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Pain in the Hand: Understanding Causes and Effective Treatments
Pain in the Hand: Understanding Causes and Effective Treatments
Does a dull ache or a sharp pang grip your hand, making even simple tasks feel like a chore? Hand pain is surprisingly common, plaguing people of all ages and activity levels. But fret not; you’re not condemned to a life of wincing handshakes! This guide delves into the various reasons behind hand pain, from repetitive stress to sneaky arthritis.
By understanding the root causes of hand pain, we can explore effective treatment options, helping you reclaim a pain-free grip on life. Unravel the mysteries of hand pain and get equipped with the knowledge to reclaim comfort and functionality in your daily life.
Causes of Hand Pain
Here are three common causes of bothersome or incapacitating hand discomfort:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Individuals engaged in desk work involving typing or data entry, as well as those in manual labour jobs with repetitive actions such as hammering, may develop inflammation in the wrist. The carpal tunnel, formed by wrist bones and ligaments, houses major hand nerves. In carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve compression leads to hand pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness or limited mobility.
Tendinitis
Another prevalent overuse injury is tendinitis. Micro-tears can occur in the tendons traversing from the forearms through the wrist and into the hand. This results in a dull ache, reduced range of motion, and diminished hand strength. De Quervain’s disease, a specific type of tendon condition known as tenosynovitis, affects the wrists and hands, causing hand pain when grasping objects or making a fist.
Trigger Finger or Thumb
Also categorised as tenosynovitis, this condition arises when tendons in a finger or thumb thicken and swell. Fingers may audibly pop, crack, or become locked in position, leading to pain and difficulty in unfreezing the hand. Trigger finger typically manifests in individuals aged 40 to 60.
Ganglion Cysts
These cysts, more commonly observed in females and adults under 40, develop without a specific known cause. They are frequently seen in gymnasts’ wrists and form when fluid accumulates within a sac, resulting in a visible skin lump. Ganglion cysts in the wrist can hinder normal joint and tendon movement, causing discomfort.
Osteoarthritis
This condition occurs when joint cartilage diminishes, commonly affecting individuals as they age, with women more prone than men, particularly after age 50. Symptoms include joint pain, inflammation, stiffness, and eventually, joint misalignment and potential deformity.
Ligament Injury
Damage to ligaments, which connect the hand’s 27 bones, can occur due to hand trauma, making tasks like finger bending, gripping, or pinching challenging or impossible. Recovery from ligament injuries may entail months, with swelling and stiffness often persisting.
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
This inflammation of tendons along the thumb side of the wrist causes hand pain and tenderness, particularly during thumb movement, forming a fist, gripping, wrist turning, or lifting objects with arms extended and thumbs pointing upward.
Diabetic Neuropathy Hand Pain
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a nerve damage type affecting extremities in individuals with diabetes, impacts up to half of those with the condition, leading to hand and arm discomfort.
Symptoms of Hand Problems
Apart from hand pain, symptoms indicating that you may have a problem in your hands may include the following:
Stiffness
Excessive stress and strain on hand muscles and joints can lead to stiffness, limiting range of motion. Tightness in the hands is often triggered by shoulder tension. Common muscles contributing to hand stiffness include those in the latissimus dorsi, rotator cuff, serratus anterior, and pectoral region. Additionally, stiffness in the hands may signal underlying clinical or age-related conditions.
Inflammation
Inflammation in the hands can result from autoimmune conditions, allergic reactions, or injuries exacerbated by high salt levels or increased stress levels. In shoulder pain, inflammation around the rotator cuff is prevalent, characterised by swelling, redness, heat, reduced motion, and tenderness. Untreated inflammation can lead to joint deformities, vascular issues, neck and spine complications, and disability.
