Jessica* does not have many regrets in life. But if there were one thing she wished she had done differently when she was younger, it would have been to take better care of her hands. Granted, it is challenging to give our hands a break when we literally use them for everything—writing, typing, tying our shoes, buttoning a coat, cooking, shaking someone’s hand, lifting weights, etc. At some point, whether because of an injury, overuse, or age, performing these and other daily tasks may not be as easy as they once were. But as a graphic designer and artist, Jessica always felt like she was harder on her hands than most people. Now they are beginning to ache more than usual and take more time to recover from whatever activity she was doing. When she finally saw a hand doctor, she expected bad news. Thankfully, that was not the case at all. There was hope.
We are all bound to experience hand pain at some point in our lives. Often, it is temporary or related to a minor injury that will improve in time. Other times, it is something much different—and perhaps the biggest thief of healthy hands is undoubtedly age. Beyond wrinkles, sunspots, and other cosmetic annoyances, any hand doctor will tell you that the older we get, the more our hands fall victim to joint stiffness, tendon wear, loss of dexterity, and range of motion issues. Age impacts everyone’s hands differently, but with the right strategy, you can live pain-free for years to come. However, if your hands, fingers, wrists, elbows, or shoulders are starting to feel differently, now is the time to act.
How Does Hand Function Change As We Age?
Musculoskeletal pain is the primary reason people visit their hand doctor each year. While the ages of our patients run the gamut, and while the pain they experience ranges from mild and occasional to chronic and excruciating, many are individuals in their mid to late 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond. Why? More often than not, it is because of age. 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 throughout your life so far, but it is not immune to issues over time. The compounding effects of past injuries, repetitive activities at work or active lifestyles, mild deformities, and other conditions you’ve dealt with over the years add up and take their toll as you get older.
Simply put, the power and ease with which we use our hands for everything becomes more challenging, and our hands begin to break down. Just a few symptoms that can affect hand function include:
- Numbness and tingling
- Pins and needles sensations
- Painful burning or shooting pains along the hand, wrist, or forearm
- Muscle cramps
- Arthritis
- Hand weakness
- Chronic inflammation
- Joint instability
- Morning stiffness in fingers and hands
- Reduced grip strength
- Hot and cold sensations
The hand is a complicated anatomical system consisting of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves secured to 27 bones and 15 joints.
A hand doctor will often see patients in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond who are experiencing a mix of these symptoms—but there are plenty of ways to slow or even reverse some of the decline. The key is to schedule an appointment. There are still so many who wait too long to seek help or do not take their situation seriously. They may also think that seeing a hand doctor is not necessary and that their symptoms will improve with time. This may not be the case.
Beyond medical intervention from a trusted hand doctor, there are things you can do for your hands to keep them healthy as you age. There is nothing difficult about this list. These are practical, doctor-recommended tips for every stage of life from hand doctors who see firsthand how early prevention and smart daily habits make all the difference.
Hand Doctor Tips To Keep Your Aging Hands Healthy and Strong
1. Prioritize stretching and warming up
Whether you are competing in an athletic event or doing some gardening in the yard for a few hours, stretching and warming up are crucial for maintaining healthy hands. Stretching decreases overall stiffness, increases blood flow throughout the body, and improves overall motion in your joints. It also helps with muscle soreness and reduces the risk of tendon or muscle tears. There are a variety of finger and hand flexibility exercises that can limit injury or help you recover faster from lingering issues.
2. Keep your daily exercises in check
Regular wrist 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. 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.
3. Keep moving every day
To piggyback on the previous tip from your local hand doctor, remember that joint stiffness worsens with prolonged activity. Stay active, even if it is by using light resistance bands and hand grippers to keep joints and tendons loose and comfortable.
4. Focus on proper technique
Many hand injuries and hand pain can be prevented or managed more effectively simply by performing daily activities the correct way. For instance, use ergonomic keyboards to help you keep your wrists straight and not bent upward or downward when typing or using a mouse. When gardening, choose tools that allow for a natural grip. If you notice that one or both hands are struggling to perform the same tasks over and over again, take a break or even switch hands to reduce your chances of repetitive strain injuries.
5. Consider modifications
Beyond using ergonomic tools to make life easier, there are subtle changes you can also implement. For instance, use your forearm to push a door open instead of using your hands every time. You can also use two hands when lifting heavier objects if you find yourself constantly using one hand over the other.
6. Do not ignore hand injuries or pain
Another key factor to hand health is not to ignore existing hand injuries and visit an orthopedic surgeon as soon as possible. This does not mean you will have to undergo surgery. Many times, conservative treatment such as physical therapy, prescription medication, and good old-fashioned R.I.C.E (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) will go a long way toward relieving pain.
7. Stay ahead of arthritis
If arthritis runs in your family, you may want to stay ahead of it by not delaying meeting with a hand doctor if you start noticing signs and symptoms. A hand doctor can offer non-surgical options like splints, cortisone injections, or anti-inflammatory strategies to slow the progression of joint degeneration.
8. Use braces when needed
While you do not need to use them 24 hours a day, wrist and hand braces are great for supporting weak joints while allowing for natural movement.
9. See a hand doctor early, not just when it hurts
As we hinted out earlier, do not wait until you are in constant pain to see a hand doctor. Preventive visits can catch early signs of trouble, give you access to therapies before issues escalate, and help preserve long-term hand health.
If you are experiencing chronic hand pain, the key is to get an early diagnosis. Your hand doctor will conduct a thorough examination of your hands, fingers, and wrists to determine the cause of your symptoms. In some cases, your physician may order X-rays, ultrasound, MRI, and other lab tests to check for any other potential abnormalities. From there, treatment is typically conservative initially to assess the patient’s response. This can include rest, medication, splinting, the tips above, and possibly surgery.
Turn to a Top Fort Worth Hand Doctor for Your Hand Pain
Do you suffer from wrist and hand pain? Are you worried about your hand pain getting worse as you age? From the fingertips to the elbow, the Fort Worth Hand Center orthopedic surgeons treat a wide range of conditions, including sports injuries, joint replacement, chronic conditions, age-related complications, trauma, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Many times, these ailments do not improve on their own—even with the conservative options—and require skilled medical help from someone who truly understands your situation and how muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage function. Our team of orthopedic doctors at Fort Worth Hand Center is here to help when you need it.
Fort Worth Hand Center offers expert care for all finger, hand, and wrist injuries. Our 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. However, before any of that happens, our goal is to conduct a thorough examination to determine the best course of action. Sometimes, it may be surgery. Other times, a more conservative approach is better.
If surgery is your best treatment, our orthopedic physicians operate in state-of-the-art, accredited surgery centers. To schedule an appointment, call 817-877-3277 or complete the form below.
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This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Before 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.
Fort Worth Hand Center serves the DFW area, including Hurst, Keller, Kennedale, Lakeside, Lake Worth, Mansfield, Newark, North Richland Hills, Pantego, Pelican Bay, Richland Hills, River Oaks, Saginaw, Sansom Park, 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, and all of North Texas.
*Patient names and/or photos may be changed to protect patient confidentiality.