A wrist pain diagnosis chart helps you pinpoint where your wrist pain is and what might be causing it. By knowing the location of your pain (top, bottom, thumb side, or pinky side), you can narrow down potential issues such as tendon problems, nerve compression, fractures, or joint conditions.
Wrist pain is usually caused by injuries, overuse, or conditions such as arthritis, which can affect how we use our wrists in everyday life.
Our wrist pain diagnosis chart will help you figure out what’s going on fast. This will walk you through your symptoms and what to do next.
What is Wrist Pain
Wrist pain can come from many causes due to the complexity of the wrist joint. It’s made up of several bones, ligaments and tendons that work together to move and support the hand and wrist. Injuries or conditions to any of these can cause a lot of pain and impaired function.
Repetitive use, injuries and arthritis which can cause swelling and stiffness are common causes of wrist pain. Chronic wrist pain is usually from repetitive stress injuries and different types of arthritis that affect wrist function. Nerve compression can cause the pain to radiate to the elbow, it’s a complex web of symptoms.
Wrist injuries show up as bruising, swelling and difficulty moving the wrist or fingers, affecting daily activities.
Wrist Pain Diagnosis Chart Overview
Our wrist pain diagnosis chart breaks down wrist pain into 3 main diagnostic categories so you can identify accurately.
This visual guide categorizes wrist pain conditions by correlating symptoms to anatomical locations. Using a diagnosis chart simplifies the diagnostic process so providers can categorize wrist pain and treatment.
Tests like Finkelstein’s test and the grind test diagnose specific wrist conditions. Adding these tests to the wrist pain diagnosis chart gives providers a complete picture of the patient’s condition so they can treat more precisely. Here’s how to use these charts:
- Locate the area of pain: Is it on the thumb side, pinky side, or central part of the wrist?
- Identify the type of pain: Is it sharp, dull, burning, or intermittent?
- Note what makes it better or worse: Does it hurt more during certain activities or when you press on the area?
- Match your symptoms to the chart: Look for conditions that align with your pain and symptoms.

Diagnosing Wrist Pain by Location
Wrist pain is broken down into specific areas: dorsal, radial, central and ulnar, each with different causes and symptoms.
Moreover, you can use our wrist pain chart to help you make a more accurate diagnosis.
Here’s a breakdown of each type of wrist pain by location.
1. Dorsal Wrist Pain
Dorsal wrist pain comes from injuries to the back of the wrist, usually the ligaments. Dorsal wrist sprains occur from falls or excessive wrist extension that can stretch or tear the ligaments. Symptoms are swelling, tenderness and pain in the dorsal area of the wrist, affecting ligaments like scapholunate and lunotriquetral.
Diagnosing a dorsal wrist sprain involves a physical exam and imaging like X-rays to rule out fractures. Treatment is usually the RICE method rest, ice, compression and elevation to reduce swelling and pain. Rehabilitation includes exercises to restore range of motion and strengthen the wrist.
2. Radial Wrist Pain
Radial wrist pain is on the thumb side of the wrist. De Quervain’s tendinitis, a common condition that causes radial wrist pain, affects the tendons near the thumb and wrist movement. Symptoms are pain and swelling, making tasks that require gripping or pinching difficult.
3. Central Wrist Pain
Central wrist pain is the most common type and is located in the middle of the back of the wrist. Although less common on its own, central wrist pain is a common complaint. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition in the central wrist area, a dull ache in the wrist and forearm and pain radiating into the hand and fingers, often worse at night with tingling.
The volar central zone is the inside middle of the wrist and is important to understand pain and injuries in that area.
4. Ulnar Wrist Pain
The ulnar zone is where ulnar wrist pain is felt, the inner part of the wrist near the little finger. Gripping or twisting movements can worsen ulnar wrist pain. A TFCC (triangular fibrocartilage complex) tear is a common cause of ulnar wrist pain, causing instability and limited wrist and hand function.
Symptoms of a TFCC tear are wrist pain, swelling and limited range of motion. TFCC tears can occur from specific incidents or over time. Treatment starts with conservative approach like splinting, severe injuries may require surgery to repair the TFCC.
5. Volar wrist pain (front)
Volar wrist pain is from injuries, repetitive stress or conditions affecting the soft tissues in the wrist. Common causes are ligament injuries, tendonitis and overuse syndromes. Symptoms are swelling, tenderness and limited movement.
Treatment for volar wrist pain is rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy. In severe cases surgery may be needed to repair damaged ligaments or tendons.
Common Acute Wrist Injuries
Sprains and strains are common acute wrist injuries. Wrist fractures and contusions are also frequent. These injuries can occur from falls or sports accidents and can cause acute wrist pain and symptoms of swelling and pain.
Wrist Fractures
Injury to the growth plate at the wrist end of the radius bone is called distal radial epiphyseal injury. CT scans can show fractures and articular subluxations that are not visible in plain radiography. Wrist fractures are painful and disabling and needs prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment for wrist fractures depends on the severity and location of the fracture. Immobilization, physical therapy and sometimes surgery may be needed to heal and restore wrist function.
Read More: Hip Pain Location Chart
Wrist Sprains
Wrist sprains are classified based on ligament damage: mild overstretching, partial tear and complete tear. RICE method rest, ice, compression and elevation is recommended during the first 24 hours to reduce swelling and protect the ligaments. Immobilization is recommended for severe wrist sprains to allow healing and prevent further damage.
NSAIDs can help with pain relief for wrist sprains. Surgical options like arthroscopic debridement or fixation may be considered if conservative treatment fails or in complete ligament tears.
Physical therapy is recommended to regain mobility and strength after a wrist sprain.
TFCC Tear
The TFCC (triangular fibrocartilage complex) is an important structure in the wrist that provides stability and cushioning between the wrist bones. The TFCC acts as a shock absorber for the wrist and maintains ulnar joint integrity.