Weakness
Muscle strength, particularly grip strength, is indicative of shoulder and hand pain severity. Weakness may stem from a compromised rotator cuff in the shoulder or declining hand neurons. Physical examinations may involve lifting the arm to the side, rotating it backwards or inward, and resisting pressure against an object to assess shoulder weakness. Similarly, hand weakness may manifest as a feeble grip, clumsiness, or difficulty carrying objects.
Numbness and Tingling Sensation
Hand numbness often accompanies hand and shoulder pain, stemming from damage to the brachial plexus nerve network. This network originates near the spine’s top and extends down the shoulders, arms, and hands, causing numbness or tingling sensations, sometimes localised to specific thumb or finger areas.
Pain
Pain is a prevalent symptom of underlying physiological conditions, commonly localised at injury points or radiating across both hand and shoulder areas. Severe shoulder or hand pain may also be accompanied by fever.
Other symptoms are as follows:
- Joint sounds that are apparent and audible
- Cracking or popping sounds during hand joint movement may signal underlying joint issues.
- Finger Swelling
- Enlargement of the fingers, often due to fluid retention, inflammation, or other underlying conditions.
Hand Pain Treatment
Non-surgical Approaches
Corticosteroid Injections
Steroid injections are often recommended for hand pain accompanied by swelling and inflammation, providing immediate relief due to their anti-inflammatory properties. They are typically included as part of a comprehensive treatment plan rather than being used as a standalone therapy.
Self-Care Suggestions for Hand Pain
- Ice packs can aid in bringing down inflammation and alleviate hand pain.
- Heat therapy is effective for easing joint stiffness and muscle soreness.
- Resting the hand is advisable for minor injuries, overuse, or repetitive stress to allow inflammation to heal.
For More Serious Conditions
- Splints or braces can alleviate hand pain and prevent worsening inflammation.
- Hand therapy, provided by trained specialists, offers various techniques for treating painful hand problems and preventing recurrence.
- Prescription medications, including corticosteroid injections, oral steroids, NSAIDs, or stronger pain relievers like opioids, may be necessary for treating certain causes of hand discomfort that do not respond to self-care or over-the-counter medications.
Surgical Intervention
Reconstructive Surgery
Below is a general outline of what typically occurs during hand reconstruction surgery:
- Anaesthesia: Anesthesia will be administered to ensure comfort and pain relief throughout the procedure. The type of anaesthesia—local, regional, or general—will be determined beforehand in consultation with your medical team.
- Incision: The surgeon makes precise incisions based on the specific procedures planned. Incisions may be made on the palm, back of the hand, or other necessary areas to access affected structures.
- Soft Tissue Reconstruction: Addressing soft tissue injuries or deformities involves repairing tendons, ligaments, muscles, and other soft tissues. In some cases, tissue from other parts of the body may be transferred (flap surgery) to reconstruct lost tissue.
- Bone Reconstruction: Fractures, bone deformities, or joint issues are realigned and stabilised using screws, plates, or other fixation devices. The doctor may also recommend joint reconstruction or replacement if necessary.
- Nerve Repair: Nerve damage is addressed through repair or grafting techniques to restore sensation and function. Microsurgical methods may be employed for delicate nerve suturing.
- Vascular Repair: In instances of vascular injury, damaged blood vessels are repaired to restore blood flow and promote proper healing.
- Skin Closure: Once repairs and reconstructions are completed, incisions are carefully closed using sutures, staples, or other closure methods.
- Dressing and Splinting: Dressings, bandages, and possibly a splint or cast are applied to protect and support the hand during the initial healing phase.
Suffering from prolonged Hand Pain?
Consult our hand expert, Prof Dr Robert Hierner
If you’ve been enduring persistent hand pain, seeking guidance from our hand specialist, Prof Dr Robert Hierner, could be the pivotal step towards finding relief and restoring functionality. With his expertise and dedication, Prof Dr Robert provides comprehensive evaluations and personalised treatment plans tailored to address your specific needs.
Don’t let hand pain hinder your daily activities any longer—schedule a consultation with the expert in the field today and take the first step towards a pain-free future.
