Tendinitis is the painful inflammation of tendons, the fibrous tissue that connects muscle to bone. Many of the muscles of the wrist are not located in the wrist, but in the forearm. Therefore, the muscles in the forearm have tendons that attach to bones in the wrist to allow for movement. These tendons are protected from injury and inflammation by a synovium, which is a slippery type of tissue that reduces the friction between tendon and bone. However, with repetitive use, the tendon may become inflamed and lead to other symptoms of wrist tendinitis.
Swelling
Swelling is a necessary symptom of tendinitis. This occurs because repetitive use or injury of the tendon causes your body to send chemical signals to the area of irritation. These chemical signals cause swelling of the irritated tendon. Swelling can occur anywhere along the tendon, from the forearm to the wrist. It can also involve structures that are near the tendon, such as the synovium, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Pain
According to the Mayo Clinic, pain is a common symptom of tendinitis. This pain is usually dull in nature and occurs because swelling of the tendon can aggravate nearby nerves that sense pain. In addition, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) states that the pain may move from the wrist to the forearm over time. Specifically in the wrist, the pain is worse with bending or extending the wrist. If you are experiencing pain in your wrist, tendinitis is likely, but it may also be a fracture or nerve compression.
Tenderness
Tenderness may be experienced when the area of the inflamed tendon is touched. This symptom can be quite beneficial to your doctor because it can help localize the problem and aid in diagnosis. The AAOS states that numbness may be experienced along the inflamed tendon--particularly on the back of the thumb and index finger--because of aggravated nerves in its proximity.
