Apple Watch causing wrist pain

Rajsanta wrote:

Historically, people and industries have been in denial (for example, the tobacco industry denying the linkage to cancer). Time will tell if wearables have negative effects.

The tobacco industry denying that tobacco caused cancer is not really an apt analogy. Non-ionizing radiation has been studied independently of wearables (in fact, since before wearable was a word). So, read the actual science, not the marketing.

All I know is that, after a period of time, I can definitely sense the pain when I forget to turn on Airplane mode when wearing the Apple Watch.

However, unless you tested it in a situation where you didn't know if the watch was in Airplane mode or not, conformation bias is a very real possibility. Human brains are remarkably easy to fool. And pain perception can be affected by a large number of factors. Please understand, I'm not suggesting you're stupid. I'm saying the way the brains of our entire species are wired, it can be very easy to make us belief certain things and very hard for us to give up certain beliefs even in the face of very strong evidence.

I had the wrist pain issue with a Fitbit HR (which I stopped using). So this isn’t specific issue pertaining to the Apple Watch in my case.

There are some anecdotal reports about people whose anatomy is just enough different that the convex back of the watch presses against a nerve in their wrist. It's been a while since I closely examined an FitBit HR so, I can't postulate if there is possibly a similar mechanical explanation.

I am taking mine back talked to a support tech and he said he had never heard of this ether did some investigating and no answer to this issue. called the store to make sure I can return in store told him about having pain in my arm he said he had never heard this ether. I informed both that there is a forum on there web site about this issue but still nothing. I am glad that I am not crazy.

It's been about 4 wks. since I first noticed the wrist pain, and assumed it was due to wearing the watch. I had worn the watch since last June with no problem whatsoever.

But lately, I've gone a couple of days wearing the watch (especially using the thin Apple "Milanese" stainless mesh band rather than the stiffer thicker leather or silicone straps) with no pain or clicking; OTOH, woke up this morning and when I rotated my (bare) wrist while flossing my teeth, I felt the clicking and pain again. Took it off when I got a mani-pedi this aft.--it was off for 3 hrs and still I got the pain & clicking. Sometimes I'll take it off before bedtime and even after a full night's sleep my wrist is sore. (Voltaren gel and Bio-Freeze do help, but they have to fully absorb lest I gunk up the back of the watch).

I did take a spill at home l in Jan. and reached out my L hand to break my fall--the pain began a couple of wks. later. I got my X-rays back from my orthopedist showing "degenerative changes" in the wrist (triangular fibro-cartilagenous complex, aka "TfCC") and base-of-thumb cartilage. I also have an "ulnar variance" of 4mm (that bone is longer than the radius, which can irritate the cartilage in case of injury). And just today, I felt soreness in my R wrist. In short, I had an injury (probably a ligament sprain as well as the cartilage abrasion) and I'm not getting any younger. An MRI in April will reveal whether I trashed any soft tissue, and if so, which. Have had an orthopedist and a nurse both tell me it's "age + Injury=arthritis."

What's that phrase we learned in Statistics class? Oh, yeah--"correlation is not causation."

This concerns me?

I never ever had pain wearing my Fitbit, but my left wrist and elbow started hurting me since I got this Apple Watch. I am right handed, so that’s not an issue. I'm wondering if the injury to my daughters wrist was due to her Apple Watch - electronic related and not just watch related injury. I have switched wrists to see what happens this morning. Then I found this forum. This could be a bigger problem then I first thought. I don't use my Apple Watch for the phone etc. the way most people do. Actually I like the how my Fitbit functions better, but I like the looks of the Apple Watch better, and I am an Apple user for iPhones, iPads, Mac computer and Mac Pro ... Just thought I would share this, because as soon as I put my watch on this morning my elbow and wrist started hurting immediately. I took my Apple Watch off immediately and put it on my right wrist, and the pain disappeared just that quickly ? What the heck is going on, I am bending my left elbow while typing this with absolutely NO pain. This is kind of big concern!

I have the same issue. Ive owned the Apple Watch since the very first model. Never any issues. Then I bought the latest LTE model and I have aches and pains in my left hand and wrist (watch hand). My left hand feels physically weaker than prior to wearing the watch. I may try wearing a normal watch for a week and then if the pain stops I will put it back on to see if there is any relationship to the device or not. PS. I love my Apple Watch.

Try deactivating RX it’s what is used for heart rate. My wife had the same issue. So we turned off Rex and fitness to figure what was causing it. We turned fitness tracker back on and my wife does not have any more pain.

jrylek wrote:

Heart rate monitor. Go to privacy and turn it off

Why would I do that? It would significantly decrease the utility of the device for me and, the green lights that are the only visible part of the HRM are not capable of causing any sort of pain.

