Differential Diagnosis for Left Wrist Pain
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Tendinitis: This is often the most common cause of wrist pain, especially if it's related to repetitive motion or overuse. Tendons in the wrist can become inflamed, leading to pain and discomfort.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: This condition occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand and wrist.
- Wrist Sprain: A sprain can occur when the ligaments surrounding the wrist joint are stretched or torn, often due to a fall onto an outstretched hand. This can cause pain, swelling, and limited mobility.
- Ganglion Cyst: A ganglion cyst is a noncancerous lump that can develop on the wrist joint. It's usually filled with a jelly-like fluid and can cause pain, especially if it presses on a nerve.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Fracture: Although less common, a fracture (break) in one of the bones of the wrist can cause significant pain and must be diagnosed promptly to ensure proper healing. A missed fracture can lead to complications such as malunion or nonunion.
- Infection (Septic Arthritis): An infection within the wrist joint can lead to severe pain, swelling, and potentially serious complications if not treated promptly with antibiotics.
- Nerve Compression or Damage: Conditions that compress or damage nerves in the wrist, such as acute carpal tunnel syndrome or nerve lacerations, require immediate attention to prevent long-term nerve damage.
Rare Diagnoses
- Kienböck's Disease: A rare condition where the blood supply to one of the bones in the wrist (the lunate) is interrupted, leading to the bone's death (avascular necrosis). It can cause chronic wrist pain.
- Gout or Pseudogout: These are forms of arthritis that can cause sudden, severe attacks of pain and swelling in the joints, including the wrist. They are less common causes of wrist pain but should be considered, especially in patients with a history of these conditions.
- Osteonecrosis: Similar to Kienböck's disease but can affect different bones in the wrist, leading to their necrosis due to lack of blood supply.