Hand & Wrist Pain

Hand & Wrist Pain Treatment at UVM Health

Hand and wrist pain can result from sports injuries, traumatic accidents, and some chronic conditions and diseases. At University of Vermont Health, we use advanced tests to get to the root of your pain. Our team of hand and upper extremity therapists and surgeons then creates a personalized, effective treatment plan to help you get back to your usual activities as quickly as possible.

When you choose UVM Health, you have access to Vermont and northern New York’s most experienced hand and upper extremity team.

A medical provider wraps a patient's wrist.

Why Choose UVM Health?

We treat a high number of patients — including some of the most complex cases in the region — and have the skill and expertise to bring you leading-edge therapies.

As one of the leading orthopedic programs in the region, we offer:

Team approach: Our hand and upper extremity surgeons, hand therapists and advanced practice providers (APPs) work closely together to bring you the most effective care. Whether you need nonsurgical treatment or a complex procedure, we aim to restore your function and relieve your pain.
Advanced training: All our hand therapists and surgeons have special certifications and advanced training in hand and upper extremity care. We subspecialize in specific areas of care, allowing us to offer you the most advanced treatments available.
Research emphasis: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physician-leaders are active researchers at the forefront of upper extremity orthopedic care, publishing our research and presenting at national meetings.

Types of Hand & Wrist Pain

Your hand and wrist are an intricate network of bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves and blood vessels. Damage to any of these delicate structures can cause hand or wrist pain. Common causes of hand and wrist pain are:

Arthritis: The strong, protective covering between your bones (cartilage) wears away, causing friction and pain.
Carpal tunnel syndrome: The median nerve, one of the major hand nerves running through the wrist, becomes compressed.
Dupuytren’s contracture: The fascia, a layer of tissue beneath the skin, thickens at the base of your fingers, causing your fingers to bend toward the palm.
Fractures: A bone may break or crack, usually after a traumatic injury. Distal radius fractures are wrist fractures affecting the forearm bone closest to your thumb (radius). Scaphoid fractures are breaks in one of the carpal bones just above your radius.
Ligament injuries: The bands of tissue that connect your bones to one another (ligaments) may stretch or tear.
Nerve compression problems: Any of the nerves in your hand or wrist may get squeezed or pinched.
Sports injuries: Tissue and nerve injuries or fractures may occur while playing sports. These injuries may be sudden (acute) or develop over longer periods and lead to ongoing (chronic) problems.
Tendonitis: The thick tissue that attaches muscles to bones (tendons) becomes inflamed.
Ganglion cyst: A small, round fluid-filled sac most often appearing on tendons and joints of wrists or hands.

Diagnosing Hand & Wrist Pain

Effective treatment for hand and wrist pain starts with finding out what’s causing it. We use multiple tests to get a complete picture of what’s happening in your wrist and hand. You may need:

Imaging studies: Tests such as CT scans, MRIs or X-rays allow us to take a closer look at your bones, soft tissues and blood vessels.
Nerve conduction studies: We stimulate your nerves with small electrical pulses to measure how quickly an electrical signal moves through your nerves.

Hand & Wrist Pain Treatment

Our team designs personalized, effective treatment plans to relieve hand and wrist pain. Whether you need nonsurgical treatment or a complex procedure, our team can help. Treatment may include:

Noninvasive Hand & Wrist Pain Treatment

In some cases, hand or wrist pain goes away without medical interventions. Your provider may advise resting your hand and wrist as much as you can and avoiding any activities that worsen pain. You may take over-the-counter pain relievers, apply ice packs or use a splint or brace for a period of time, if necessary.

Hand & Wrist Therapy

At UVM Health, you have access to the largest team of hand therapists in Vermont and northern New York. These specialists offer exercises and treatments that help reduce pain, restore range of motion and increase strength. Many conditions causing hand and wrist pain can be treated with hand therapy alone. We also offer therapy as part of recovery from surgery.

Hand & Wrist Surgery

Surgery may be used to relieve nerve compression, repair a torn ligament or stabilize a broken bone. Our team also specializes in complex surgeries to fuse bones, repair severed (cut) tendons, repair blood vessels and nerves, and place skin grafts.