
A combination of rest, ice, compression and elevation and maybe an anti-inflammatory medicine is usually enough to calm down most golf-related wrist pain. A splint can also let the wrist rest after an injury or aggravation of pain. If your pain flares up when you return to play, find a hand and wrist specialist as soon as possible.
What can I do about the pain in my fingers after golf?
Cortisone injections can be helpful, as can resting the hand or using supportive splints. If your pain is isolated primarily in the base of certain fingers after golf, you may be suffering from isolated flexor tendonitis.
How can I get rid of the pain in my hands?
These can be recommended by a hand therapist. Changing grips on the golf club may also help. Sometimes steroid injections (also known as a cortisone shot) are tried.
How can I protect my wrist joints on the golf course?
Here Phillips offers a plan for better on-course wrist safety, and Golf Digest fitness advisor Ben Shear provides some exercises to protect these joints. ▶ Grips come in four diameters, according to Golf Pride, and you can use tape to vary the thickness even more.
Do you play golf with pain?
Editor's note: A lot of golfers are playing hurt. Not broken-bones hurt, but with things like tendinitis, sore muscles and arthritis.

Why do my hands hurt during golf?
A bad grip often contributes to hand pain after golf. Gripping the club too tightly or in the wrong way can result in injury. One hand injury we see in golfers is a fracture of the hook of the hamate. The hook of the hamate is a bone in your wrist.
How do you get rid of soreness from golf?
For relief of the acute pain and to promote healing from golf-related muscle strains and low back pain, it is generally advisable to rest for a day or two, apply heat and/or ice, and take pain medication.
Can golf cause arthritis in hands?
Yes, It's Possible! Arthritis can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints that can interfere with daily activities and make physical activity difficult. You may be tempted to give up physical activity altogether to avoid pain.
Can I play golf with carpal tunnel?
Most people can return to activities like golf in four to six weeks. Success rates for carpal tunnel release are very high, and complications are rare. Learn more about hand procedures and treatments.
How to treat tendonitis in golfer's elbow?
Initial treatment for tendonitis consists of rest, ice, stretching, splinting and anti-inflammatory medications. For tennis elbow , try to lift objects palm up. For golfer’s elbow, try to lift objects with the palm down.
How to reduce the chance of injury while golfing?
The following are a few ways that could reduce the chances of an injury while golfing: Proper warm up and stretching is important. Make sure you stretch hamstrings, calves, obliques, back, shoulders, and wrists before you begin golfing.
What are the injuries in golf?
Golf Injuries to the Hand, Wrist or Elbow. Hand, wrist and elbow injuries are common for golfers of all skill levels. The golf swing is a complex, coordinated series of motions. Golf injuries can result from poor technique or overuse. They can also result from a single direct blow, like hitting a tree root. The following are a few ways that could ...
What are the types of injuries that can occur in golf?
Types of Golf Injuries. Golf injuries can include tendonitis, sprains or fractures (broken bones). These injuries may arise by the repeated stress of practicing the golf swing. Gripping activities like hammering or heavy lifting can also cause these injuries. Some specific golf injuries may include: Sprained Wrist.
Where does tendonitis occur in the hand?
In the wrist, tendonitis often occurs in the leading hand (left hand for a right handed player). In the elbow, this can sometimes be referred to as medial epicondylitis or “golfer’s elbow.”. Pain is often on the inner, or medial, part of the elbow. This is where the muscles that bend the wrist and fingers attach (Figure 1).
What causes a blood clot in the palm of the hand?
The ulnar artery is one of the main arteries to the hand. This occurs where repeated blows weaken the vessel wall. It then causes it to increase in size, and sometimes a blood clot forms. There is often pain in the palm, and sometimes disrupted blood flow going to the fingertips.
How to fix golfer's elbow?
For golfer’s elbow, try to lift objects with the palm down. Tendonitis can be improved by certain exercises. These exercises stretch and strengthen muscles and tendons. These can be recommended by a hand therapist. Changing grips on the golf club may also help.
What to do if your finger hurts from golf?
If you start to notice pain in your fingers from golf, talk with your local golf pro about your grip and swing. Also, if you consistently have a sore finger or soreness in any body part from golf, tell your doctor and be ready to provide details about the condition.
