Hand Pain

What Causes Hand Pain?

Hand pain may be caused by a variety of conditions, but the most common ones are a few. Self-care may help you relieve some symptoms, while medical treatment may be required for others. Among the most common causes of hand pains are:

• knocks and blows
• bending the fingers or wrist too far backward
• landing on the hands during a fall
• jamming a finger
• repetitive strain, such as from long periods of typing, playing sports, or heavy lifting

Diagnosis

In order to diagnose the cause of hand pain, doctors use several tools. Usually, the doctor examines you and determines which tests are needed to diagnose you. A doctor may order one of the following tests to examine the structures in your hand:

• X-rays
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Ultrasound

As a final check for infection or disease, they may order a variety of blood tests to identify signs of illness, including complete blood counts (CBCs), erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs) and C-reactive protein levels (CRPs).

How Is Hand Pain Treated?

The appropriate management of hand pain will usually depend greatly on the cause of the pain. Management techniques include physical therapy, at-home treatment, pharmacologic treatments, medications and surgery, each of which is described in more detail below. Several simple treatments can be used to treat most hand problems. There is a possibility that broken bones in your hand will heal without surgery. However, you should consult with a medical professional to ensure no medical treatment is required, such as physical therapy or surgery. In addition, your doctor will be able to tell you if immobilization is needed.

Simple measures can help control hand pain and improve function if it is not an emergency. These include:

• Rest: Pain in the hands caused by minor injuries, overuse, or repetitive stress will usually subside with rest.
• Ice: The cooling effect of ice reduces inflammation and pain.
• Heat: When joints and muscles are achy, heat will soothe them and help them relax.

However, if there is an emergency, you must consult a pain management doctor in Bergen.

An injury to the hand, an autoimmune disease, and arthritis condition, as well as damage to the nerves or tendons, may cause hand pain. The article explains in detail how hand pain is caused by the most common causes.

Fractures, dislocation, or injury

Hand pain is caused by fractures or dislocations of bones in the hand. This condition is often accompanied by pain, swelling, and tenderness. Many patients suffering from fractures or dislocations have a specific incident that led to their injury and therefore can pinpoint the source of their pain.

Gout

In this condition, the body produces crystals of monosodium urate after increased uric acid levels in the bloodstream. Crystal formations on the fingertips or inside the wrist can cause severe hand pain.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Compression is caused when a nerve transmitting sensation and movement to the hand becomes compressed. Hands and fingers may become tingly, numb, and painful. The thumb, index finger, middle finger, and ring finger will most likely suffer from symptoms. It usually worsens at night as it develops gradually.

Osteoarthritis

A condition known as osteoarthritis causes swollen, inflamed joints that are prone to bending. This is the most common cause of hand pain. Any joint in the body can be affected by this condition; however, it is most commonly found in the fingertips and base of the thumb where it causes intense pain. It is also possible for some patients to get a bump at the base of the thumb, which is especially painful when they are writing or otherwise using their hands.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Arthritis is caused by many different conditions, but rheumatoid arthritis is the most common. It can also damage joints in the hands, in addition to causing pain and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis commonly causes hand pain that can feel bruised or throbbing, then subsides after time inactivity or after rising from a cold.

Hand pain can be caused by inflammation and destruction of the fingers and wrists due to Lupus.

Ganglion

Patients with ganglions at the joints or tendons of their hands feel pain. It is usual for under the skin to form a small lump when encapsulated synovial fluid forms. In its viscous and clear state, synovial fluid originates in the synovium of the joints. The lubricant is usually used to cushion joints and lubricate them. The hands, wrists, and fingers are the areas that commonly form ganglions.

Stenosing tenosynovitis

As the thumb or finger moves toward the palm, stenosing tenosynovitis, or trigger finger, occurs. When the finger is affected, it is usually painful and stiff.

The body’s fibrous sheaths are commonly involved in tenosynovitis, which causes hand pain.

De Quatrain’s disease

Thumb tendons near the wrist are affected by De Quatrain’s disease, which involves swelling and thickening of the sheath surrounding them. Hands, wrists and thumbs can be painful due to this condition. In contrast to tenosynovitis, it is not an inflammatory condition.

Raynaud’s phenomenon

It occurs when the vessels supplying the hands and other parts of the body narrow during an episode of Raynaud’s syndrome. In cold weather or when under stress, this effect is exacerbated. This can lead to numbness, pain, and discoloration of the hands.

Final words

The ability to use your hands throughout the day is crucial, and hand pain can be debilitating. It doesn’t matter what causes your hands to be sore; taking care of them will keep you feeling better and able to continue your daily activities.