Wrist pain upon rotation can stem from various underlying issues. To give you a precise reason why your wrist hurts requires a medical examination, but here are some common possibilities:
Potential Causes of Wrist Pain Upon Rotation
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Sprain: A sprain occurs when the ligaments that connect the bones in your wrist are stretched or torn. This can happen from a fall, a sports injury, or repetitive motions. Rotating your wrist can exacerbate the pain.
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Tendonitis: Tendons connect muscles to bones. Tendonitis is the inflammation or irritation of these tendons, often caused by overuse or repetitive movements. Rotating the wrist can put stress on the inflamed tendons, leading to pain. De Quervain's tenosynovitis, specifically affecting tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, can cause significant pain with rotation.
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Arthritis: Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can affect the wrist joint, causing pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion. Rotation can be particularly painful as it puts stress on the inflamed or damaged joint surfaces.
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: While carpal tunnel typically presents with numbness and tingling in the hand and fingers, wrist pain can also be a symptom. Rotation might aggravate the condition if it puts pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel.
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Fracture: A fracture, even a small one, in one of the wrist bones (e.g., scaphoid fracture) can cause pain, especially with movement. Rotating the wrist will likely cause sharp pain if a fracture is present.
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Ganglion Cyst: Though often painless, if a ganglion cyst near the wrist joint is large enough or located in a sensitive area, rotation may cause discomfort or pain.
Next Steps
Since self-diagnosis is unreliable, consult a healthcare professional for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The pain could also be chronic which can potentially lead to long term pain if not treated.