Symptoms of TFCC tear are wrist pain on the ulnar side, swelling and limited motion especially in complex joint movements.
Treatment for TFCC tear starts with conservative approach like rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medications. If symptoms persists after conservative treatment, surgical options may be considered to repair the TFCC.

Chronic Wrist Conditions
Chronic wrist pain is pain that occurs over time and not related to a single incident. Conditions like arthritis can cause swelling and stiffness in the wrist and can cause ulnar pain. Gout and pseudogout can also cause wrist pain because of crystals formation in the joints.
Both conservative and surgical approach can manage wrist pain depending on the severity of the injury.
Research indicates that the median prevalence of wrist pain in the general population is about 6% and this increases to 19.1% when one considers pain suffered within the past year.
Wrist Tendonitis
Wrist tendonitis is caused by repetitive motion and overuse. Individuals above 40 and those with repetitive wrist motion job are at higher risk for tendonitis. Symptoms are stiffness, pain and swelling.
Treatment for wrist tendonitis usually includes rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medications. Physical therapy may also be recommended to strengthen the wrist and prevent future injuries.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome, caused by compression of the median nerve, is a common cause of wrist and hand pain.
As you can see, this occurs when excessive pressure is applied to the median nerve in the wrist passageway. Symptoms are numbness, tingling and pain especially in the thumb, index and middle fingers, often at night.
Diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome is done through physical examination and tests like Tinel’s sign. Electromyograms (EMG) assess the electrical activity of the muscles to confirm the diagnosis.
Read More: Heel Pain Diagnosis Chart
Ganglion Cysts
A ganglion cyst is a small lump in the wrist. It’s non-cancerous and connected to a ligament. These fluid filled sacs appear on the opposite side of the palm and can limit motion and cause discomfort. Ganglion cyst pain varies among individuals. Everyone’s experience with this pain is different.
Unexpected right ?
If the cyst hinders motion or causes significant pain, treatment is needed. Options are aspiration to drain the cyst or surgical removal if conservative treatment fails.
Wrist bursitis
Wrist bursitis is inflammation of the small fluid filled sacs called bursa in the wrist which causes pain and limited motion.
Symptoms:
- swelling
- tenderness
- stiffness
- pain that worsens with motion or pressure
Treatment usually starts with RICE approach rest, ice, compression and elevation to manage symptoms. Over-the-counter pain relievers can reduce inflammation and pain.
In severe cases, surgical options like drainage or removal of the bursa may be considered. Gentle stretching and strengthening exercises are also recommended to improve flexibility and reduce stiffness in the wrist.
Wrist Pain Diagnostic Tests
Wrist pain diagnosis is based on patient history, symptoms and physical examination. Use of a diagnosis chart that integrates patient history and physical examination findings can improve the accuracy of wrist diagnosis.
Imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, MRI and ultrasound are important in diagnosing wrist injuries and treatment.
Physical Examination
Symptoms are tingling, pain and numbness in the wrist and hand, especially at night. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are numbness in fingers, tingling and weakness in the hand.
During physical examination, healthcare providers will assess these symptoms, examine the wrist’s motion and perform specific tests to identify the basic condition.
A complete physical examination helps in making an accurate diagnosis and in choosing the right treatment.
Imaging Tests
X-rays are the most common imaging test to diagnose wrist injuries especially after trauma. They can detect fractures or osteoarthritis. MRI is good in identifying subtle ligament injuries that may not be visible on standard X-rays. Ultrasonography is a quick way to evaluate soft tissue injuries but its effectiveness depends on the operator.
Imaging tests are important in diagnosing wrist injuries and treatment. By integrating clinical tests and imaging results in a diagnosis chart, healthcare providers can have a complete picture of wrist pain conditions and more precise treatment.
Treatment
Treatment for wrist pain ranges from conservative to surgical. Conservative treatment like RICE, bracing and physical therapy are usually the first line of defense.
But surgery may be needed if there’s no improvement with conservative management or if there’s a full ligament tear.
Conservative Treatments
As mentioned, RICE method which is rest, ice, compression and elevation is the initial management for wrist sprains. Bracing or splinting can help stabilize the wrist and relieve pain for moderate to severe sprains.
Physical therapy includes range of motion exercises that can start as early as 24 hours after injury. These conservative treatments aims to reduce pain, promote healing and prevent further injury.
Surgical Interventions
Surgery may be needed for full ligament tears to restore wrist function. Arthroscopic surgery can be done to stabilize injured ligaments by realigning carpal bones. Thermal shrinkage is a technique that uses heat to tighten damaged ligaments.
Timing of surgical intervention is crucial as it depends on the severity of the injury and the patient’s progress of recovery.
Recovery time after wrist surgery varies, some may take few weeks and others may take months.
10 Ways to Prevent Wrist Injuries
Preventing wrist injuries is key to wrist health and pain free. Here are 10 ways to protect your wrists:
- Wear protective gear like wrist guards and padding during sports.
- Use proper technique during sports to minimize the risk of wrist injury.
- Warm up before activities that stress the wrist.
- Exercise wrist muscles regularly.
- Take breaks during repetitive tasks.
- Use ergonomic tools and setup to reduce wrist strain.
- Don’t lift heavy objects with bad form.
- Stretch your wrist regularly to maintain flexibility.
- Maintain a healthy weight to reduce stress on your joints.
- Listen to your body and rest if you feel pain or discomfort.
Bottom Line
With all of this in mind, you can use our wrist pain chart to identify pain. Isn’t that cool? You can also identify where the pain is and what kind of pain it is. This helps you to identify the symptoms and get the right treatment. Thus, you can identify the location of the pain and narrow down the possible causes and treatment options.