There are many reasons people of all ages experience ongoing hand pain. Several years ago, you may have broken a couple of fingers in a football game, and they never healed correctly. Maybe you’re a full-time writer or avid knitter, and bouts of carpal tunnel syndrome are something you battle on a weekly basis. You could have just as easily injured your wrist while weightlifting, or you have lingering nerve issues from a car accident. Given how often we use our hands, fingers, wrists, and forearms for everything, we’re bound to deal with injuries and other repetitive strain issues that make completing even the simplest of daily tasks difficult, if not impossible.
The good news is that not everyone has to live with ongoing hand pain. Regardless of the severity, visiting an orthopedic surgeon can open the door to various treatment options to resolve or reduce your symptoms and get you back to living the life you deserve quickly and in the least invasive ways possible.
Are You Suffering from These Common Types of Hand Pain?
- Pain in your fingers, hands, and wrists
- Limited range of motion
- Joint stiffness
- Weakness when gripping objects with one or both hands
- Numbness
- Pain from deformities
- Swelling, burning, or tingling sensations
- Sprains, strains, fractures
- Locking fingers
What Causes Ongoing Hand Pain?
Musculoskeletal pain is one primary reason people visit their primary doctors each year, even if they think their pain and limited range of motion will improve with time. And hands are one of the more common areas we treat. Why? Well, the hand is a complicated anatomical system consisting of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves secured to 27 bones and 15 joints. Needless to say, the hand provides you with incredible function, and any injuries to your hand can be life changing. Many patients who visit a Fort Worth orthopedic surgeon for their ongoing hand pain are there for sprains, strains, fractures, torn ligaments, etc. Others are there for more chronic conditions (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, repetitive strain, degenerative diseases, tendonitis, etc.).
Their level of hand pain can fall anywhere on the map, whether it’s occasional or chronic, mild or excruciating. Fort Worth Hand Center offers expert care for finger, hand, and wrist injuries. Our orthopedic surgeons are specialists in treating chronic conditions and traumatic injuries, as well as performing state-of-the-art complex microscopic nerve repairs and tendon transfers. But before any of that happens, our goal is to do a thorough examination to determine what the best course of action may be. Sometimes, it may be surgery. Other times, a more conservative approach is better.
5 Ways To Reduce Ongoing Hand Pain
Below are five conservative methods to reduce ongoing hand pain:
1. Heat and Cold
Using ice packs is known to reduce swelling and dull pain signals for a variety of medical conditions and related symptoms, including ongoing hand pain. Conversely, heating pads relax the pain away. This can be accomplished by placing an ice pack on your wrist and hand for 10 to 15 minutes at a time (once or twice an hour as needed) or soaking your wrist in an ice bath. Use heat for 15 to 20 minutes, then a few hours later, use ice for 10 to 15 minutes. And don’t forget to use a towel or cloth to protect your skin and elevate your hand and wrist at rest to aid recovery.
2. Splinting
Splints for the hand, wrist, and fingers can be worn at night and during the day to keep the affected area at a neutral angle, decrease repetitive flexion and rotation, and relieve overall pressure. Some patients only choose to wear a splint at night when they are more apt to bend or potentially sleep on their wrists and hands. But the more a person wears it, the greater improvement there can be in reducing ongoing hand pain. This is especially true for those whose jobs require heavy use of the hands and wrists.
3. Injections
For severe hand pain, steroids and cortisone injections may be prescribed. Granted, the shot doesn’t treat the underlying cause of your condition, but it can help with immediate pain relief and reduce lingering inflammation. In these situations, your doctor will inject corticosteroid into the affected area. You will likely feel relief from the numbing medicine immediately, though the cortisone works over time.
4. NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, can help keep inflammation low and reduce ongoing hand pain symptoms as you rest. They are also suitable for people who must continue to use their hands for work-related activities. Some carpal tunnel patients have used topical menthol with some success.
5. Stretches and Exercises
Regular exercises such as wrist flexing, making a fist, and hand extensions can strengthen weak areas and eliminate the risk of cramping or additional symptoms of ongoing hand pain. Consistent stretching, which can be accomplished by sitting at your desk or standing in line somewhere, can also help. Repeat these exercises to relieve pressure and symptoms several times daily, up to 10 times each. Many can be done on your own. If you feel onsite physical therapy with a professional will help, that is an option as well.
Are You Suffering From Hand Pain? We Can Help!
Ongoing hand pain doesn’t have to ruin your life forever. In some cases, the tips above can reduce and even eliminate the pain you’re experiencing and help you get back to the life you were born to live. If you’re still struggling to cope with your pain, we want to help. Waiting or ignoring your hand pain in hopes that it will heal on its own is not guaranteed to work. The reality is that it likely won’t—leading to long-term pain and other complications that can impact your ability to do the things you love doing. Don’t do this to yourself—call one of our experts today!
Our experienced and talented team is committed to working with you to create a pleasant experience at every visit. From the fingertips to the elbow, Fort Worth Hand Center treats everything from sports injuries and joint replacement to chronic conditions, age-related complications, and trauma. We offer highly experienced hand surgeons in Fort Worth. We care about our patients and strive to provide the best medical treatment. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call 817-877-3277 or complete the form below.
Prior to starting any new treatment or if you have questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Fort Worth Hand Center serves the DFW area, including Southlake, Trophy Club, Watauga, Westlake, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, White Settlement, Arlington, Azle, Bedford, Benbrook, Blue Mound, Burleson, Colleyville, Crowley, Dallas, Dalworthington Gardens, Edgecliff Village, Euless, Everman, Flower Mound, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Haltom City, Haslet, Hurst, Keller, Kennedale, Lakeside, Lake Worth, Mansfield, Newark, North Richland Hills, Pantego, Pelican Bay, Richland Hills, River Oaks, Saginaw, Sansom Park, and all of North Texas.
*Patient names and/or photos may be changed to protect patient confidentiality.