Most people are probably familiar with carpal tunnel syndrome where impingement of the wrist (carpal tunnel) causes pain, tingling, and numbness primarily in the thumb, two adjacent fingers, and part of the palm. A similar condition can take place on the other side of the wrist where impingement of the ulnar nerve causes a radiating pain or numbness in the pinky finger, ring finger, and edge of the hand.
Thumb pain can occur from damage to various structures in your hand, including ligaments, tendons, bones, and nerves. Common conditions that cause thumb pain include arthritis, tendonitis, trigger thumb, carpal tunnel syndrome, and ligament injuries. Thumb pain can come on suddenly or develop over time from overuse of the thumb joints and muscles.
Many people can make their fingers pop and snap, often called cracking knuckles. The sound you hear is caused by nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide bubbles moving in the fluid that surrounds your joints. Rest assured that the most common causes of finger-popping are not typically a problem.
Hand and wrist pain can be common after cycling. The median and ulnar nerves may get compressed, resulting in a lack of blood flow. These prevention tips can help.
A wrist ganglion cyst is a swelling that usually occurs around the hand or wrist. A ganglion cyst is a fluid-filled capsule; they are not cancerous, will not spread, and while they may grow in size, they will not spread to other parts of your body.
