Level 1

69 points

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

Top-ranking reply

IdrisSeabright

Community+ 2026

Level 10

199,943 points

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.

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336 replies

Oct 23, 2018 2:18 PM in response to KDWinnie

Something to keep in mind - doctors are not scientists. Except for a few who devote their careers to research rather than see patients. And some doctors have really bizarre hypotheses, specifically because they are not scientists. Nowhere in medical school do they teach the scientific method.

Oct 23, 2018 2:19 PM in response to deggie

deggie wrote:

The cells were in the shape of a phone. Now that is laughable and reaches quickness.

Now we're talking. That's called "sympathetic magic" or the magical law of similarity. Voodoo dolls are based on the law of similarity.

Oct 23, 2018 2:26 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Lawrence Finch wrote:

Perhaps its worth pointing out that you work in a medical research facility and have access to Medline, the index to all peer-reviewed medical studies, as well as other research databases. So if it exists it will be listed.

I did review the references and found a link to a press release but the link was dead. Haven't mustered the energy to really look for it.

Oct 23, 2018 2:27 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Lawrence Finch wrote:

deggie wrote:

The cells were in the shape of a phone. Now that is laughable and reaches quickness.

Now we're talking. That's called "sympathetic magic" or the magical law of similarity. Voodoo dolls are based on the law of similarity.

As is homeopathy.

Cåts

Level 5

4,614 points

Oct 23, 2018 2:50 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

thank you IdrisSeabright

I am curious. When I goggle this issue in my native language, is no result.

This intrigues me very much.

On that note I must turn DND on because my phone is blowing up. I had no idea

how big this issue is And can’t possibly keep up at the moment.

I wish well to all who are in pain here for you all to be pain free.

Nov 18, 2018 9:02 PM in response to KallaLilli

Oh man! I’ve had this pain for over a year. Since I’ve been wearing it daily the pains been awful. I had surgery on the hand I don’t use. This pain is sometimes worse than the wrist injury I had prior to surgery. Can’t believe I’m not alone.

1stgenX

Level 1

4 points

Jan 3, 2019 7:46 PM in response to KallaLilli

So I've been wearing the 1st gen apple watch for a couple three years and my wrist pain just started a few weeks back. It's localized in my left wrist/outside joint, fairly severe. I thought it was an injury or carpel tunnel or something til I realized it goes away after I take it off. Something is up.

Jan 7, 2019 1:40 PM in response to KallaLilli

It is bothering me a great deal as well. To the point that I could not sleep due to the pain. I like all it’s the feature but as many of you, I stop wearing it to alíviate the discomfort. I switched it to my other arm only to start feeling the pain again.

help please!

ATejan

Level 1

4 points

Jan 12, 2019 4:22 PM in response to KallaLilli

I have been experiencing pain in my left wrist... for some reason it’s more when m wearing my Apple Watch 2... the pain is bad that even when I take paracetamol it does not go away, thought something was wrong with my wrist. Now l know m not the only one 😗

Jan 16, 2019 10:34 AM in response to Malston23

I also have a bump that’s formed! But, unlike others I have read, I have worn my watch for over a year with no problems at all! No pain, nothing!

but just before Christmas I started to experience this and it is getting worse, it eases when I don’t wear the watch for a day or 2, but if I put it back on! The pain and the bump are back!!

i just hope there is nothing sinister going on and it’s not cause any scary health problems or long term issues!!!

Jan 16, 2019 4:48 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Thanks. I’ve already made doctor appointment but still going to leave my watch off for a few days then wear it again to see if it hurts my arm wrist and hand. I have read up on wearing in the right spot and not too tight. Still if I hurt again I will return watch. Nothing electronic should trigger a problem that normally doesn’t hurt one. That’s just not healthy. We shall see. I absolutely I love 😏❤️ my watch so hoping it doesn’t happen again!!

Branta_uk

Level 7

33,270 points

Jan 17, 2019 9:34 AM in response to lanafromrockport

Thanks. I’ve already made doctor appointment but still going to leave my watch off for a few days then wear it again to see if it hurts my arm wrist and hand.

That is a good decision, the pain is a warning not to do something. Also good fault finding to test again and see if the problem is replicated.

We know there can be a problem particularly with a new watch... user making many more unfamiliar arm movements until the New Toy syndrome wears off. Hopefully your next attempt will be more comfortable.

Jan 17, 2019 10:17 AM in response to sittels

You are right, but only the type that contains the luminescent paint that glows in the dark.

But, it is nonetheless true that the only kind of watch that emits harmful radiation is a mechanical watch.

Jan 19, 2019 5:31 PM in response to BattleDroid

I don’t think you understand as much as you think you do. It makes perfect sense and has been tested by not only myself but many others in this thread. We all have very similar responses to wearing and removing the watch versus wearing and removing other watches.

I do understand things like randomized controlled trials and double-blinded trials and why they are used to overcome the normal human propensity to be misled by confirmation bias.

I'm not denying that you are in pain. However, assuming you know the cause of the pain (especially when it's scientifically implausible) is just going to get in the way of find out what the problem is. But if you don't care to do that, it certainly doesn't matter to me, either.

emd330

Level 1

9 points

Jan 23, 2019 1:43 PM in response to KallaLilli

Just jumping in that I DID start to experience carpal tunnel from my old fitbit and had to switch wrists or use the clip on fitbit for a while to make that pain go away. I haven't yet had issues from my Apple Watch *crossing fingers*.

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Apple Watch causing wrist pain