What Are the 5 Hand and Wrist Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore?

In this episode of the OrthoInfo podcast, hand and wrist surgeons Erica Taylor, MD, MBA, FAAOS, and Rashard Dacus, MD, FAAOS, walk through five common hand and wrist symptoms that patients should never ignore.

They explain what each symptom might mean, how it is typically evaluated, and when it calls for prompt medical attention rather than a wait-and-see approach. Dr. Dacus draws on his extensive experience treating both athletes and everyday patients to explain how pain, nerve issues, tendon problems, and joint dysfunction can all show up in ways that look similar but require very different treatment.

Along the way, the two discuss when symptoms can be managed at home, when they call for an office visit, and when they signal a true emergency. They also spend time talking about prevention, offering practical advice for keeping hands and wrists healthy over the long term.

Key topics covered in this episode:

• Numbness and tingling that keeps returning, including the difference between local causes like carpal tunnel and systemic or neck-related causes

• How the location of numbness, whether in one finger or the whole hand, can help narrow down the underlying cause

• Swelling or pain after an injury that doesn't improve, including how to use RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) at home

• Warning signs that mean a patient should skip home treatment and seek urgent or emergency care

• Weakness, loss of grip, or dropping objects, and how pain, nerve issues, or tendon problems can each play a role

• A finger that gets stuck, droops, or doesn't move normally, including trigger finger, mallet finger, and tendon injuries

• How often these hand and wrist conditions can be treated without surgery

• Red flag symptoms such as deformity, color change, severe pain, and signs of infection that require immediate attention

• Everyday prevention strategies, including awareness of overuse, protective equipment, and honest self-assessment of injuries

• When to see a hand and wrist specialist versus another type of provider

As Dr. Taylor and Dr. Dacus both note, many hand and wrist issues can be managed effectively, but only if patients pay attention to persistent or worsening symptoms and seek care early rather than waiting for things to resolve on their own.

Host: Erica Taylor, MD, MBA, FAAOS, orthopaedic hand surgeon, Duke Health; Vice President of Health Equity, Duke Orthopaedics; Vice Chair of Culture, Engagement, and Impact, Duke University School of Medicine; Duke Fuqua School of Business Executive Faculty

Guest: Rashard Dacus, MD, FAAOS, the Charles J. Frankel Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division Head of the Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Service, University of Virginia; Vice Chair of Community and Wellness, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia; team physician for James Madison University Athletics