I have pain in my left wrist so bad it hurts to form a fist, but only underneath exactly where the glass circle is on the watch. My husband keeps insisting it is the band, but I've switched 2 other band styles, 3 total, & nope not better. I'd bet having this type of energy near our blood that's circulating back to our hearts may not be the best thing...

Two orthopedists thus far have told me the watch has nothing to do with my wrist issues--I'd been wearing it since June w/o problems until I took a spill in Feb., actually injuring a tendon. One ortho says it's actually acting like a brace.

I just received my Apple Watch today and started getting the sensation in my wrist as well, which is how I found this thread I turned off LTE and so far it seems to be helping a little. I'll next try turning off Wi-Fi on the watch. I'll likely return it since it seems I can't use LTE. I think some people like myself are just sensitive to LTE and Wi-Fi signals. Similar to how some of us are sensitive to certain foods.

I'm sure the study that the girls did with cress plants would be different if they used a different plant. I'm sure some would grow fine next to Wi-Fi.

33Scottie wrote:

I just received my Apple Watch today and started getting the sensation in my wrist as well, which is how I found this thread I turned off LTE and so far it seems to be helping a little. I'll next try turning off Wi-Fi on the watch. I'll likely return it since it seems I can't use LTE. I think some people like myself are just sensitive to LTE and Wi-Fi signals. Similar to how some of us are sensitive to certain foods.

To date, studies done by actual scientists, not school girls, done with proper methodology, have not shown that anyone is sensitive to WiFi or LTE or Bluetooth.

Pain has a highly subjective component. You believe the problem is WiFi or LTE. You know that you turned off LTE so you feel better. That doesn't mean that the LTE was the actual cause of your pain. Dollars to doughnuts, if there was a way for someone to turn off the LTE indicator without actually turning off the LTE and they had told you that the LTE was off, you would have felt the same relief. Please understand, I'm not saying you're imagining the pain. I'm saying that pain can be ameliorated by belief.

Rather than do unscientific experiments, see your doctor.

Sorry, bud! It's not possible to prove that "no one" in the world is sensitive to WiFi or LTE. I know for a fact that I am and others are too. I don't need any scientist to tell me what's causing me pain. I have been in the IT industry for over 20 years and I use all Apple products. I have an iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Pro. I am sensitive when all three devices are on WiFi. So, I relocated my router to another room and wired Cat6 to my MBP. The issue is not "Apple" related. I have to admit, I experience fewer issues with Apple gadgets than gadgets made by other companies like Samsung. I use to carry two cell phones on my belt on my right hip for years until a cyst grew there that I had removed. Now I keep them away from me as much as possible. Like not keeping the phone in my pocket all day and using earbuds for calls. Also, not sleeping with the phone next to my head! I don't expect for people that do not have any issues to understand, but those that do have issues understanding. For those that experience pain and discomfort from any device, listen to your own body!

You have it backwards. iPhones have much higher SAR ratings than iPhones so the devices made by Samsung would have given you far less problem then ones from Apple which have a higher level. So maybe it is best not to trust what your body is saying, it lies to you.

When you had your cyst removed did the doctors say WiFi, Bluetooth or cellular caused it? Or perhaps chafing from having two phones there? And yes, it is possible to prove that "no one" in the world is sensitive to WiFi, Bluetooth, and cell, there have many tests that have been done to show exactly that. Even tests with people who claimed to be sensitive like yourself. But your claim about it being worse with Samsung devices disproves your own theory.

Hey Deggie, I said, "like Samsung". Please read carefully. When I had the cyst removed I had a Treo and some other phone I can't remember what it was. I knew someone would say "chafing" as a cause. If you just think about it, the weight of phones would pull the belt away from that side body. You would have chafing somewhere else on your waist.

Frankly, I don't need a study, you, or anyone else to "tell" me what I experienced. Obviously, there are people monitoring this thread and other threads whose sole purpose is to bash complaints.

I have so much more to say, but it would be like trying to have a real conversation with an animal.

Signing off! People, like I said, listen to your body! And do expect a Level 8 or 9 person to make a final comment.

33Scottie wrote:

Sorry, bud! It's not possible to prove that "no one" in the world is sensitive to WiFi or LTE. I know for a fact that I am and others are too. I don't need any scientist to tell me what's causing me pain.

I understand what you believe. But, humans aren't very good at being objective about, well, anything. That's why scientist and the scientific method are important. Although one can rarely be 100% certain about things, scientist rely on the preponderance of evidence. And, it shows that people who think they're sensitive to things like WiFi don't, in double blind tests, demonstrate any ability to determine if there is or is not WiFi turned on.