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Have you ever had pain in your hands? You may not have even noticed until it became unbearable. Most of us have experienced some case of hand pain at some point. For most people, hand pain is a purely physical experience. It feels like an ache or a tightness in your hands which makes it difficult to complete essential tasks like typing or gripping objects.
However, there are some hand conditions that are caused by a combination of physical and nonphysical factors. For some people, these minor annoyances can turn into serious chronic hand problems that require a visit to a pain management NYC center.
In this blog post, I will tell you about the major causes of chronic hand pain and what steps you should take to treat chronic hand pain.
Causes of Chronic Hand Pain
The hands are one of the most used parts of our body. They are used every single day to grip things, write, type, and use tools. As a result, they are subject to all kinds of stressors, physical and emotional. And all this can lead to hand pain.
Chronic hand pain is characterized by persistent discomfort and inflammation that can affect the hands, wrists, fingers, and forearms. It can make it hard to do everyday tasks, such as writing or using a computer.
The following are some common chronic hand pain symptoms:
Pain in one or both hands or wrists that occurs every day for more than three months
Numbness and weakness in the fingers, palms, or arms
Tingling sensations in the fingers, palms, or arms
Pain that worsens with the use of the affected hand
The causes and symptoms of chronic hand pain vary greatly from person to person, so it's important to see a pain management specialist for an evaluation and treatment plan if you're experiencing this condition.
Chronic hand pain can be treated, and there are many treatment options available for those who suffer from chronic hand pain, including physical medicine and rehabilitation, which can help people with physical impairments or disabilities can enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life.
Chronic hand pain is often caused by an injury that has not healed properly or by repetitive motions over time. At times, chronic hand pain is due to a condition that has nothing to do with the hands at all, such as back problems or arthritis in the spine. There are many different factors can result in chronic hand pain, but the top common reasons are the following:
1. Injury
Injuries are one of the most common causes of chronic hand pain. An injury to your hands can cause chronic pain if you don't treat it properly. When your hand is injured, you may feel pain, swelling, and tenderness in the affected area. You may also experience a limited range of motion in your fingers and wrist, which makes it difficult to perform everyday tasks.
Injuries can happen at any time but are often associated with sports activities like golfing or baseball pitching, where players swing their arms violently back and forth, trying to hit a ball with a bat or club. However, injuries can also occur during everyday activities such as lifting heavy objects or falling onto an outstretched hand during rough movement.
The most common type of injury is repetitive motion injury and a sprain or strain to one of the tendons that connect muscles to bones. Sprains and strains happen when there is too much stress put on a tendon, which can become inflamed or even tear over time if not treated properly. This type of injury may heal on its own with rest and self-care treatment, but if it does not improve within 2-3 weeks, then you should see a pain specialist for a more specific treatment plan.
2. Arthritis
Hand pain is one of the most common complaints in the world. It can be caused by a variety of conditions and diseases. Some are serious, while others are not.
Arthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic hand pain, especially in the elderly population. It's a degenerative joint disease that causes inflammation and stiffness in joints, leading to swelling and loss of function. Arthritis can be caused by several factors, including:
Age — Arthritis becomes more common as you get older.
Family history — If your parents had arthritis, it's more likely that you will too.
Diet — Some foods can raise your risk of developing arthritis, while others may lower it.
Injury to the joint — This can include overuse or trauma to the joint such as a fracture or dislocation.
Genetic conditions — Some people are born with a genetic condition that makes them more likely to develop arthritis later in life.
When it comes to arthritis, there are many different types, but osteoarthritis is by far the most common type affecting hands. The condition usually affects older people and often occurs after an injury or as a result of wear and tear over time.
Rheumatoid arthritis is another type of joint disease that affects adults younger than 65 years old. This form of arthritis causes inflammation in multiple joints at once, which can cause severe pain and stiffness in your hands.
3. Nerve compression
Nerve compression is the most common cause of chronic hand pain. It is caused by the compression of a nerve in the wrist. The most common type of nerve compression is carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve in your wrist becomes trapped in a narrow passageway (like a tunnel), causing numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness in your fingers and palm. It is caused when a nerve is squeezed or pinched by surrounding tissue, such as bone, ligaments, tendons, or muscle.
Nerve compression can happen anywhere in the body but is more common in the arms and legs than in the hands. It can occur due to repetitive movement or calcium deposits forming around the nerve. If you experience chronic hand pain, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis so that you can begin treatment.
Treating Chronic Hand Pain
Chronic pain can cause a great deal of discomfort and interfere with your ability to perform daily tasks. If you've been living with chronic hand pain for more than six months, you may be wondering if there are any treatment options that work.
The good news is that there are many treatments available for chronic hand pain, and they can help reduce or even eliminate your discomfort. The first step toward getting better is having an honest conversation with a healthcare professional. Treatment for chronic hand pain depends on the underlying cause of the pain. That's why proper diagnosis is vital.
It's also important to seek treatment from a pain management specialist as soon as possible when you experience chronic hand pain. A pain specialist can examine your hands and assess any damage that may have occurred to them as a result of overuse or repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
There are several options for treating chronic hand pain. However, chronic hand pain can be treated without medication, and you may need a combination of treatments to find relief from your symptoms. It's also important to figure out what's causing your symptoms so you can choose the best treatment option.
When treating chronic hand pain, keep active and explore your treatment options carefully. There are no risk-free choices, but making an informed decision is always better than taking the path of least resistance.
Treatments may include medical massage, acupuncture, and physical therapy sessions. Where you work with a highly qualified therapist who helps stretch out the injured area and strengthen muscles around it so they can better support the joint without being overused or stressed out too much everyday tasks like typing on a keyboard or carrying groceries home from the store.
Finally, remember that you're not alone in dealing with chronic hand pain. Our pain experts are ready to help you when it comes to pain management needs. Please do not hesitate to book an appointment with our experienced team. We're ready to help you find relief!
Takeaway
If you are dealing with chronic hand pain, you'd be surprised how many different factors can contribute to hand pain, so knowing where to look for the underlying cause can go a long way.
The truth is chronic hand pain can be hard to deal with, both in terms of the discomfort and the emotional toll that it can take on you. But whether it's arthritis or repetitive stress injuries, remember that recovery is always possible.
Thankfully, there are many options available to you now beyond prescription drugs. Our pain management NYC center offers treatment options for chronic pain management, ranging from physical therapy to more advanced techniques.
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand what may cause chronic hand pain and how it might affect your life. However, try not to dwell on it, as visiting our pain management specialist can reduce your pain and even prevent it from happening again.