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Hands

The human hand is built from a complex system of nerves, muscles, bones, and joints that all work together to enable dexterity and grip. The phalanges, or fingers, extend outward from the metacarpal and carpal bones, which make up the central section of the hand and the wrist, respectively.

Muscles in the hand include the interossei muscles, which wrap around the metacarpal bones. The hypothenar muscle controls the smaller fingers, while the thenar muscle is responsible for moving the thumb. Other muscles located in the hand include the adductor pollicis and the palmaris brevis muscle. Each of these plays a crucial role in supporting the various movements and functionalities of the hand.

Frequent Kinds of Hand Discomfort

When the hand is overworked or used improperly, discomfort can arise. Typical pain symptoms patients may experience include:

  • Radiating pain from a specific part of the hand.
  • Soreness in the joints or fingers.
  • Limited mobility or muscle tightness.
  • A throbbing sensation.
  • A needle-like sensation in the fingers or palm.
  • Aching in the wrist or metacarpal bones.

Causes of Hand Pain

Various causes can serve as the root source of a person’s chronic or intermittent hand pain. These include, but aren’t limited to, the conditions below.

Also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, this happens when a tendon sheath around an affected finger becomes inflamed. Trigger finger can be caused by certain diseases or constant overuse of the fingers in a gripping movement.

Different types of arthritis can make movement and holding objects painful. When the various joints in the hand are worn down over time, arthritis may become prevalent.

Can be caused by activities that require frequent wrist usage, such as cooking, typing, or playing the drums. This syndrome is caused by constriction of the central nerve that travels from the forearm to the palm.

Improper usage or an abnormal stretch can cause a tear or swelling in the hand muscles.

Can be caused by various diseases, an injury, or other underlying conditions. This term describes when nerve damage affects the hands or feet.

An acute injury that’s severe enough can result in damaged muscle fibers or broken bones in the hand, limiting mobility and causing intense pain.

Repeated overuse of the hand muscles can cause tendonitis to present. This condition occurs when a particular tendon becomes irritated and swells.

Treatment for Hand or Wrist Pain

Depending on the affliction, there are some important ways you can treat your hand pain at home. For general soreness or muscle strains, icing the hand and then applying heat can work to reduce some of the swelling. Exercising the hand muscles by opening and closing a fist also helps engage the muscles and opens up blood flow, potentially healing the injury faster. Over-the-counter medications may also help you manage pain symptoms in the interim while you recover.

Reach out to us at Magic Valley Orthopedics if a severe injury is to blame for your hand pain (or if hand issues continue to affect your day-to-day life beyond what you can treat at home). Our team of specialists is standing by and ready to assist you.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our dedicated providers.