Apple Watch causing wrist pain

Not that misery likes company but, I am sort of relieved that I’m not alone with this complaint as I thought I was going crazy. Ditto on having wrist pain issues when wearing my new Apple iWatch 3 (42mm with a Sport Band). I was gifted this generous upgrade from my iWatch 2 as a Christmas gift; however my iWatch 2 did not cause me any distress. I wish that I hadn’t sold my iWatch 2 as I would revert to using it.


I am an average statured adult woman with relatively small wrists. My new iWatch 3 has the GPS + cellular feature. I don’t use it to its potential; instead, using it primarily as a watch and occasionally using apps & call feature to read/send texts. I do love the idea of being “untethered” from my iPhone but have yet been able to successfully pair it with my auto’s navigation/call system.


I have no skin irritation/rash issues nor is my band too tight. Like others in this forum, my pain is an aching pain which is deep in my wrist and radiates up my arm which is clearly neurogenic in nature. I’ve tried everything, wearing it on the opposite arm, flipping the watch so that it’s on the anterior vs. posterior surface of my wrist, I’ve turned off the heart rate monitor, minimized the haptics and still continue to experience the pain. The only relief comes after I remove the watch for several hours to a day. I’ve even found myself taking Ibuprofen to minimize the discomfort! After placing it back on my wrist the pain begins within an hour or so.


I hope that with our growing numbers that Apple will take heed and develop a resolve. In the meantime, I am so sad that I cannot wear my high-tech iWatch 3!

iPad 2, iOS 7.0.2

Posted on Jan 22, 2018 2:20 PM

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Posted on Oct 23, 2018 12:33 PM

Cåts wrote:



My ortho had me remove my watch and asked “ is that how you always wear it?” I said yes. He told me that I was wearing my watch improperly and it was pressing on one of many nerve pathways, and that I should entertain wearing it above the wrist bone. He also showed me how to make sure it isn’t too tight by being able to slip a finger under the watch and move it slightly.

It sounds as if you have very smart orthopedist!


I suspect this is the true cause for most people. It's complicated by the fact that there is some variation in human anatomy so the right spot for one person might be just a little of for another person.

336 replies

Oct 23, 2018 12:06 PM in response to KDWinnie

If you consider facts "ridicule", then that's your problem.

You don't know what you're talking about. You refuse to admit that you don't know what you're talking about. You refuse to actually educate yourself on the facts.


That's your problem.

Trying to convince people that the crap you're peddling is actually cabbage? Sorry. That can't go unchallenged. It would be a shame if someone actually read the garbage you're putting out there and believed it. Then it wouldn't just be yourself you're hurting, but innocent people who don't know any better.

Oct 23, 2018 12:18 PM in response to KiltedTim

https://youtu.be/z99_SzoXZdY Educate you! I am looking into it bc I am concerned. Women end up with cancer cells in the shape of their cell phones where they carry it in their bra! No BRACA 1 or 2 genes. If this doesn’t prove that the radiation and abnormal cells aren’t connected for you.. that’s your choice!!!! But just bc others may believe it ...doesn’t mean they are wrong and you are right and need to be torn down! Such a nice guy protecting all the ignorant and naive apple posters that may want to find answers for their own pain issues .... even tho they wear the watch properly! God forbid!

Oct 23, 2018 12:24 PM in response to KDWinnie

Seriously? A video posted by someone called "dailyalternativenews"?

And you take them seriously?


That's it. There is no point in discussing anything with you. You've stuck your head in the sand... or rather, a steaming pile of...


Good luck in life. Oh... and that computer or phone or tablet you're using to post things here... it's going to kill you. As is your TV, microwave, electric oven, gas stove, florescent light bulbs, anti-perspirant, automobile exhaust... oh, and don't forget about the sun... The radiation there is intense.

Oct 23, 2018 12:29 PM in response to escott0780

I’ve tried everything BUT that... !! Adjusting bands.. to where it sits... to wearing it on my other wrist.... etc .. but pain has persisted. Even tried turning Bluetooth off but pain was same. Have the new series 4. Has cellular chip but I’m only using Bluetooth so I thought by shutting that off it might make the difference. Will try what you suggested by wearing it while it’s off! Thank you!!!