What to do if you have a sore finger from golf?
Also, if you consistently have a sore finger or soreness in any body part from golf, tell your doctor and be ready to provide details about the condition. Be able to explain the nature of the pain as sharp, throbbing, dull, tingly and so on.
What is the cause of flexor tendonitis?
Your flexor tendons are those that connect the muscles in your forearms to your fingers, and the constant flexing and squeezing of the fingers in sports like golf and tennis can result in flexor tendonitis. Part of the tendon can become inflamed and swollen and a nodule develops around the base of the affected fingers.
Why do my fingers hurt after playing golf?
If your pain is isolated primarily in the base of certain fingers after golf, you may be suffering from isolated flexor tendonitis. Your flexor tendons are those that connect the muscles in your forearms to your fingers, and the constant flexing and squeezing of the fingers in sports like golf and tennis can result in flexor tendonitis .
How to tell if your finger is hurting from golf?
If you start to notice pain in your fingers from golf, talk with your local golf pro about your grip and swing. You may be gripping the club too tightly or in a manner that is putting too much pressure on one finger. A pro might have some easy changes you can make. Also, if you consistently have a sore finger or soreness in any body part from golf, tell your doctor and be ready to provide details about the condition. Be able to explain the nature of the pain as sharp, throbbing, dull, tingly and so on. And think about when it started, how long it lasts, what helps relieve it and how much it hurts on a scale of 1 to 10.
What is the pain in the middle of my finger after golf?
If your pain is isolated primarily in the base of certain fingers after golf, you may be suffering from isolated flexor tendonitis.
What is the condition that attacks golfers?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune condition and can strike people in their 30s and 40s. It also often appears in the hands, so the tight grip on a club for a round of golf can leave rheumatoid arthritis sufferers in real pain 1. Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that attacked superstar golfer Phil Mickelson in 2010.
What happens when you swing your hand?
The forces applied to the hands throughout the swing can cause soft-tissue inflammation or sprains, nerve damage, or fractures to the eight tiny carpal bones of the joint. The most easily injured is the hamate bone on the pinky side of your glove hand at the wrist.
How many diameters are golf grips?
GET FITTED. ▶ Grips come in four diameters, according to Golf Pride, and you can use tape to vary the thickness even more. Unfortunately, most average golfers don't realize this and simply use the grips that came on the clubs. If your grip is too small, the tendency is to hold it in the palms ( see No. 2) and/or too tightly.
Do golfers have hand injuries?
Considering the punishment your wrists endure because of golf—helping you swing the club through thick grass, plugged bunker lies and two-hour grind sessions on the range—it's amazing more golfers don't suffer hand injuries. "Actually, they do," says Dave Phillips, golf-and-fitness expert at the Titleist Performance Institute. "They're fairly common, and you typically don't come back quickly from one."
What is the thumb in golf?
The thumb is remarkable, and we ask much of it. Gripping a golf club throughout the swing means positioning the thumb at multiple points in space , and that demands great flexibility. This flexibility is provided by two hinge joints and the very agile basilar joint — where the thumb plugs into your wrist — plus great strength and stability.
What joint should a thumb splint be used for?
Any splint used should include the thumb to help support the basilar joint. Doctor Visit: A diagnosis will likely entail the doctor loading the thumb’s basilar joint and briefly “grinding” it — you may feel the discomfort and mechanical symptoms that accompany joint irregularity.
Why does my thumb feel weakened?
Your hand may feel weakened as discomfort can lead to protecting the thumb from tasks (e.g., opening jar s) in which grip power is necessary and potentially painful. Self-Care: There is a wide range of nonsurgical managements—ice, heat, splints and judicious use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatories.
Can golfers get arthritis?
This balancing act can create a problem that manifests as friction at the basilar joint—aka arthritis. Almost all golfers will eventually get a little degenerative “wear and tear” arthritis at the thumb joint.
How to avoid injury in golf?
HOW TO AVOID INJURY: Players who don't turn well in the backswing tend to pin the left arm across the chest ( above, 1). Turning the upper body can be physically challenging for some golfers; others find it just plain scary, because they feel as if they won't get back to hit the ball.
What happens when you lock your knee in golf?
