What causes hand pain?
Some of the most common reasons for hand pain include:
Trigger finger
Trigger finger means a finger joint locks in position, and then it may straighten with a cracking noise. This can cause pain, tenderness, and stiffness in the affected finger and base.
Fractures
Fractures (broken bones) can affect any bone in your hands. Distal phalanges, the bones at the tips of your fingers, are the most common area for hand fractures, followed by metacarpals, the middle bones in your hand. Fractures can cause pain in both the bone and the surrounding area.
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are both common in the hands, with a common example being osteoarthritis that manifests as thumb arthritis. Arthritis can cause pain, as well as swelling and stiffness.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and wrist. This condition results from increased pressure on the nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel in your wrist.
Cubital tunnel syndrome
Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when the ulnar nerve in your elbow grows compressed. This can potentially cause elbow area pain, but in most cases, the symptoms occur in the hand, as the ulnar nerve delivers sensation to your pinky finger and part of your ring finger. Common symptoms can include numbness, tingling, and weakness.
Hand pain can develop slowly over the years or may start abruptly, as a result of sports injuries and traumatic injuries. This pain may reverberate to your wrist.
What causes wrist pain?
Pain in your wrist is often due to sudden injuries, such as sprains or fractures. However, long-term problems, such as arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome, can cause hand and wrist pain.
The team at Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation Centers diagnose and treat the full spectrum of conditions that cause wrist pain, including:
Acute trauma injuries
This type of injury occurs suddenly, such as when you reach your hand out to break a fall. Common acute injuries that affect the wrist include sprains, strains, and fractures.
Repetitive stress injuries
Stress from repetitive wrist motions, such as driving long distances or hitting a tennis ball, can cause injuries over time. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is one example of an overuse injury that affects the tendons in your wrist.
How is hand and wrist pain treated?
The team at Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation Centers examines your hand and wrist, reviewing your symptoms and medical history. Then, they explore nonoperative treatments for hand and wrist pain, such as bracing, hand exercises, and anti-inflammatory medication.
Steroid injections can, in some cases, reduce swelling and pain for a period of a few months. For severe structural damage within your hand, or conditions that don’t improve with conservative treatment, the team may recommend surgery. Regardless, on-site physical therapy is available for those in treatment or recovery.
To find out what’s causing your hand and wrist pain, don’t hesitate to call Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation Centers or book an appointment online today.