Common questions about elbow, wrist and hand pain

Usually not. Brief numbness is common, often after sleeping on your hand or pressing on it, and it passes within minutes. Repeated numbness in the fingers, especially at night, may come from pressure on a nerve at the wrist, as in carpal tunnel syndrome, or in the neck, and it is treated according to the cause. See a doctor if it keeps coming back or lasts a long time, or affects both hands and feet, as you may need tests, such as for diabetes. Call an ambulance straight away (911 in Jordan, 122 in Iraq and Kurdistan) if numbness or weakness comes on suddenly on one side of the body, or with a drooping face or difficulty speaking.

Read more: Carpal tunnel, Neck disc and pinched nerve · Source: NHS — Pins and needles · NHS — Symptoms of a stroke

Sometimes. Heart attack pain can spread from the chest to an arm, left or right, or to the neck or jaw, and it usually comes with pressure or heaviness in the chest, shortness of breath, sweating or feeling sick. If arm pain comes with these, call an ambulance straight away: 911 in Jordan or 122 in Iraq and Kurdistan. Elbow pain that gets worse when you grip things, or finger tingling that is worse at night, usually comes from the tendons or nerves, not the heart. See a doctor the same day if arm pain comes on with exertion and goes away with rest.

Read more: Tennis elbow, Carpal tunnel · Source: NHS — Chest pain · NHS — Elbow and arm pain

It can be serious if it comes on suddenly. Sudden numbness or weakness in the arm and leg on the same side, left or right, can be a sign of a stroke, especially with a drooping face, being unable to lift both arms, trouble speaking, blurred vision or dizziness: call an ambulance straight away, 911 in Jordan or 122 in Iraq and Kurdistan, and do not wait for it to pass. Numbness in one hand that comes and goes is usually due to a pressed nerve at the wrist or in the neck; it needs a non-urgent assessment, and you should see a doctor if it keeps coming back or lasts.

Read more: Carpal tunnel, Neck disc and pinched nerve · Source: NHS — Symptoms of a stroke · NHS — Pins and needles

It can be. Diabetes can affect the nerves, usually starting with numbness, tingling or pain in the feet that may later reach the hands, and diabetes is also linked with a higher chance of carpal tunnel syndrome. Other causes a doctor checks for include a lack of certain vitamins and some medicines. So if the numbness lasts or keeps coming back, especially in both hands and feet, see a doctor for the right blood tests. If you have diabetes, make sure your feet are checked regularly, and see a doctor about any cut or sore on your foot that is not healing.

Read more: Carpal tunnel · Source: NHS — Peripheral neuropathy · NHS — Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia

It is not life-threatening, but it is worth treating. It is caused by pressure on a nerve at the wrist, giving numbness, tingling or pain in the thumb, index and middle fingers, often worse at night, and sometimes a weaker grip. It can get better on its own within months, especially in pregnancy, and many mild to moderate cases improve with a night splint and changes to activity. But if the numbness becomes constant, your grip clearly weakens, or the muscle at the base of the thumb gets thinner, see a doctor soon, because pressure on the nerve that is left untreated can cause lasting damage.

Read more: Carpal tunnel · Source: NHS — Carpal tunnel syndrome · British Society for Surgery of the Hand — Carpal tunnel syndrome

Yes, in many mild to moderate cases. Guidelines recommend a night splint that keeps the wrist straight, which may take a few weeks to help, together with an explanation of the condition and changes to the activities that bring on symptoms rather than stopping using your hand, such as changing your wrist position when typing and taking short breaks. Hand exercises and manual therapy may also help, mainly in the short term, but the evidence for them is limited. If symptoms do not improve, a doctor may suggest an injection, and surgery is discussed if symptoms get worse or other treatments have not worked. At Revibe we examine the wrist and the neck together, because tingling can come from either.

Read more: Carpal tunnel · Source: Erickson M, Lawrence M, Lazinski MJ, Scott K, Martin RL (2026). Hand Pain and Sensory Deficits: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Revision 2026 — Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 56(4):CPG1–CPG79 · NHS — Carpal tunnel syndrome

It is not usually a major operation: it is often done under local anaesthetic without an overnight stay, and it relieves symptoms in most cases. But every operation has possible risks, which the surgeon explains, and the decision is the surgeon’s after an examination; it is usually considered when symptoms get worse or other treatments have not worked. Afterwards the hand needs some weeks to get back to normal activities, so follow the surgeon’s instructions and ask whether you need physiotherapy or exercises to regain movement and strength.

