Hand Pain

Our hands are made up of a wide variety of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments allowing us a wide range of movements. Because of this, hand pain can be a very common problem experienced by people of all ages. There are a variety of conditions that can cause you to suffer from hand pain, but there are plenty of successful treatment options as well.

Common Causes and Treatments for Hand Pain

There are many different conditions that may be causing your hand pain, including:

De Quervain’s Tendinitis

If you have problems making a fist, turning your wrist, or grasping objects and have hand pain on the inside of your wrist, you may have De Quervain’s Tendinitis. The pain stems from swollen wrist tendons at the base of your thumb. Swelling can be caused by irritation or inflammation, though it is typically caused by overuse. Treatment options include bracing or orthotics and cortisone injections to reduce inflammation. If those are unsuccessful, your doctor may also recommend surgery.

Arthritis

Arthritis is the most common cause of hand pain, as it causes the cartilage in your joints to deteriorate. As this happens, bones are unable to move smoothly, causing painful swelling. The hand pain associated with arthritis is most commonly felt in the joint closest to your fingertip, the middle joint of the finger, and at the base of your thumb. Depending on the severity, your doctor may recommend bracing, anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, or as a last resort – surgery.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Causing pain in your palm, fingers, forearm and wrist, in addition to weakness, tingling, and numbness, carpal tunnel syndrome affects almost 30% of Americans. When tendons become inflamed due to overuse, they can put pressure on the median nerve, which runs through the carpal tunnel. The median nerve is responsible for controlling your thumb, and first three fingers, which is why people with carpal tunnel syndrome have difficulty picking objects up. Your doctor may recommend bracing, corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation, and physical therapy; however, surgery may be considered if symptoms last longer than six months.

If you are suffering from any of the conditions that result in pain in your hand, contact the doctors at Integrated Pain Management today for relief through quality treatment and care.