Pain in various regions of the hand, including the palm, fingers, and wrist, can be caused by overuse, injury, or certain health disorders.
The bones, muscles, and joints that make up a person’s hands and wrists comprise many components.
These structures interact to allow a person to complete many tasks. Hand pain might make it difficult to complete these duties and lower one’s quality of life.
Hand pain and injury are frequent, and your physiotherapist can properly assess and treat them.
The wrist, hand, thumb, and fingers, as well as all tendons, muscles, and nerves, make up your hand. For the accurate diagnosis and therapy, it is critical to understand the hand.
Causes
While there are many causes for hand discomfort, most cases are caused by a few disorders. Some conditions require medical attention, while others may be treated with self-care. The following are the most common causes of hand pain:
- Arthritis
The hand is the most common site of arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis, which is a natural part of the ageing process and involves cartilage loss in the joints. The hands of the great majority of adults over 60 show indications of osteoarthritis.
- Tendonitis/trigger finger
Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon within or around it. This causes discomfort and swelling at the site of the inflammation, which affects the way your hands and fingers move. Tendonitis is caused by repetitive movements or injuries (typically a quick, sudden movement).
- Ligament injury
Your hand is made up of 27 bones that are all connected by an elaborate system of ligaments that allow you to move while keeping your joints stable. Any type of stress to your hands can injure one or more ligaments, making simple tasks like bending your fingers, gripping, or pinching difficult.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
The hand is supplied with sensation by several major nerves, and when one of them is injured or squeezed (for example, by inflammation), it can produce a lot of pain and limit function. Carpal tunnel syndrome, which arises when the median nerve in the wrist is irritated or damaged, is the most frequent hand condition involving nerve compression.
- Injuries
Many types of injuries can affect the hand, including bone fractures and muscular strains. Hand injuries can happen for a variety of reasons: fingers get jammed into items, hands get slammed in doors, and your hand may even get stepped on during various sports.
- Ganglion cysts
You have joints and tendon sheaths all over your body that ordinarily hold fluid. When that fluid builds up into a pouch, it forms a ganglion cyst, which appears as a bump. The wrist is the most common location for these cysts to form.
- Raynaud’s phenomenon
Raynaud’s phenomenon, often known as Raynaud’s syndrome, is characterized by an excessively intense reactivity to cold temperatures in your fingers and possibly other limbs. When cooled, they may turn blue or white, then bright red as they warm up. Some patients report throbbing, tingling, or swelling that is painful.
- Scleroderma
Scleroderma is a condition that causes hardening of the skin and other organs. It primarily affects the hands and face, with swollen, aching muscles and joints in the hands being one of the initial signs. The sickness may affect only particular sections of the body or it may affect the entire body.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Hand discomfort is usually relieved with a few simple remedies. Some situations, however, require more immediate attention. If you have any of the following symptoms, get medical help:
- Infection symptoms include redness, fever, and chills.
- Hand or finger deformity following an injury
- Inability to create a fist or flex the fingers
- Inability to create a fist or flex the fingers
- Numbness in the fingers or hand that is getting worse
- Pain that does not respond to standard therapies
Hand Pain Treatment
Most hand injuries respond fast to physiotherapy with correct assessment and early treatment, allowing you to resume pain-free and regular activities of daily living quickly.
Please seek professional treatment guidance from your physiotherapist.
For specific advice regarding your Hand Pain & Injury, please visit Simply Align Rehab Physio in Scarborough/Toronto at simplyalignrehab.com or you can always call or text us for your Physiotherapy or Chiropractor needs in Toronto at (416) 628-8554.