Our habits are revealed by our hand diseases

Author Dr. Bence Balázs Moravcsik | 2018.10.25.

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Among the general public, it is becoming more common hand disease:

• The snapping finger
• The tunnel syndrome
• Inflammation of the tendon sheath

Many people are helpless because their work puts a lot of strain on their hands and wrists every day. But for a good quality of life, we need our hands as much as the rest of our body. Tendonitis, ring finger and tunnel syndrome are increasingly common hand conditions among the population. He is a specialist orthopaedic surgeon in our private practice, Dr. Bence Balázs Moravcsik but these are avoidable problems. Even for those whose jobs require them to strain their upper limbs every day.

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Snapping finger

The snapped finger However, the causes are not clear at the current state of medical knowledge. It may be caused by recurrent or severe tendonitis, a blunt palm trauma, or it may be associated with diabetes, gout and rheumatoid arthritis. From orthopaedist, hand surgeon watch for tendon sheath tenderness, crackling and jamming above the ring, as these are sure signs of a popping finger. In some cases, a diagnostic imaging test may be necessary, in which case a dynamic ultrasound is recommended, which involves moving the patient's fingers during the test.

The aim is to eliminate stuckness, cramping and limited mobility, so using immobilizers, reducing inflammation and stimulating lymphatic circulation physiotherapy (physiotherapy, ultrasound, TENS - muscle and nerve stimulator) are again trying to allow the tendons to slide easily in the tendon sheath. In more severe cases, surgery is the solution.

Tendonitis

The most common is tendonitis, which develops from inflammation of the flexor or extensor muscles. It can also be triggered by low-intensity, repetitive activities such as using a mobile phone, frequent use of a mouse, typing, sewing, or pushing a cash register. There may also be a focus in the body: a dental, ENT or urological problem, or a rheumatological complaint, or an autoimmune disease.

Prevention is important, for example by changing the ergonomics of the hand. The distance between the desk and the chair and the way you use the mouse make a difference. A good solution is the so-called vertical mouse, which puts a different load on the hand, and I also recommend a mouse pad with wrist support, use a headset for phone calls - said the orthopaedic specialist.

If you have established the tendonitis, drug therapy, wrist immobilisation and immobilisation may be the first solution. In more severe cases complex physiotherapy, physiotherapy, ultrasound, or electrotherapy can help.

Tunnel syndrome

Overexertion, regular, monotonous use of limbs, for example due to too much use of mobile phones, or injury, fracture, inflammation, heavy physical work can also trigger tunnel syndrome, when the surrounding nerves are compressed by tendons, muscles and bony canals. It can also develop as a result of diabetes, hypothyroidism, gout and rheumatoid arthritis. As the nerves in the area are responsible for the sensation and movement of the hand, it is advisable to consult a specialist if symptoms occur.

At first, the nerve under pressure only causes pain and numbness in the ends of the thumb, index and middle fingers or wrist at night, but later the symptoms become more persistent. If left untreated, the pain may be accompanied by loss of sensation, burning sensation, radiating pain, muscle weakness and even muscle atrophy, and may radiate to the forearm. Since in most cases, it can be an occupational hazard due to the monotonous, regular use of the forearm and wrist, it is important to do everything possible to prevent it. The methods listed for tendonitis can also help in this case.

From tunnel syndrome diagnosed with electroneurographic equipment, in which nerves are stimulated with an electric current to find out which nerves are under pressure and how much damage they have suffered. In the early stages, the treatment is usually steroid injections or hand-wrist-arm casting, in more severe cases physiotherapy surgery may be the last resort. If other diseases are causing the symptoms, the first priority is to treat and then eliminate them.