Hand and wrist pain

Hand and wrist pain can make even the smallest task difficult. Turn to the health care professionals at Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic to learn what’s causing your hand and wrist pain and what can be done to make it go away entirely.

What is hand and wrist pain?

The human hand is one of the most essential daily tools most people will ever use. As a result, both the hand and the wrist may experience a wide variety of injuries, ranging from the skin down into the bone itself.

Causes of hand and wrist pain

The are a wide variety of causes for pain in the hand or wrist.

Injuries

The hand and wrist may sustain injuries from accidents during rough play or labor to overuse. The result can be fractures, sprains or strain from repetitive actions.

Actions that may lead to injury of the hand or wrist include:

• Doing tasks at home, such as cooking, gardening, cleaning, or repairs
• Falling
• Fist fights or punching
• Playing contact sports such as football, baseball or soccer
• Recreational activities such as skiing or tennis
• Repetitive movements like typing
• Using machinery at home or work

Nerve compression

When nerves are squeezed or pinched by surrounding tissue, it can prevent them from working correctly, creating pain, tingling or numbness. In the hand, this can be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome (when the median nerve in the wrist experiences compression) or cubital tunnel syndrome (when the ulnar nerve in the elbow experiences compression).

Arthritis

Arthritis is pain from swelling or inflammation in the joints, often a product of several conditions rather than just one illness. It is believed to be caused by age or overuse of the affected area.

Types of arthritis that afflict the hand or wrist:

• Gout
• Infectious arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Other causes of hand and wrist pain

Other sources of pain and discomfort of the hand and wrist include:

• Acute tendon, nerve and arterial injuries
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Congenital hand deformities
• Crushed fingertips
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
• Dupuytren’s contracture
• Fractures
• Ganglion cysts
• Lacerations of tendons, nerves and arteries
• Raynaud’s syndrome
• Spastic conditions (cerebral palsy, post-stroke)
• Sports injuries
• Tendinitis
• Tennis elbow
• Trigger finger

Hand and wrist pain symptoms

As there are many reasons the hand and wrist may experience pain, there are also many possible causes for it. Conditions that cause inflammation, such as arthritis, can result in pain. Numbness or tingling in the fingers may be a sign of a problem with nerves or blood flow. Redness and swelling can be a sign of infection or inflammation.

Hand and wrist pain may include symptoms such as:

• Burning
• Change in skin color
• Coldness
• Numbness
• Redness
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Tingling

Hand and wrist pain treatment

The specialists at Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic are available to diagnose and treat the entire spectrum of upper extremity conditions, whether you need reconstructive hand surgery, minimally invasive arthroscopic wrist or elbow surgery, or simply an evaluation and non-operative treatment.

To help relieve pain and soreness, you may find relief from:

• Gentle stretching exercises
• Massage
• Pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen or naproxen
• Resting the affected areas
• Warm baths

Other potential treatments for hand and wrist pain include:

• Activity and exercise programs
• Custom orthotic fabrication
• Joint protection education
• Management of pain and swelling
• Post-operative care and rehabilitation
• Wound and scar care