Hand Pain
The causes of hand complaints can be many and varied, so professional treatment can vary
Hand Complaints
Hand pain is not just a problem because of the unpleasant symptoms, but in more severe cases it can also lead to a deterioration in quality of life, as we need to use our hands every day to work, drive a car or live independently . Most hand problems also cause limited mobility, which is why it is so important to get rid of hand pain as soon as possible. The causes of hand pain can vary, but the following are the most common underlying hand conditions with muscle strain.
Tenosynovitis
The modern age’s hand-wringing
Tendonitis is hand pain that develops as a result of unilateral exertion. It is particularly common in today’s modern world due to computer and mobile phone use. This can lead to excruciating pain from a young age. The condition involves swelling of the tendon sheath and burning pain, which occurs not only when the fingers are moved but also when the fingers are at rest.
The patient’s hand becomes clumsy, the grip strength is reduced, and the affected area becomes tender and subject to inflammation when pressure is applied. When the fingers are moved over the tendon sheath, a snowdrop-like rubbing sensation is felt.
Diagnosis and professional treatment require a specialist hand surgeon in hand surgery, especially as recovery can be lengthy and tendonitis can recur.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Pain in the hands at night
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a “pressure injury” of the nerves, resulting first in numbness, which, if the nerve pressure persists, may be accompanied by loss of sensation and pain, and finally muscle weakness and atrophy in the area affected by the nerve. The numbness and pain may initially occur at night and then become more frequent during the day.
Symptoms:
- burning pain, numbness in the thumb, index and middle finger,
- symptoms mainly occur at night,
- the pain can radiate up the whole arm,
- in more severe cases, the fingers are clumsy and stiff.
Snapping finger
The painful stiffness
A stubbed toe is also a painful hand complaint that often develops after tendonitis. When the tendons swell during overuse or inflammation, the joint surfaces move apart, making it even more difficult to move the finger. This causes friction, painful movement, and later, cracking. In severe cases, the patient cannot extend the finger. If conservative methods do not reduce the symptoms, surgery is recommended. This is usually done by inserting the narrowed tendon sheath in a day surgery.
Dupuytren’s Contracture
The men’s hand complaint
In Dupuytren’s contracture, the tendons that attach the skin of the palm to the underlying connective tissue membrane thicken and shorten. They are connected to the tendons involved in flexing the fingers, so the shortening also affects the position of the fingers .
The deformity is not painful, but without proper treatment it can make it difficult to use your hands.
It is most common in middle-aged men over the age of 40.
Wrist pain
The common injury
Wrist pain can also be caused by incorrect hand position, monotonous, one-sided loading or injury. The wrist can be easily injured during physical work, weight training and racquet sports, where short, high-impact movementsare common . Wrist pain can also occur due to tendonitis and similar symptoms can be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome.
Pain in the wrist restricts the movement of the whole hand, as the wrist is an important part of all hand movements. That is why it is important to get a professional diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible for any pain.
Wrist fracture
The sports accident
A common type of hand complaint is a wrist fracture. It usually happens during a sudden fall, when the full weight of the body is on the wrist. The treatment of a wrist fracture depends on the severity of the fracture and the age of the patient.
The group at risk of wrist fractures include young people, who tend to suffer wrist fractures mainly after sports injuries, and older people, who are more vulnerable to osteoporosis and more likely to fall because of their frequent musculoskeletal and neurological disorders.
Fracture of the radius
The slowly healing
The most common fracture in a wrist fracture is a fracture of the radius bone of the wrist joint. This is associated with severe pain, swelling and noticeable deformity. X-rays are part of the diagnosis . Treatment of a wrist fracture depends on the severity of the fracture and the age of the patient. During treatment, the hand surgeon will set and fix the bones, and then a plaster cast will be applied. The wrist will be spared for several weeks until the bones fuse back together.
Palm pain
Everyday hand pain
Pain in the palm of the hand is a hand complaint that can make life miserable for many patients, as it plays a very important role in carrying out everyday activities. Cooking, cleaning, other work – our palms are indispensable.
Pain in the palm of the hand is most likely to develop as a result of various injuries :
- bumps on the surface of the hand
- falling on hands
- burns
- cutting the palm
- excessive use or stretching of the palm
More serious injuries can damage the joints, bones, ligaments and tendons in the hand, so it is always worth seeking an examination by a hand surgeon .
Finger fracture
This should also be taken seriously
Hand and finger injuries and fractures are common in everyday life and in sport. If a finger fracture is suspected, it is essential to arrange a consultation with a specialist in hand surgery. An X-ray is helpful in making the diagnosis.
In the case of a fractured finger, the first priority is to immobilise the finger to allow the bone to heal. If the fracture moves, it may need to be set, even surgically. A plaster splint is then usually needed. Poorly fused bones can cause problems later in the patient’s life, so it is worth consulting a hand surgeon for treatment.
Thumb pain
The constricted pain
Inflammation of the thumb joint, arthritis, is caused by strain and wear and tear. The cartilage is constantly worn down and the joint is damaged at the same time. Over time, the patient may notice that when he or she grips an object or moves the complaining hand, the lower half of the thumb starts to hurt. In more severe cases, additional symptoms may also occur:
- weakness in the thumb,
- swelling at the joint and around the wrist,
- restricted movement
Without treatment, the symptoms can worsen.
Finger pain
Arthritis of articular origin
There are no moving muscles in our fingers, so if you feel pain when you move them, it is probably a problem with your tendons and joints. The fingers of the human hand are held together by a single common tendon, one end of which is located at the elbow joint, while the other four end points are attached to the second and third phalanges.
So the cause of finger pain is more likely to be rheumatism or inflammation from various causes. In the case of persistent pain, it is always recommended to consult a specialist in hand surgery.
Our Hand Surgery Specialists
Dr. János Bartha
Chief Orthopedic-Traumatologist, Robotic Surgeon
Dr. Tamás Hábel
Traumatologist, Hand Surgeon
The experienced hand surgeons of the Budapest Musculoskeletal Private Outpatient Clinic provide accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment to their patients, even without waiting time!