Hand pain symptoms and what conditions could be causing your discomfort

Hand pain symptoms and what conditions could be causing your discomfort

Hand pain that causes more than just temporary discomfort should be evaluated by a doctor who can make a proper diagnosis and put you on the road to recovery.

A physical exam, supplemented with results from an X-ray, CT scan, MRI or an electrodiagnostic test when necessary, will reveal what has been causing the pain to your bones, tendons, ligaments or joints in your hand.

Mendelson Kornblum’s experienced medical staff wants to help solve the mystery of what you are experiencing.

Here are five common hand conditions and the symptoms that you may experience.

Hand arthritis

With age and use, the layer of cartilage protecting your joins can degenerate and leave bones rubbing against each other. Two primary types of arthritis are basal joint and rheumatoid, and each will worsen over time. Relief can come from pain medications, steroids or splints. In some cases, surgery may be necessary.

These four pain points may indicate you are suffering from arthritis:

  • Swelling, aching and soreness
  • Pain when doing daily activities that involve pinching, like turning a doorknob
  • Weakening grip and limited range of motion
  • A visible bump over the thumb joint

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome involves swelling around the wrist tendons, crowding and putting pressure on the median nerve. This swollen tissue prevents the tendons from moving fingers easily and smoothly. This condition usually results from repetitive motions, but also can be secondary to other medical conditions including rheumatoid and basal joint arthritis, diabetes and thyroid issues.

There are a number of causes that bring about carpal tunnel syndrome, including: smaller wrists, which can run in families, aging, repetitive motion and secondary to other medical conditions, such as RA (rheumatoid arthritis), basal joint arthritis, diabetes and thyroid problems.

Symptoms include:

  • Shooting shock-like pain in the thumb and fingers, extending up the arm
  • Pins and needles feeling in the hand
  • Hand pain
  • Thumb weakness

Trigger finger

This occurs when the finger and thumb tendons, which help with bending your fingers, hesitate when you try to straighten them. The fingers can lock in a curled position when the flexor tendons lodge on sheath tissue.

Symptoms include:

  • Lump on the palm
  • Pain and swelling
  • Catching of fingers when straightening
  • Locking of fingers in the curled position

De Quervain’s Tendinosis

Tendons can’t move smoothly because they are irritated and crowded at the thumb base by a swollen tendon sheath. Overuse is the most typical causation of this condition, but it can be found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms include:

  • Pain on the thumb and along that side of the wrist when making a fist, gripping or turning your wrist
  • Swelling in the painful area
  • A hesitation when moving your thumb

Dupuytren’s Contracture

This is the rare hand condition that doesn’t always cause debilitating pain. It is experienced by a thickening of tissue under the palm and finger skin.  It’s exact cause is unknown but it can be secondary to medical conditions like diabetes and alcohol consumption.

Symptoms include:

  • Nodules under the skin of the palm and fingers become thick fibrous bands of tissue
  • Tissue contracts and causes affected fingers to curl toward the palm

Call Mendelson Kornblum at 734-266-3349 to schedule a same-day appointment.

Posted in Hand