The Natural History of Undiagnosed Wrist Pain in Young Women

Abstract

43 young women with undiagnosed wrist pain were followed up for a median of 13 years (range 3 to 19). 26% were now free of pain and 35% had improved; 30% were unchanged and 9% were worse. Overall, 40% were still significantly troubled. There was no evidence that those patients suffered or had suffered from emotional or psychiatric disturbance which might have been responsible for the pain. Only three patients had developed ganglia.