Causes of Wrist conditions
Wrist conditions Causes: Book Excerpts
Related information on causes of Wrist conditions:
As with all medical conditions,
there may be many causal factors.
Further relevant information on causes of Wrist conditions may be found in:
Causes of Wrist conditions: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the causes of Wrist conditions.
Wrist & Hand Pain/Swelling:
Differential Diagnosis
(In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)
-
Carpal tunnel syndrome
–Most common cause of significant wrist discomfort and morbidity
–Associated with repetitive use activities (e.g., typing)
–Pain and numbness symptoms result from entrapment of the median nerve under the transverse ligament
-
Overuse injury
-
Osteoarthritis
-
Tenosynovitis (DeQuervain's) of the radial wrist
–Results from inflammation of the tendon sheaths of the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollis longus
- Ganglion cysts
–Common growths of tendons and ligaments in the wrist area occurring on both the dorsal and ventral surface
–They are compressible, round, often tender, and mobile
-
Trauma
–The most common mechanism of injury is a fall on the outstretched hand
–The most commonly fractured carpal bone is the scaphoid
–Other mechanisms include direct blows, crush injuries, fall on an angulated wrist, and severe twisting motions
-
Fibromyalgia
-
Compartment syndrome
-
Chest or shoulder masses, resulting in compression of lymphatic or venous systems
-
Venous thrombosis of the subclavian or distal veins
-
Flaccid paralysis following a CVA
-
Angioedema secondary to hymenoptera sting
-
Rheumatologic disease
-
Peripheral neuropathy
-
Insect or animal bite/sting
-
Infection (e.g., staphylococcus aureus, streptococci)
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: In a Page: Signs and Symptoms, 2004
Arm pain:
Medical causes
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
❑ Angina. Angina may cause inner arm pain as well as chest and jaw pain. Typically, the pain follows exertion and persists for a few minutes. Accompanied by dyspnea, diaphoresis, and apprehension, the pain is relieved by rest or vasodilators such as nitroglycerin.
❑ Biceps rupture. Rupture of the biceps after excessive weight lifting or osteoarthritic degeneration of bicipital tendon insertion at the shoulder can cause pain in the upper arm. Forearm flexion and supination aggravate the pain. Other signs and symptoms include muscle weakness, deformity, and edema.
❑ Cellulitis. Typically, cellulitis affects the legs, but it can also affect the arms. It produces pain as well as redness, tenderness, edema and, at times, fever, chills, tachycardia, headache, and hypotension. Cellulitis usually follows an injury or insect bite.
❑ Cervical nerve root compression. Compression of the cervical nerves supplying the upper arm produces chronic arm and neck pain, which may worsen with movement or prolonged sitting. The patient may also experience muscle weakness, paresthesia, and decreased reflex response.
❑ Compartment syndrome. Severe pain with passive muscle stretching is the cardinal symptom of compartment syndrome. It may also impair distal circulation and cause muscle weakness, decreased reflex response, paresthesia, and edema. Ominous signs include paralysis and an absent pulse.
❑ Fractures. In fractures of the cervical vertebrae, humerus, scapula, clavicle, radius, or ulna, pain can occur at the injury site and radiate throughout the entire arm. Pain at a fresh fracture site is intense and worsens with movement. Associated signs and symptoms include crepitus, felt and heard from bone ends rubbing together (don’t attempt to elicit this sign); deformity, if bones are misaligned; local ecchymosis and edema; impaired distal circulation; paresthesia; and decreased sensation distal to the injury site. Fractures of the small wrist bones can manifest with pain and swelling several days after the trauma.
❑ Muscle contusion. Muscle contusion may cause generalized pain in the area of injury. It may also cause local swelling and ecchymosis.
❑ Muscle strain. Acute or chronic muscle strain causes mild to severe pain with movement. The resultant reduction in arm movement may cause muscle weakness and atrophy.
❑ Myocardial infarction (MI). An MI is a life-threatening disorder in which the patient may complain of left arm pain as well as the characteristic deep and crushing chest pain. He may display weakness, pallor, nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, altered blood pressure, tachycardia, dyspnea, and feelings of apprehension or impending doom.
