Hand pain is one of the common problems that occur due to overuse of the hand, an injury, and certain health conditions that promote pain in all parts of the hand including fingers, palm, and wrist.
There are distinct structures present in a person’s hands or wrists like joints, muscles, and bones. These structures unite together to make a person perform various tasks in his day-to-day life. Therefore, hand pain unable a person carry out these tasks and lessen their quality of life.
Causes of Hand Pain
- Injuries
Injuries are one of the common causes of hand pain and another kind of discomfort. People who regularly work with heavy equipment, play sports, or work in hazardous environments suffer from this type of pain that can damage the nerves, tendons, and muscles the essential areas of the hand.
Examples of injuries that may lead to pain in the palm are-
- Insect bites or stings
- Burns due to cooking
- Falling on the hand
- Overuse of the hand during sports or other repetitive tasks
Symptoms of Hand Injury include-
- Bruising
- Stiffness
- Swelling
Treatment
Mild hand injuries can be easily treated at home such as:
- Resting the hand as much as possible
- Applying ice to the infected area for up to 20 minutes at a time
- Taking pain relievers
People with serious hand injuries like fractures or dislocations need immediate medical attention.
- Infection
If a wound or cut in the palm becomes infected, then it invites pain and swelling.
Symptoms of an infection include-
- Redness around an area
- Fever or feeling unwell
- Pus or Drainage
- Warmth in the infected area
Treatment
People with wound infections must approach medical treatment. Otherwise, it can lead to cellulitis, sepsis, and abscesses.
- Palmar Fasciitis
Palmar fasciitis is a kind of medical condition that causes inflammation of the palmar fascia, which is a thickened band of tissue that links the palm to the fingers.
Palmar fasciitis affects both hands and occurs in people with polyarthritis. The inflammation can make it painful when a person tries to stretch or straighten their fingers.
Treatment
Treatment for palmar fasciitis includes-
- Pain relievers
- Deep tissue massages
- Steroid therapy to relieve inflammation
- Vasculitis
Vasculitis is known as an inflammation of the blood vessels, that can affect other parts of the body also. There are various types of vasculitis and symptoms that differ from person to person.
Vasculitis can cause the following-
- Tingling sensations
- Loss of strength
- Numbness
- Shooting pains
Doctors sometimes do not fully understand the causes of vasculitis. But, infections, autoimmune disorders, and various blood cancers can sometimes be helpful to find out the condition.
Treatment
Treatment is based on the type of vasculitis, location, and how severe the person’s symptoms are. This involves the use of anti-inflammatory medications, like steroids. And for more serious vasculitis doctors suggest cytotoxic drugs including methotrexate, azathioprine, or cyclophosphamide.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
This tunnel in the wrist becomes compressed or inflamed, placing pressure on the median nerve and tendons that run through it.
Some of the common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include-
- Numbness or tingling sensation in the palm or fingers
- Pain in the palm, wrist, or fingers
- Weakness in the hand or a less capable to grip things
Risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome include-
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Hand or wrist injuries that cause swelling
- Performing repetitive tasks with the hands
- A family history of carpal tunnel syndrome
Treatment
- The practice of yoga, acupuncture, or chiropractic therapies
- Wearing a brace or splint
- Receiving prescription medications like steroid or lidocaine injections
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen
Home Treatment
People can follow the below process to treat hand pain at home like-
- Take over-the-counter medications to relieve pain and inflammation.
- Applying an ice pack to the affected area for up to 20 minutes at a time.
- Doing gentle stretching or strengthening exercises to remove back pain.
- Massaging the hands to promote circulation and relieve muscle stiffness.
- Resting or immobilizing the hand like with a brace or splint.
When to visit a doctor
When the patient feels severe pain, it is necessary to stop moving with home treatments, and immediately visit a doctor.
Some severe problems that need medical attention are-
- Severe hand swelling
- Severe hand pain
- Severe wounds or bleeding that doesn’t stop
- Fractures in the hand or finger