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Hand Pain and Common Problems

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Hand Pain and Problems

Hand pain and problems can range from mild discomfort to severe, painful conditions that can make simple tasks impossible or affect your ability to carry out daily tasks. Whether caused by arthritis, fractures, or repetitive strain injuries, hand pain is a common issue. Ignoring its symptoms can sometimes lead to long-term damage.

If you experience persistent pain, numbness, swelling, or difficulty moving your hand, it’s time to consult an experienced orthopedician and sports medicine specialist. At Felix Hospitals, we understand how important it is to have healthy hands so as to be able to perform a variety of functions. From repairing traumatic injuries to treating hand conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, our orthopedic surgeons have the experience to diagnose and restore your hand and wrist function to minimize your pain.

Hand pain and problems can affect each individual differently. Knowing the symptoms and hand pain reasons can help in identifying the underlying cause and seek timely treatment. Here are some common symptoms to watch out for:

  • Pain and tenderness
  • Numbness and tingling in the fingers
  • Swelling and stiffness
  • Weak grip
  • Limited range of motion
  • Visible deformities such as lumps, bumps, or changes in the shape of fingers

Understanding the root cause of hand pain and problems is essential for proper diagnosis and effective treatment. Here are some common causes:

  • Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: These are the most common causes of hand joint pain, leading to joint inflammation, swelling, and stiffness.
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A condition where the median nerve, which runs through the wrist, becomes compressed, leading to pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand.
  • Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons that causes shooting pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the fingers.
  • Fractures and Injuries: Result from accidental falls, sports injuries, or direct trauma to the hand.
  • Nerve conditions: Peripheral neuropathy can lead to shooting pain, numbness, or weakness in the hand.
  • Ganglion Cysts: Non-cancerous lumps that cause pain and discomfort.

If the ongoing pain, numbness or weakness in your wrist, hand or fingers does not get better on its own within a week of taking painkillers or with simple self-help treatments, or if it begins to impact your quality of life, make an appointment with a specialist to find the underlying cause. And, in case, you have fractured or severely injured your hand or wrist, you should schedule an appointment with an orthopedist without any delay. Any delay in diagnosis and treatment can lead to poor healing, decreased range of motion and decreased grip strength.

There are several factors that may put you at a higher risk of developing hand pain and problems. These include:

  • Participating in work or sports that require repetitive hand and wrist movements
  • Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis
  • Diabetes and other nerve-damaging conditions
  • Improper technique when playing certain sports
  • Weak shoulder and wrist muscles
  • Family history of certain hand problems

Complications

An orthopedist will use a combination of a medical history review, your symptoms, and a physical examination to determine the cause of hand pain.

Depending on the findings, your specialist may order diagnostic tests, including:

  • Imaging tests: X-ray, MRI, CT Scan, and Ultrasound of your hands are performed to identify abnormalities, such as fractures, nerve compression, and soft tissue injuries.
  • Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies: These assess nerve and muscle function when your hand is in motion and at rest.
  • Blood Test: Tests for inflammation markers and blood cell counts help diagnose inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis.

Medical Management

Treating hand pain and problems starts with an accurate diagnosis and understanding of the underlying cause and hand pain reasons. At Felix Hospital, our specialists offer a range of personalized treatments to alleviate pain, restore function, and improve quality of life.

  • Medication and Injections: Over-the-counter pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medications, or corticosteroid injections are often the first line of treatment to reduce pain and swelling.
  • Physical Therapy: A customized physical therapy program helps to strengthen the hand muscles, improve flexibility, and enhance range of motion.
  • Splinting and Bracing: Wearing a splint or brace can help immobilize and support the hand, reducing strain and allowing damaged tissues to heal.

Surgical Management

Surgery: In cases where conservative treatments fail, surgical intervention may be necessary. Procedures can range from tendon or ligament repairs to joint replacement, depending on the severity and type of hand condition.

Hand exercises can help strengthen muscles and tendons in the hand and forearms, thereby improving range of motion in the fingers and thumbs, and enhance hand function. These may include:

  • Mobilizing exercises to increase or maintain range of motion.
  • Strengthening exercises using a gel ball, or elastic bands.
  • Stretching exercises to increase muscle flexibility of the fingers and wrist.

Prevention depends on the underlying cause of the hand pain. However, some of the common hand pain prevention tips include:

  • Avoiding repetitive motion when possible
  • Stop smoking to reduce the risk of developing arthritis
  • Seeking immediate treatment for any signs of infection, which can damage the joints
  • While playing sports, warm up slowly.
  • Splinting can help stabilize the position of your fingers, thumb, or wrist.

 

Why Choose Felix Hospital for Hand Pain and Problems?

At Felix Hospital, we provide comprehensive diagnosis, world-class treatment, and unparalleled patient care to all our patients. Our team of experienced orthopedic surgeons provide advanced care for conditions of the hand, wrist, and elbow.

 

Here’s what makes us the best choice for the hand joint pain treatment: 

FAQs

Regardless of whether you have left hand pain or right hand pain, our specialists will use various tools to identify the cause. They will examine the hands and ask about the symptoms before determining which tests are necessary for accurate diagnosis. They may order blood tests to determine symptoms of infection or inflammation and imaging tests such as X-rays, Ultrasound, CT, or MRI to assess and examine the hand structure.
The most common indication of heart problems is left hand pain in the arms. It is thus recommended to get treatment for left hand pain before it worsens.
You should be concerned if hand pain is severe, keeps coming back, or is followed by swelling and numbness. If you also experience chest pain or shortness of breath, seek medical help immediately.
Hand pain without injury may be due to conditions such as arthritis, nerve compression, or repetitive strain from activities like typing.
Yes, our physical therapists offer individualized plans that can be very effective for chronic hand pain. It can help by improving hand and finger strength and flexibility.