Read more: Carpal tunnel, Post-surgery rehab · Source: NHS — Carpal tunnel syndrome

Usually not. The most common cause is strain on the tendons from repeated movements, as in tennis elbow on the outer side or golfer’s elbow on the inner side, and it usually improves with time, activity changes and exercise. But get urgent care if you heard a snap at the time of an injury, or the elbow has changed shape or is hard to move, as it may be broken, if it is swollen and you have a high temperature, or if your arm tingles or feels numb. Call an ambulance straight away (911 in Jordan, 122 in Iraq and Kurdistan) if arm pain comes on suddenly with pressure or heaviness in the chest.

Read more: Tennis elbow · Source: NHS — Elbow and arm pain · NICE CKS — Tennis elbow

There is no single quick fix, but what the evidence supports best is patience with an active plan: temporarily reducing the movements that bring on the pain without stopping using your hand, then strengthening and stretching exercises for the forearm and wrist that are built up gradually. Cold or heat packs and a forearm strap may ease pain during activity, and manual therapy and release of muscle knots are used alongside exercise, not on their own. Most people improve over months. Injections are the doctor’s decision and may only ease pain for a short time, and surgery is considered only if the pain lasts a long time despite treatment.

Read more: Tennis elbow · Source: NICE CKS — Tennis elbow · NHS — Tennis elbow

There is not enough scientific evidence that herbs or herbal mixtures treat tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome or wrist pain, and guidelines do not list them among the recommended treatments. Herbal medicines are not tested in the same way as standard medicines, and some do not mix well with medicines you take, so ask a pharmacist before using them. What usually helps tennis elbow is changing the painful activities and gradual strengthening exercises for the forearm; for carpal tunnel syndrome, a night splint and changing the position of your wrist.

Read more: Tennis elbow, Carpal tunnel · Source: NHS — Herbal medicines and complementary therapies · NICE CKS — Tennis elbow

The most common cause is what is called golfer’s elbow, strain or irritation of the tendon of the muscles on the inner side of the elbow. It does not only affect golfers; it is linked with forceful, repeated wrist and finger movements. It causes pain and tenderness on the inner side of the elbow that may spread into the forearm and wrist. What usually helps is stopping the painful activity or finding a different way to do it, gradual exercises to strengthen the forearm and improve its flexibility, and a forearm clasp, which may take pressure off the painful area. If your arm or fingers tingle or feel numb, or there is swelling with a high temperature, see a doctor the same day.

Read more: Tennis elbow · Source: NHS Fife — Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylosis/itis), patient advice · NHS — Elbow and arm pain

It may help some people. A forearm strap or an elbow or wrist brace may ease pain during work or sport, but it does not fix the problem on its own. A brace should be snug but not tight: if it causes tingling, loosen it or take it off, and take it off before bed. The foundation remains changing the painful activities and gradual strengthening exercises for the forearm and wrist. At Revibe we help you choose what suits your work and sport as part of the plan.

Read more: Tennis elbow · Source: NHS — Tennis elbow · NHS — Tendonitis

Usually not. Common causes include a sprain, tendon inflammation at the base of the thumb, carpal tunnel syndrome, which causes tingling that is worse at night, a ganglion, which shows up as a smooth lump on top of the wrist, and arthritis. But get urgent care if the pain is severe, you heard a snap or grinding at the time of an injury, the wrist has changed shape or colour, you cannot move it or hold things, or you have lost feeling in your hand. See a doctor the same day if the wrist is hot and swollen and you have a high temperature, or after two weeks if home care has not helped.

Read more: Carpal tunnel, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis · Source: NHS — Wrist pain

Treatment depends on the cause, but in the first days it usually helps to rest the wrist when you can and reduce painful movements such as strong gripping and twisting, use a cold pack wrapped in a cloth, take a painkiller your pharmacist recommends, and wear a splint to support the wrist, especially at night. Avoid heat for the first two to three days after an injury. As the pain eases, gradual movement and strengthening exercises follow. If it has not improved within two weeks, or tingling appears, ask for an assessment to find the cause. At Revibe we examine the wrist, thumb, forearm and neck to find where the pain comes from.

Read more: Carpal tunnel, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis · Source: NHS — Wrist pain · NHS — Tendonitis

It is irritation of one of the tendons that move the fingers or thumb, causing pain that gets worse with movement and sometimes swelling or a creaking feeling. Well-known types are De Quervain’s, on the thumb side of the wrist, and trigger finger, where a finger gets stuck in a bent position. What usually helps is reducing painful movements for a while and a splint when advised, then gradual exercises; a doctor may suggest an injection or surgery if it does not improve. Sudden, severe pain with a snap during an activity or an accident may be a torn tendon: see a doctor the same day.

Read more: De Quervain’s tenosynovitis · Source: NHS — Tendonitis · NHS — Trigger finger