Experiencing wrist, hand, and finger pain can be very troublesome. After all, the hands are two of the most used parts of the body. Pain can prevent you from doing everyday tasks at home or work, making your life a lot harder than it needs to be.
Understanding what is causing the pain is key to choosing the proper treatment.
Wrist Pain
The joint that connects your forearm to your hand is called the wrist. It has small bones that help rotate, straighten, and bend the wrist and hand.
Any aching, tingling, or numbness you may feel in this joint is classified as wrist pain.
Causes
The possible causes of wrist pain are:
- Sprains
- Tendonitis
- Arthritis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Ganglion cysts
- Fractures
The most common symptoms of these wrist issues are pain, swelling, and bruising. Depending on your condition, you may also experience the inability to grip anything or difficulty moving the joint.
You may also observe tingling or stiffness on the base of the thumb and near the wrist. You may feel pins and needles in the fingers or notice a lump around the joint. Additionally, you may hear a popping or snapping sound when moving the wrist.
Treatment
Upon consulting a physician, they will recommend appropriate treatment for your condition, which could include:
- Resting your wrist, including avoiding use of your smartphone, typing, and writing
- Applying a cold compress for 20 minutes, every two to three hours
- Doing mild wrist exercises to help with stiffness and pain
- Taking over-the-counter medications for pain relief
- Removing all jewelry from your wrist, especially if it’s swollen
Hand Pain
The hand is composed of ligaments, muscles, and sheaths. Hand muscles mainly support the movement of the bones, while ligaments are fibrous tissues that bind joints together. The sheaths surround the fingers in the form of tubular structures.
Causes
The primary causes of hand pain are:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Ganglion cysts
- Tendonitis
- Tenosynovitis
Symptoms of hand issues include swelling, pain, stiffness, numbness, and grip loss. Other examples are:
- Bony nodules in the joints of the finger
- Inflammation in the base of the thumb
- Tingling or pins and needles in the fingers
- Burning sensation
- Growing lump or cyst
Treatment
Your doctor may recommend many different treatments, like:
- Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication
- Wearing a hand splint
- Limiting hand movement
- Applying cold compress
- Cortisone injections
- Using ergonomic equipment when working to support the hand (mouse, keyboard, and mouse pad)
- Surgery for severe cases
Finger Pain
Each hand consists of 14 bones called the phalanges. Each finger has three phalanges, proximal, middle, and distal. The thumb is an exception, as it only has two.
Causes
The usual causes of finger pain are:
- Sprained finger
- Mallet finger
- Trigger finger
- Tendonitis or deQuervain’s disease
- Arthritis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Broken finger
The symptoms of finger issues are tenderness, pain, swelling, bruising, numbness, tingling, or the following:
- Difficulty moving, straightening, or bending the finger
- Presence of a lump
- Loud popping sound when moving the finger
Treatment
The treatment options that doctors recommend for finger pain include:
- Applying a cold compress for 20 minutes, every two to three hours
- Removing any rings, especially if there is swelling
- Taking pain medication for pain relief
- Limiting movements that force you to bend, straighten, or put pressure on affected fingers (opening bottles, typing, or slicing food)
- Taping the injured finger to the finger beside it to prevent movement
Managing Wrist, Hand, And Finger Pain In Kingsport, TN
Wrist, hand, and finger pain may result from many different issues. Most of the time, the pain stems from an accident or sudden strain of muscles. In other cases, you may have an underlying condition, like arthritis, tendonitis, or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Patients with pain symptoms will benefit from consulting their physician immediately. Your doctor will recommend the best treatment for you, like over-the-counter painkillers, resting your hand, and applying a cold compress. Having a reliable healthcare provider will help you achieve a smooth recovery from hand, finger, and wrist pain.
At Associated Orthopaedics, we are prepared to help you recover from many different hand pain symptoms. Our highly skilled orthopedic surgeons provide patients with only the best and most effective services to ensure proper healing. Call us at (423) 245-3161 for questions and inquiries. You may also fill out an appointment request form to schedule an appointment.
