & Scientific References

1. Radial-Sided Wrist Pain Differentials: Presentation, Pathoanatomy, Diagnosis, And Management. Special Article Medicina Buenos Aires
2. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris And Flexor Carpi Radialis Tendinitis. Bratton MD
3. Distal Radius Fractures. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
4. De Quervain Tenosynovitis. National Library Of Medicine

Page Last Updated: February 26th, 2025
Next Review Due: February 26th, 2027

---

Visitor Comments

"Such an informative and valuable site. Clearly written and matches the guidance from my orthopedic surgeon. Even offers many rehab exercises. Thank you very much!" Izabela

"I am a massage therapist and found your website perfect. Very useful. Clear, easy understand. Big help. Thank you!" Viktoria

"This is a great site. Very informative" Marilyn

"I benefited a lot from your distinguished work, thank you." Sayed

"Hi and thanks so much, great site!  You are doing a lot of good in the world with this helpful site, thanks again." Karen

---