What causes hand pain?
Because your hands are in use throughout each day, occasional hand pain is usually nothing to be concerned about. When hand pain is severe, persists longer than a couple of days, or prevents you from performing routine tasks, it’s time to seek a professional evaluation.
Hand pain usually arises after a traumatic injury or as a result of overuse. Some common issues that can lead to hand pain include:
- Landing on your hand during a stumble or fall
- Jamming a finger
- Injury during sports or occupational tasks
- Long periods of typing, heavy lifting, or other repetitive actions
- Bending a finger or your wrist in a backward motion
Arthritis is a degenerative or inflammatory joint disorder that can also cause hand and wrist pain.
What is trigger finger?
Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a hand injury that affects the tendon sheath at the base of your finger or thumb. When those tendons are inflamed, it becomes difficult to move the affected digit without significant pain.
Some men and women report hearing a popping sound when moving the affected finger. Others have the sensation that something within the joint is “catching” when they move the digit.
There are numerous ways to treat trigger fingers. Splinting can help by immobilizing the joint. A period of rest can give your tendons a chance to heal, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications can reduce discomfort.
Steroid injections reduce swelling and deliver temporary pain relief. For some, surgery to release the damaged tendon sheath is the only way to achieve lasting relief.
What are some signs I might have arthritis in my hands?
Arthritis can occur in any joint in your body, including the small joints within your hands. The primary characteristic of arthritis is joint inflammation, which is also the primary source of pain.
Symptoms of hand arthritis include swollen finger joints and joint stiffness. Your hands might ache, either during movement or while at rest. In some cases, arthritis progresses to the point that your finger joints are visibly deformed. You might also notice a loss of muscle or joint function or a pervasive sensation of hand weakness.
If you experience lasting hand pain, schedule an appointment at Premier Orthopedics to understand the cause, and explore treatment options. There are procedures that can address carpal tunnel syndrome, ligament and tendon repair, cubital tunnel syndrome, and joint reconstruction. Minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery is possible for many of these procedures.
