Top Causes of Hand Pain

by | Sep 1, 2015 | Healthcare

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Hand pain can be hard to deal with and is something that can make everyday tasks seem impossible. There are numerous possibilities when considering the cause of hand pain. Here are some of the top causes of hand pain and what that may mean for you if you are suffering from one of them.

1. De Quervain’s Tendonitis

This specific form of tendonitis can cause pain in the area of your wrist that is closest to your thumb. However, it can also go beyond this area and travel through the length of your thumb and forearm. With de Quervain’s tendonitis, some of the simplest motions may become pain and difficult to do:

• Forming a fist
• Grabbing objects or holding them
• Rotating the wrist

These pains result from swelling in the wrist tendons, which is caused by either irritation or inflammation, meaning repetitive activities and overuse of the hand are two of the things that lead to de Quervain’s. When it comes to treating this form of tendonitis, there are a few things that can be done, depending on the severity, which may also require you to seek help with your hand pain in Jacksonville.

• Wear a splint in order to rest injured thumb and wrist
• Take some anti-inflammatory medication
• Get Cortisone injections
• Physical Therapy

2. If You Have a Fracture

Fracturing any bone in your body will be painful, but when it is in your hand it can make things even worse. There are multiple types of fractures that one can have, including some of the following:

• Simple
• Complex
• Comminuted
• Compound

In the case of a simple fracture, the break in the bone is not too serious, as it is still aligned and stable. However, the fractures get continually worse. Which also means that the worse the fracture, the worse the pain in the hand, which would be accompanied by some of these symptoms as well.

• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Loss of movement

When you fracture a bone, it is important to seek medical help so they can set it properly, and give you care instructions. You may be required to go to physical therapy as well, to ensure that your hand pain Jacksonville not only goes away but that you do not lose functionality of your hand.

3. If You Suffer from Arthritis

Arthritis is considered one of the biggest causes of hand pain, due to the loss of cartilage around joints, which helps them to move more smoothly against each other. This can lead to pain that is sometimes extreme in the affected area, and bad swelling to occur. When it comes to the hands, arthritis tends to affect these three areas the most

• The base of the thumb
• Middle joints of fingers
• Joints closest to the fingertips

Arthritis, however, is sort of an umbrella term as there are multiple kinds of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common, and occurs with aging or after suffering an injury. It causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the affected joints.

4. A Case of Stenosing Tenosynovitis

Stenosing Tenosynovitis, or trigger finger, causes either fingers or thumbs to lock in a bent position. Trigger Finger is a condition that develops as a result of the flexor tendons, which control finger movements, become irritated, causing them to thicken. It can be painful when trying to use the affected fingers or thumb, especially when it comes to bending and straightening it.

The true cause of trigger finger is unknown, but people who suffer from Rheumatoid arthritis, Gout, or Diabetes are at higher risk for getting it. It affects women more so than men, between the ages of 40 and 60. Some ways of treating it includes:

• Rest
• Wearing a splint
• Corticosteroid injections,
• Over-the-counter pain medicine
• Surgery, depending on the severity

These are four of the most common causes of hand pain people suffer from. If you find yourself suffering from hand pain, visit your physician or a specialist in hand pain Jacksonville, who can evaluate your case and tell you how to remedy it.

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