Wrist snapping, popping

[lacrymosa]

For a while I'm experiencing something weird about my left wrist, thumb side.
When I wake up at night or after some period of not using my left wrist it feels stiff and when I put weight on it (like when getting up from sitting in bed) there's sharp pain at the base of the thumb/below thumb. And usually accompanied by loud snapping/popping sound. Few nights ago I got up from my bed and didn't notice the stiffness and when I put weight on wrist it make a really loud sound and there was sharp pain as well.
Sometimes it happens in right wrist too but not that much, mostly small pop without any pain, or it (stiffness) pass with movement.  

I wonder if it's somehow connected to fall onto my wrist (about two years ago). I slipped on ice and fell backwards on my wrist (left). It barely hurt and there was only minor tenderness and even less pain  around thumb base area.
Could there be some connection?


This discussion is related to Wrist injury..heard clicking, snap, please help.

[lacrymosa]

Thanks!
I didn't know there could be so much problems. Right now I've found solution as a pretty tight hand sweat band that i put around wrist during night. Miraculously it helps and wrist doesn't feel stiff and isn't making snapping/popping much. Maybe it was only some tendon sliding over bone or smth.  Or maybe some old volleyball trauma that wasn't healed.
I'll look into it if symptoms start improve again.

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well, without an evaluation, it would be difficult to tell, though this does not sound like a major issue. It is not abnormal to experience stiffness after an area has been kept under pressure which could occur due to pressure on the nerve or the tendon. However I would suggest getting the popping sensation/ sound evaluated by an orthopedician; which could occur in joint dislocation/ instability, ligamental tears etc.
Hope this helps.

Take care!