Many golfers square the left foot and lock the knee in an internally rotated position (right, 1), which leads to an increased shearing force on the knee joint. The typical injury is to the medial meniscus and can lead to degeneration of the articular cartilage and arthritis. — Andrews.
What happens when you swing a golf shot?
WHAT HAPPENS: A strained lower back is the most common golf injury, and the one most likely to shorten a career. The modern power swing is all about the rotation of the pelvis through the shot. The torque this creates between the pelvis and the lumbar spine pulls the ligaments, tendons and muscles in that area. Also, the shearing effect can wear away the discs between the vertebrae in the lumbar spine, leading to disc disease; that's the real career-ender. — Andrews
What is a labral tear in golf?
But labral tears (torn cartilage) are becoming common and often can be traced to the backswing. When golfers keep the left arm tight to the chest as they swing back, they can tear the labrum that stabilizes the shoulder joint. This is called a posterior labral tear, and the golfer feels pain in the back of the shoulder. — Andrews
What is it called when you have tennis elbow?
It's called lateral epicondylitis , or tennis elbow. Golfer's elbow affects the inside of the trail arm and is caused by the repeated straining and rotation of that arm through impact, but it's less common. — Andrews. HOW TO AVOID INJURY: Many golfers confuse keeping the left arm straight with locking it (below, 1).
Can you play golf without a lower back injury?
The problem is, many golfers can't do that without a lower-back injury. Instead, try to turn everything in unison; the hips and shoulders should rotate back together and through together (2). You might sacrifice some power, but you'll save your back and stay in the game. — Johnson.
KMeloney
Reviving an old thread here, 'cause it's remarkable how similar the OP's pain sounds like mine. If you go back and read the OP's post, that's what I have going on. What's interesting is how temporary it is. I've only ever experienced the pain a couple times on the driving range, and once this summer, maybe 6 holes into a round.
radiman
I was googling this exact symptom and came across this thread. I know it was a long time ago, but the OP never came back to state what his results were. But, I have the exact same symptoms and was wondering if anyone else out there had some insight on what the cause was for them if they experienced it.
radiman
I went in for my issues and the doc told me it was tendinitis. Now I wear a brace at work and take some prescription anti-inflammatory. I have to say, that it is gradually getting better. The dr. had me do the Finkelstein test. For those that are experiencing this, try it out.
ph00ny
Haven't touched the club since last friday. I guess i will try to swing easy as possible tomorrow and see how it turns out
ph00ny
Just got my MRI results back and it says i have a bone spur in my third metacarpal-carpal articulation/base of the third metacarpal bone. Not sure what it means but i guess i will be hearing from my doc on monday. It also says to get it shaved off if it's bothersome
Guest
Sorry to bring up an old post but I have the exact same symptoms as first poster and a few others. Left hand is really painful for first practice swings and firs five shots, then disappears until the next time. I've had Xray and MRI which haven't come up with much - does this mean just some sort of tendonitis?
Hawkeye77
Yep, no need to revive a dead thread over a medical issue - don't play through pain, get it diagnosed by a specialist (i.e., not a stranger on the internet). Looking for self-treatment advice is, well, silly.
How to reduce impact on your arms and legs?
It can be worth trying to adapt your swing; a small back swing and an assured follow-through on the downswing are great ways to reduce the impact on your legs and arms. Modify Your Kit. Beyond how you play, it's important to also consider what you're playing with.
How does a lighter golf club help you?
Here are some areas where additions or changes to your equipment could make a big difference to your game: Longer, lighter clubs: Not only will a lighter club absorb more shock while in use , but it also lightens the weight in your golf bag. Longer clubs help to keep you standing straight and save you from bending down.
What is a low compression golf ball?
Low compression balls: A low compression ball has less resistance when you hit it, reducing the strain to your hands, arms and shoulders while you follow though. Longer tees: Like longer clubs these will help you stand straight. They also look after your joints by reducing the risk of inadvertently striking the ground.
Can arthritis affect golf?
It's easy to feel anxious about how arthritis might affect your ability to keep on playing golf, but the future is brighter than you may have anticipated. Not only is it very possible to go on playing golf with your arthritis, with a few modifications to your kit the game could be the very thing to keep you healthy.
