GeneralCommon Causes of Hand Pain You Ought To Know

The human hand contains 27 bones with various muscles and joints allowing the arm to make deft and detailed movements. Owing to the kind of complex skeletal structure, pain can originate from any one of the joints and muscles limiting your ability to perform your daily activities. Let’s look into some of the most common causes of persistent hand pain you should know.

Fractured bones

A fracture occurs when you break one or multiple bones in your arm. The various types of fractures include complex, compound, comminuted and straightforward fractures. Common symptoms of a bone fracture include pain, swelling, stiffness, and inability to move the finger, arm, or wrist.

Stenosing Tenosynovitis

In layman’s terms, stenosing tenosynovitis is also known as trigger finger and occurs when the fingers remain in a bent position. This condition stems from the thickening of the tendon sheath around the flexor tendons due to irritation. Patients report feeling extreme pain, especially when they straighten the affected finger.

De Quervain’s Tendinitis

This condition is also known as Quervain’s tendinosis and affects the tendons and tissues around your thumb. Patients suffering from this condition report a gradual or sudden pain that travels along with the thumb and eventually moves to the forearm. Quervain’s tendinosis makes it challenging and painful to turn your wrist, make a fist or hold objects firmly.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The base of your hand contains a narrow passageway surrounded by bones and ligaments known as the carpal tunnel. This tunnel has the median nerve, which runs from your forearm to your palm. Pressure to the median nerve can cause you to develop carpal tunnel syndrome, and you might start to experience itching, numbness, pain, and a lingering burning sensation. It would be best to schedule an appointment with a carpal tunnel specialist to help develop an effective treatment plan. Ensure you find a specialist near you with the expertise to treat hand and wrist issues.

Arthritis

The leading cause of hand pain today is arthritis, which can occur in almost any part of the body but is most common in the wrists and hands. The hands perform many functions and lift heavy weights, leading to significant wear and tear over the years. Arthritis causes the cartilage in the arms to deteriorate and is characterized by symptoms such as debilitating pain and swelling.

Lupus

The immune system’s primary function is to keep harmful pathogens and viruses at bay. In some rare cases, the immune system gets confused and starts to attack the body in a phenomenon known as an autoimmune disease. Lupus is an example of an autoimmune disease whereby the immune system begins to damage healthy body tissues, causing you to experience stiffness and pain at the joints.

Gout

Gout is a more complex version of arthritis and causes you to experience sudden crippling pain in the joints. Unfortunately, this condition can affect anyone, whether young or old. Other symptoms of gout include feeling as if your hands are on fire, tenderness, and redness.

Final remarks

Hand pain can result from multiple repetitive injuries, sprains and fractures, untreated chronic health conditions, and nerve damage. Hand pain can also stem from inflammation of the muscles and connecting tissues. If you feel any persistent pain, ensure you see a hand and wrist specialist as soon as possible.

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