We rely on our hands for everything. So over time, you might start to experience pain or sensitivity. When the pain doesn’t go away with rest, icing, and NSAIDs, seeing a medical professional who can diagnose your condition and create a treatment plan to successfully manage the symptoms is a good first step to quite literally handling the problem. Wonder what could be the cause of your condition? Here are five possible causes of hand and wrist pain.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder by which your body mistakenly attacks its own joint tissues. RA causes pain, swelling, and can even lead to bone erosion. Fortunately, with the proper diagnosis, you can manage the symptoms and reduce the pain and inflammation that can affect your hands and wrists, and any other joint in your body. Worst case scenario, you may be recommended to undergo joint replacement surgery.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is caused by wear and tear. OA is characterized by a wearing down of the protective cartilage that cushions your bones to permit smooth and frictionless movement, causing pain and inflammation. OA usually affects the elderly but also is common in very active people whose joints have worn down over time due to extreme activity. While it usually affects the hands, OA can affect the wrist, especially if you’ve injured it in the past.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the compression of the median nerve that travels through your wrist’s carpal tunnel. Symptoms include pain, tingling, and numbness that radiates from the hand to your arm since the median nerve runs the length of your arm. Carpal tunnel syndrome may be caused by abnormalities in wrist anatomy or repetitive hand motions and can be very painful, often necessitating a release procedure for relief.
Ganglion cysts
The soft, round, and fluid-filled cysts that develop due to this disease are found on the front or the back of the hand. The condition is usually accompanied by symptoms of pain, swelling, aching, and weakness typically in the wrist. The pain gets worse when the wrist is in use. Draining the cysts can help, as can surgery depending on the severity of your diagnosis.
DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis
A repetitive use injury, this condition is characterized by pain felt where the thumb meets the wrist and is characterized by difficulty moving your thumbs, turning your wrists, handling and grasping objects, and balling up your fists. Certain activities can aggravate the condition, such as texting with your thumbs and typing by not using your touchpad. Bracing the wrist provides stability; if the condition worsens surgery may be in order.
Hand and Wrist Pain Diagnosis and Treatment in North Dakota
With years of experience diagnosing and treating a broad range of orthopedic conditions, including hand and wrist conditions, The Bone & Joint Center is North Dakota’s most trusted orthopedic practice. Our compassionate team of board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons are experts at treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions with state-of-the art procedures and services. With locations throughout the state, there is an office near-by to serve you. Call The Bone & Joint Center today (866) 900-8650 or use our online request form to make an appointment.
