Our hands are amazing. They are two of the most complex and useful parts of your body and you can use them for almost everything. From the moment you wake up to when you rest your head on your pillow at night, you use your hands continuously. Hands are the main structures for physically being able to manipulate our environment. That’s why if you are experiencing hand pain or injury it can hinder or end many of the tasks your day brings.
If you’re experiencing hand pain, it could be one of these 3 common hand injuries.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common hand injury that can cause wrist and hand pain. When the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of your hand, becomes squeezed or pressed in the wrist, it can result in carpal tunnel syndrome. It can cause tingling and numbness in your hand from that pressure on the median nerve found in your wrist. Common causes may include obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, diabetes and repeated hand and wrist movements.
Fractures
A hand fracture is a break, usually in one of the bones. A hand fracture can happen because of a fall, sports injury or car accident. Other causes of fractures may include low bone density and overuse. How do you know if you have a hand fracture? Symptoms may include swelling, bruising, intense hand pain, numbness, limited mobility or not being able to move the hand at all.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis often affects the hands but can strike one or more joints found anywhere in the body. In fact, over 26 million American adults have osteoarthritis! Because osteoarthritis results from wear and tear, the risk is higher for developing the disease as people age. Other risk factors include heavy usage, traumatic injuries, joint instability, and misalignment.
Tired of being hung up with hand pain? Desert Hand Therapy can help.
