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Hand/Wrist/Arm Problems
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Pain and ot her problems in t he hands, wrist s and arms can be caused by injury, cert ain
act ivit ies or ot her healt h problems. Follow t his chart f or f or more inf ormat ion.
SYMPT OMS

DIAGNOSIS

SELF-CARE

Begin Here

1. Did you hit , t wist or

f all on your arm, hand
or wrist ?

Go to Question 4 .*
No

Yes

2. Is t he af f ect ed area
def ormed or swollen?

You may have a

FRACT URED bone.

URGENT
See your doct or right
away. Apply ice packs
t o t he af f ect ed area.
Use a sling t o help hold
t he arm st ill and reduce
pain. Use an over-t hecount er pain medicine
such as ibuprof en t o
relieve pain and reduce
swelling.

If t here is no f ract ure,

t he limb may be
SPRAINED.

Avoid act ivit ies t hat

cause pain. Apply ice
and don't move your
arm. Use an over-t he-

Yes

No

3. Does t he pain get

worse when you move
your arm, hand or wrist ?

Generated from

count er medicine such

as ibuprof en t o relieve
pain and reduce
swelling. See your
doct or if t he pain get s
worse.

Yes

*4. Does t he pain get

worse wit h repet it ive
movement , f or
example, while you are
working or playing a
sport ?

You may have

T ENDINIT IS,
inf lammat ion of a
t endon.

Use an over-t hecount er ant iinf lammat ory medicine

such as ibuprof en t o
relieve pain and reduce
swelling, apply ice
packs t o t he area and
rest your arm. See your
doct or if t here is no
improvement or if t he
area becomes swollen,
red or warm. T hese
may be signs of
inf ect ion.

Your may have T ENNIS

ELBOW, a type of
T ENDINIT IS.

Rest t he arm, apply ice

packs t o t he elbow, and
use an ant iinf lammat ory medicine
such as ibuprof en. See
your doct or if t here's no
improvement , you can't
bend your elbow, or if
t he area becomes
swollen, red or warm.
T hese may be signs of
inf ect ion.

You may have CARPAL

T UNNEL SYNDROME,
a compression of t he
median nerve in t he
wrist and hand.

Use ant i-inf lammat ory

medicine such as
ibuprof en t o reduce
pain and swelling. A
wrist splint may also
ease pain and
numbness. If your
sympt oms don't
improve, see your
doct or.

You may have a

GANGLION CYST, a

See your doct or if t he

cyst causes pain or

Yes

No

5. Is it painf ul t o grip a
doorknob, and does t he
pain st art on t he
out side of your elbow
and move down your
arm t o your wrist ?
Yes

No

6. Do you have
numbness or pain in
your f ingers, hand, wrist
or arm, especially when
you f lex your wrist ?
Yes

No

7. Do you have a f irm

lump or swelling near

Generated from

your wrist or f inger

joint s?

Yes

common noncancerous cyst .

begins t o grow rapidly.

T hese are all signs of

INFECT ION in t he hand,
wrist or arm.

URGENT
See your doct or right
away. Use an ant ibiot ic
oint ment on inf ect ed
cut s.

You may have

RHEUMAT OID
ART HRIT IS, an
inf lammat ory joint
condit ion. You may also
have GOUT , or an
INFECT ION of t he joint
or bone.

See your doct or right

away. Use an ant iinf lammat ory medicine
such as ibuprof en t o
relieve pain and reduce
swelling.

No

8. Do you have
redness, swelling or
pain in t he skin around a
cut or wound, or is
t here a red st reak
anywhere on your arm
or hand?

Yes

No

9. Are one or more

joint s swollen and
t ender?
Yes

No

For more inf ormat ion,

please t alk t o your
doct or. If you t hink t he
problem is serious, call
your doct or right away.
This tool has been reviewed by doctors and is for general educational purposes only. It is not a
substitute for medical advice. The information in this tool should not be relied upon to make
decisions about your health. Always consult your family doctor with questions about your
individual condition(s) and/or circumstances. Source: American Academy of Family Physicians.
Family Health & Medical Guide. Dallas: Word Publishing; 1996.
See complet e list of chart s.
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