❑ Neoplasms of the arm. Neoplasms of the arm produce continuous, deep, and penetrating arm pain that worsens at night. Occasionally, redness and swelling accompany arm pain; later, skin breakdown, impaired circulation, and paresthesia may occur.
❑ Osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis typically begins with vague and evanescent localized arm pain and fever and is accompanied by local tenderness, painful and restricted movement and, later, swelling. Associated findings include malaise and tachycardia.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006
Arm pain:
Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Angina
Angina may cause inner arm pain as well as chest and jaw pain. Typically, the pain follows exertion and persists for a few minutes. Accompanied by dyspnea, diaphoresis, and apprehension, the pain is relieved by rest or vasodilators such as nitroglycerin.
Biceps rupture
Rupture of the biceps after excessive weight lifting or osteoarthritic degeneration of bicipital tendon insertion at the shoulder can cause pain in the upper arm. Forearm flexion and supination aggravate the pain. Other signs and symptoms include muscle weakness, deformity, and edema.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis typically affects the legs, but it can also affect the arms. It produces pain as well as redness, tenderness, edema and, at times, fever, chills, tachycardia, headache, and hypotension. Cellulitis usually follows an injury or insect bite.
Cervical nerve root compression
Compression of the cervical nerves supplying the upper arm produces chronic arm and neck pain, which may worsen with movement or prolonged sitting. The patient may also experience muscle weakness, paresthesia, and decreased reflex response.
Compartment syndrome
Severe pain with passive muscle stretching is the cardinal symptom of compartment syndrome, which may also impair distal circulation and cause muscle weakness, decreased reflex response, paresthesia, and edema. Ominous signs include paralysis and absent pulse.
Fractures
In fractures of the cervical vertebrae, humerus, scapula, clavicle, radius, or ulna, pain can occur at the injury site and radiate throughout the entire arm. Pain at a fresh fracture site is intense and worsens with movement. Associated signs and symptoms include crepitus, which is felt and heard from bone ends rubbing together (don’t attempt to elicit this sign); deformity if bones are misaligned; local ecchymosis and edema; impaired distal circulation; paresthesia; and decreased sensation distal to the injury site. Fractures of the small wrist bones can manifest with pain and swelling several days after the trauma.
Muscle contusion
Muscle contusion may cause generalized pain in the injured area as well as local swelling and ecchymosis.
Muscle strain
Acute or chronic muscle strain causes mild to severe pain with movement. The resultant reduction in arm movement may cause muscle weakness and atrophy.
Myocardial infarction
In this life-threatening disorder, the patient may complain of left arm pain in addition to the characteristic deep and crushing chest pain. He may display weakness, pallor, nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, altered blood pressure, tachycardia, dyspnea, and feelings of apprehension or impending doom.
Neoplasm of the arm
A neoplasm of the arm produces continuous, deep, and penetrating arm pain that worsens at night. Occasionally, redness and swelling accompany arm pain; later, skin breakdown, impaired circulation, and paresthesia may occur.
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis typically begins with vague and evanescent localized arm pain and fever and is accompanied by local tenderness, painful and restricted movement and, later, swelling. Associated findings include malaise and tachycardia.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Wristdrop:
Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Wristdrop may occur in this syndrome, but the primary neurologic sign is diffuse muscle weakness that typically begins in the legs and ascends to the arms and facial nerves within 24 to 72 hours. Associated findings include paresthesia, diminished or absent corneal reflexes, dysarthria, hypernasality, dysphagia, respiratory insufficiency, and possibly respiratory paralysis. Sympathetic nerve dysfunction—such as orthostatic hypotension, loss of bladder and bowel control, diaphoresis, and tachycardia—may also occur.
Multiple sclerosis
This disorder may cause wristdrop, but the earliest symptoms are usually diplopia, visual blurring, and paresthesia. Other findings include nystagmus, constipation, muscle weakness, paralysis, spasticity, hyperreflexia, intention tremor, gait ataxia, dysphagia, dysarthria, urinary dysfunction, impotence, and emotional lability.