Oct 23, 2018 1:04 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

I guess it all depends on what sources we trust. I did research on the scientists that are making these claims.. and the doctors too... so it made me RE question WiFi and it’s effects on health.. but God forbid I do question it... may as well get out my tinfoil hat in this group!!!!! Ain’t gonna do me any good bc I have 2 Roku ..2 Google chromecasts... 2 Google Home devices, an iPad, iwatch and an iPhone! Tinfoil isn’t going to protect me from ALL that ...! 😂

Oct 23, 2018 1:09 PM in response to deggie

I’m not talking proven in a large study or in a court of law!! I am talking abut individual cases of abnormal cancerous cells growing and developing in places cell phones sit regularly against the body.... an all those abnormal cells were within the shape of the phone. I didn’t just go to the .gov or .ctheorist websites and believe all I read. I went digging into individual cases where doctors believe wholeheartedly that it was the cell phone emitting radio waves. Groups of docs are banning together on the issue... so I’m watching it closely to see what kinds of non biased studies come of it all.

Oct 23, 2018 1:09 PM in response to KDWinnie

No, it depends on sources that are actually scientists, the type of testing they did and if they were peer reviewed and if they were double-blind. But you also need a bit of scientific background to understand the tests.


Not one reputable test has shown ANY cellular damage due to non-ionizing radiation. None. Nada. During double-blind tests of people who have claimed a sensitivity to WiFi and Bluetooth not one test showed they could identify when they were in the presence of such radiation at a statistically significant level.


So what scientists and doctor, and what tests are you referring to that made you question non-ionizing radiation?

Oct 23, 2018 1:15 PM in response to deggie

I realize they are not all the same... and I did not refer to them as one type of energy or radio current. My doc friend is not my “doctor”... she is my friend. This is a total waste of my time. I thought by sharing here I would get meaningful info or data or suggestions... not attacked bc I may believe that energy and radio waves can cause harm to the physical body. I’m obviously not convinced as I have every device they sell connected to my WiFi.. but I am open minded enough to know that it’s a possibility.

Oct 23, 2018 1:21 PM in response to deggie

large study by the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) exposed large groups of lab rats and mice to RF energy over their entire bodies for about 9 hours a day, starting before birth and continuing for up to 2 years (which is the equivalent of about 70 years for humans, according to NTP scientists). In a draft report of the final results (issued in February 2018), the study found an increased risk of tumors called malignant schwannomas of the heart in male rats exposed to RF radiation. But some aspects of this study make it hard to know just how well these results might be applied to cell phone use in people. For example, there was no increased risk among female rats or among male or female mice in the study. The doses of RF radiation in the study were also generally higher than those used in cell phones (ranging from 1.5 W/kg to 6 W/kg in rats, and 2.5 W/kg to 10 W/kg in mice), the animals’ entire bodies were exposed, and the amount of time they were exposed was longer than most people typically spend on the phone each day. The male rats in the study exposed to RF waves also lived longer, on average, than the rats who were not exposed, for unclear reasons. Still, the results add to the evidence that cell phone signals might potentially impact human health.



From the American cancer society website

Oct 23, 2018 1:41 PM in response to KDWinnie

KDWinnie wrote:


I went digging into individual cases where doctors believe wholeheartedly that it was the cell phone emitting radio waves. Groups of docs are banning together on the issue... so I’m watching it closely to see what kinds of non biased studies come of it all.

Individual case reports are not evidence. There are way too many variables unaccounted for. That is why we do large scale studies that control for all the other factors. Humans are too easily fooled by their own beliefs.

Oct 23, 2018 2:14 PM in response to deggie

This is not the first time I've heard that contention. It gets bandied about among people who have been taken in by this idea. I would like to think that doctors wouldn't be taken in by such nonsense but, well, doctors are humans first. As a species, we're not good at separating correlation and causality or disregarding confirmation bias.


I wonder if the same people think that lung cancer looks like cigarettes.

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Apple Watch causing wrist pain

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