What Are Some Common Reasons For Hand Pain?

Hand pain is frequently caused by a recent injury or excessive use of the hand or wrist. Persistent or recurrent discomfort in the hand, on the other hand, could indicate an underlying problem.

Hand discomfort is one of the symptoms of joint inflammation (arthritis) in the hand. The two most frequent kinds of arthritis in the hand are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive motion injuries can cause pain in the wrist and hand. Tumors of the hand’s structures are a fairly uncommon cause of hand or finger pain.

Damage to the nerves can occur as a result of certain illnesses, such as diabetes, resulting in pain, numbness, or tingling in the arms and legs. Peripheral neuropathy, as well as causing hand pain, is a common occurrence. DeQuervain’s disease causes pain in the thumb and lower arm due to swelling and inflammation of the tendon around the thumb. Another typical cause of hand discomfort is trauma or injury to any of the hand’s structures.

Some Common Reasons for Hand Pain

Arthritis

Arthritis is a type of joint disease that can affect various parts of the hand and wrist. Hand arthritis can be excruciatingly painful. Rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that affects joints all over the body, most typically affects the wrist and finger joints and tendons. It can result in swollen, uncomfortable, and possibly distorted joints. This can make it difficult to use your hands normally. It has a big impact on a person’s quality of life.

Overuse

Repetitive movements or usage of the hands and wrists can produce pain, soreness, and tension muscles, tendons, and nerves. Muscle pain and stress can travel down to the hands from the arms and shoulders. This sort of discomfort is commonly caused by engaging in highly repetitive or high-intensity activities over extended periods of time. Overuse injuries can also be caused by holding the hands in uncomfortable positions for too long.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The carpal tunnel is a thin ligament and bone channel that runs through the base of your hand. It houses the median nerve (a nerve that runs from your forearm to the palm of your hand) as well as the tendons that move your fingers.

When the median nerve is crushed by a narrowing carpal tunnel, carpal tunnel syndrome develops. Thickening of inflamed tendons, inflammation, or anything else that causes swelling in this area might cause this narrowing.

Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms appear gradually and can progress to varied degrees of severity. Burning, tingling, or itchy numbness in the palm of the hand and fingers are common symptoms. The thumb, index finger, and middle finger are frequently affected.

Ganglion cysts

For no obvious cause, soft, fluid-filled cysts can form on the front or back of the hand. The most frequent benign (noncancerous) soft-tissue tumor of the hand and wrist are ganglion cysts.

Ganglion cysts might have symptoms that are similar to those of other medical diseases or issues. Always seek medical advice before making any decisions. Treatment is usually not required when the cyst is tiny and painless at first. Treatment is normally required only when the cyst begins to expand and interferes with the hand’s use.

Trigger Finger

Stenosing tenosynovitis, sometimes known as “trigger finger,” occurs when the tendon sheath, a ring of connective tissue at the base of a thumb or finger, swells. This swelling can impair tendon movement, making moving the affected finger or thumb difficult or unpleasant. When trying to move the finger, a person may detect a popping sensation or the sensation that the finger is catching on something.

Are You Looking for Relief From Elbow, Wrist, and Hand Pain? 

Pace Physical Therapy in San Jose, California specializes in non-surgical neck pain relief and recovery therapies.  We pride ourselves on offering the best possible physical therapy available and going above and beyond for our patients. Our highly experienced physical therapist will work with you to improve your function and relieve your pain. We start by assessing the body as a whole. Oftentimes the cause of pain or an injury extends far beyond just the body part or muscle hurting. Without taking a comprehensive look at your entire self, we would be doing you a disservice in fully helping you heal and preventing future limitations. We then move on to fixing your areas of limitation.  Don’t let your quality of life be diminished by elbow, wrist, or hand pain any longer! If you are looking for a San Jose, CA physical therapist, contact Pace Physical Therapy today to make an appointment and meet with one of our committed team members. We would be delighted to get you back to the safe and physically active life that you deserve! Contact us today to schedule your appointment!