Myasthenia gravis
In this disorder, weakness causes wristdrop. Associated findings vary with the muscle group affected and may include weak eye closure, ptosis, diplopia, masklike facies, difficulty chewing and swallowing, nasal regurgitation of fluids, and hypernasality. Weakened neck muscles may lead to head bobbing. Respiratory muscle weakness produces myasthenic crisis.
Radial nerve injury
Compression, severance, or inflammation of the radial nerve causes a loss of motor and sensory function in the involved area. This may result in wristdrop, which may be temporary if the injury is incomplete. Other findings in radial nerve injury include loss of finger and elbow extension, forearm supination, and thumb abduction; paresthesia and numbness; and hand muscle atrophy.
Other causes
Lead poisoning
Inorganic lead poisoning may cause a motor neuropathy that typically involves the radial nerve.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Wrist/Hand Pain:
Differential Overview
(Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis)
Phenomena
❑ Wrist sprain
❑ Paronychia
❑ Ganglion cyst
❑ Carpal tunnel syndrome
❑ Ulnar neuropathy
❑ Trigger finger
❑ Mallet finger
❑ Digital ganglion
❑ Dupuytren contracture
❑ De Quervain tenosynovitis
❑ Colle fracture
❑ Navicular fracture
❑ Metacarpal fracture
❑ Felon
❑ Bennet fracture
❑ Smith fracture
❑ Flexor tendon rupture
❑ Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
❑ Lunate dislocation
Hands in Arthritis
❑ Osteoarthritis
❑ Rheumatoid arthritis
❑ Gout
❑ Systemic lupus erythematosus
❑ Psoriatic arthritis
❑ Scleroderma
❑ Gonococcal arthritis
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis, 2007
Arm pain:
Medical causes
(Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses)
Angina
Angina may cause inner arm pain as well as chest and jaw pain. Typically, pain follows exertion and persists for a few minutes. Accompanied by dyspnea, diaphoresis, and apprehension, the pain is relieved by rest or vasodilators, such as nitroglycerin.
Cellulitis
Typically, cellulitis affects the legs, but it can also affect the arms. It produces pain as well as redness, tenderness, edema and, at times, fever, chills, tachycardia, headache, and hypotension. Cellulitis usually follows an injury or an insect bite.
Cervical nerve root compression
Compression of the cervical nerves supplying the upper arm produces chronic arm and neck pain, which may worsen with movement or prolonged sitting. The patient may also experience muscle weakness, paresthesia, and decreased reflex response.
Compartment syndrome
Severe pain with passive muscle stretching is the cardinal symptom of compartment syndrome. It may also impair distal circulation and cause muscle weakness, decreased reflex response, paresthesia, and edema. Ominous signs include paralysis and absent pulse.
Fractures
In fractures of the cervical vertebrae, humerus, scapula, clavicle, radius, or ulna, pain can occur at the injury site and radiate throughout the entire arm. Pain at a fresh fracture site is intense and worsens with movement. Associated signs and symptoms include crepitus, felt and heard from bone ends rubbing together (don’t attempt to elicit this sign); deformity, if bones are misaligned; local ecchymosis and edema; impaired distal circulation; paresthesia; and decreased sensation distal to the injury site. Fractures of the small wrist bones can manifest with pain and swelling several days after the trauma.
Muscle contusion or strain
Muscle contusion may cause generalized pain in the area of injury. It may also cause local swelling and ecchymosis. Acute or chronic muscle strain causes mild to severe pain with movement. The resultant reduction in arm movement may cause muscle weakness and atrophy.
Myocardial infarction
A patient with myocardial infarction, a life-threatening disorder, may complain of left arm pain as well as the characteristic deep and crushing chest pain. He may display weakness, pallor, nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, altered blood pressure, tachycardia, dyspnea, and feelings of apprehension or impending doom.
Neoplasms of the arm
A neoplasm of the arm produces continuous, deep, and penetrating arm pain that worsens at night. Occasionally, redness and swelling accompany arm pain; later, skin breakdown, impaired circulation, and paresthesia may occur.
Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis typically begins with vague and evanescent localized arm pain and fever and is accompanied by local tenderness, painful and restricted movement and, later, swelling. Associated findings include malaise and tachycardia.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses, 2007
Arm pain:
Medical causes
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
Angina.Angina may cause inner arm pain as well as chest and jaw pain. Typically, the pain follows exertion and persists for a few minutes. Accompanied by dyspnea, diaphoresis, and apprehension, the pain is relieved by rest or vasodilators such as nitroglycerin.
Biceps rupture.Rupture of the biceps after excessive weight lifting or osteoarthritic degeneration of bicipital tendon insertion at the shoulder can cause pain in the upper arm. Forearm flexion and supination aggravate the pain. Other signs and symptoms include muscle weakness, deformity, and edema.
Carpal tunnel syndrome.Median nerve compression in the carpal tendon of the wrist may cause numbness and tingling in the fingers, along with increasing arm pain. Symptoms usually occur at night, but may increase over time with continued repetitive movement of the hand.
Cellulitis.Typically, cellulitis affects the legs, but it can also affect the arms. It produces pain as well as redness, tenderness, edema and, at times, fever, chills, tachycardia, headache, and hypotension. Cellulitis usually follows an injury or insect bite.
Cervical nerve root compression.Compression of the cervical nerves supplying the upper arm produces chronic arm and neck pain, which may worsen with movement or prolonged sitting. The patient may also experience muscle weakness, paresthesia, and decreased reflex response.
Compartment syndrome.Severe pain with passive muscle stretching is the cardinal symptom of compartment syndrome. It may also impair distal circulation and cause muscle weakness, decreased reflex response, paresthesia, and edema. Ominous signs include paralysis and an absent pulse.
Fractures.In fractures of the cervical vertebrae, humerus, scapula, clavicle, radius, or ulna, pain can occur at the injury site and radiate throughout the entire arm. Pain at a fresh fracture site is intense and worsens with movement. Associated signs and symptoms include crepitus, felt and heard from bone ends rubbing together (don't attempt to elicit this sign); deformity, if bones are misaligned; local ecchymosis and edema; impaired distal circulation; paresthesia; and decreased sensation distal to the injury site. Fractures of the small wrist bones can manifest with pain and swelling several days after the trauma.
Muscle contusion.Muscle contusion may cause generalized pain in the area of injury. It may also cause local swelling and ecchymosis.
Muscle strain.Acute or chronic muscle strain causes mild to severe pain with movement. The resultant reduction in arm movement may cause muscle weakness and atrophy.
Myocardial infarction (MI).MI is a life-threatening disorder in which the patient may complain of left arm pain as well as the characteristic deep and crushing chest pain. He may display weakness, pallor, nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, altered blood pressure, tachycardia, dyspnea, and feelings of apprehension or impending doom.
Neoplasms of the arm.Neoplasms of the arm produce continuous, deep, and penetrating arm pain that worsens at night. Occasionally, redness and swelling accompany arm pain; later, skin breakdown, impaired circulation, and paresthesia may occur.
Osteomyelitis.Osteomyelitis typically begins with vague and evanescent localized arm pain and fever and is accompanied by local tenderness, painful and restricted movement and, later, swelling. Associated findings include malaise and tachycardia.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
Treating nerve damage from diabetes requires a two-pronged approach: controlling blood sugar and alleviating the pain caused by peripheral...
Osteoporosis is a disease that affects millions of women and men around the world. But with early detection, the serious consequences of osteoporosis...
People with osteoporosis are often unaware that they have the disease until they sustain a fracture, which can result from the slightest accident....
Osteoporosis has long been a concern for any woman approaching her senior years, but until recent recent years there were few treatment options. Now...
See full list of 7 related videos
» Next page: Symptoms of Wrist conditions
Rate This Website
What do you think about the features of this website?
Take our user survey and have your say:
Website User Survey
Medical Tools & Articles:
Next articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Forums & Message Boards
- Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
