Why hands hurt and what to do about it

Very often, hand pain occurs due to trauma. Perhaps you were in a hurry, running out of the house, and accidentally hit your hand on the doorway. Or they mistook a pass while playing volleyball on the beach. Or maybe they landed unsuccessfully on the palm or fist when falling.

Minor injuries are usually harmless, but if it is about something more serious, you will probably recognize it by characteristic symptoms.

When to see a doctor immediately

Here are the signsBroken hand. Symptoms and Causes / Mayo Clinicin which you urgently need to go to the nearest emergency room or emergency department:

• Strong pain. It becomes almost unbearable if you try to clench your fingers or twist your hand.
• Restricted mobility. It is hard for you or you cannot move all your fingers at all or just your thumb.
• Increased sensitivity of the hand. It hurts even to touch her.
• Severe edema.
• Marked subcutaneous hematoma.
• Numbness in the entire hand or only in the fingers.
• Color changePain in the palm of the hand / NHS skin: the brush is blue or white.
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• Obvious deformation of any of the bones of the hand. For example, an unnaturally curved finger.

Any of these symptoms, if it occurs after an injury, indicates a possible dislocation or fracture. You cannot do without the help of a trauma surgeon.

But if there was definitely no mechanical damage, but there is pain in the hand, it makes sense to analyze other possible factors.

Why do my hands hurt?

The British National Health Service allocatesPain in the palm of the hand / NHS five main causes of pain in the arm. And he suggests on what grounds one can suspect each one.

1. Tunnel Syndrome

He is also - carpal tunnel syndromeCarpal Tunnel Syndrome / OrthoInfo. These terms designate a situation when the median nerve, which is responsible for movement and sensitivity thumb, index, middle and ring fingers, pinched between the bones and tendons of the carpals muscles.

Pinch lead dozens of different reasons. Risk factors can be excessive brushing (for example, if you drilled something for half a day or did the same hand movements), pregnancy, diabetes and other diseases, among which there are, at first glance, not related to muscles or bones.

How to recognize

• Aching pain worse at night.
• Feeling of weakness in the thumb.
• Problems with grabbing and holding heavy objects: a cup, a book.
• Numbness or tingling sensation in the hand.

2. Arthritis

ArthritisArthritis / NHS, that is, inflammation of the joints, is one of the factors that can cause tunnel syndrome. But in itself, this condition leads to acute pain in the joints, including the joints of the hand.

There are dozens of types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, secondary arthritis, gout. Any of them can hit on the hands - almost literally.

How to recognize

• Pain, swelling, stiffness of movements, which continue for days.
• Inability to move your fingers or serious difficulty with this.
• Lumps (bumps) around the affected joints.

3. Click finger syndrome

The syndrome is also known by other names: stenosing ligamentitis, tendonitis, tendosynovitis, or tendovaginitisFinger flexor tendinitis and tenosynovitis (snap finger syndrome) / MSD Handbook flexors of the fingers. This condition is caused by inflammation of the tendons in the hand.

How to recognize

• Pain or tenderness in the hand at the base of the fingers.
• Stiffness, problems with movement of the phalanges.
• Clicks when trying to straighten the injured finger.

4. Peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathyPeripheral Neuropathy / NHS occurs when nerve endings in the legs or arms are damaged - in the hand as well. Diabetes is a common cause of this: peripheral nerves are impaired by regular increases in blood sugar (hyperglycemia). But other factors can play a role in the development of pathology. For example, certain viral infections, side effects from various medications, or alcohol abuse.

How to recognize

• Sharp or burning pain in the hand.
• Tingling or numbness in the palm or fingers.
• Increased sensitivity to touch or heat.

5. Erythromelalgia

This is the name of a rare syndromeErythromelalgia / NHS, in which small arteries regularly and strongly expand - most often in the upper extremities. The unpleasant sensations can last from a few minutes to several days.

How to recognize

• Sudden strong itchy palms, in which the discomfort increases to the point of pain.
• Swelling in the hands.
• Redness of the skin and a feeling of heat in the palms.

What to do if your hands hurt

First, try to deal with the pain of your family.Pain in the palm of the hand / NHS methods. This often works.

• Rest your hand. Try not to overload the brush for at least a day or two.
• Use a cold compress. Wrap a bag of ice or frozen vegetables in a thin napkin and hold it on your hand for 20 minutes. Repeat this procedure every 2-3 hours if necessary.
• Try an over-the-counter pain reliever. For example, based on paracetamol.
• If the brush is swollen, try take off her jewelry is tight. Or change your clothes: too narrow cuffs on a shirt or dress, a tight sleeve of a T-shirt can pull your arm.
• Try wrapping an elastic bandage around your brush.

But watch your well-being carefully and do not tolerate discomfort for too long.

If painful sensations in the hand bother you for more than two weeks, see a therapist.

Don't wait two weeks and see your doctor right away if:

• the pain comes back and gets worse, although you have tried all the available home methods;
• because of the sensations in the hand, you cannot work or do your usual activities;
• each attack of pain is accompanied by tingling or numbness of the hand;
• you are diagnosed with diabetes.

How to treat hand pain

The therapist will examine you, ask you about your symptoms, and try to establish the cause of the pain. For this, additional studies may be needed: tests of blood and synovial fluid of the joints, x-rays or ultrasound of the bones of the hand.

Treatment will depend on the diagnosis.

For example, for joint inflammation, you may be prescribedTop 5 ways to reduce crippling hand pain / Harvard Health Publishing injections of corticosteroids - they can help relieve pain for up to a year. With erythromelalgia, local anesthetics in the form of creams or ointments are helpful. But there are other drugs: they are selected in each specific case by the doctor.

In addition to medications, your doctor may suggest physical therapy exercises. They can sometimes improve the condition of tendons and joints.