Apple Watch causing lump on hand and shooting arm pain

I’ve been wearing my watching on my left wrist for 8 months and out of the blue on day I woke up not being able to move my thumb. The pain was so severe but I thought I might have slept wrong on it and decided to remove the Apple Watch from the left arm and put it on my right until the left hand and arm healed. The pain stemmed from soft part on top of the hand where the thumb ends. The area was slightly swollen. The pain shot up all the way to my elbow and towards the top of arm close to the shoulder. It felt like a tendon or nerve being pulled. I decided to put the watch on my right arm, to give my left arm a break from wearing anything. About 4 days in my right arm started feeling numb, my knuckles hurt and then again the pain shooting up towards my right elbow. I went to the doctor with pain thinking I had arthritis. I’m a fit 36 yr old. I got all my blood tests done and they were normal and nothing that could explain the pain in my arms. I was at a point where I couldn’t even tie my hair because my arms felt heavy and hurt really bad. As I looked for answers, I figured the only change i had made was placing the Apple Watch on my right hand and then the pain started. I had noticed a few days prior to the pain starting that there was a green light that flickered at the back of the watch and I paid no attention thinking it was normal. Once I removed the watch and within an hour the shooting pain in my elbow was less severe. Now this has been a few days but I still have some lingering pain my arms. I’ll never be wearing the watch again. Also want to point out that I have only worn the watch to sleep about 2-3 times in my 10 months of owning it, otherwise I put it on charge. I also don’t wear it too tight. Still in disbelief that the watch was the cause of the pain! Utterly disappointed and dissatisfied with the watch and Apple. Just wanted to put this out there for people who are having the same issue as me.

Posted on Aug 17, 2023 9:11 PM

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Posted on Oct 7, 2023 9:16 PM

I have the same thing on my right wrist. There's a small hard and painful, mobile lump under my skin where the watch touches my wrist. I switched it to my left wrist, and by the end of the day, the top of my left wrist was red and swollen. This is so strange. I've had my watch for 6 months and this just started. I'm going to try putting it higher onto my forearm and see if this fixes it, ugh.

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Aug 17, 2023 11:46 PM in response to hads86

As there are millions of Apple Watches in use there may be a few others who have experienced similar issues however this doesn't necessarily mean that the watch is to blame.


Remember this is a user group, not Apple and we are just users like you so if you have any complaints you should report issues directly to Apple Support.

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Apple Watch causing lump on hand and shooting arm pain

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