Your hands are made up of complex systems that you rely upon to perform everything from picking up a cup to playing a musical instrument. Because of this, it should not come as a surprise that hand pain is one of the most common chronic conditions Americans experience, especially with the number of jobs that require using a computer and the number of people who regularly use smartphones.
When mild and inconsistent, hand pain is irritating. When it’s severe or chronic, it can be debilitating and leave you unable to do common, daily actions such as buttoning a shirt. Seeking treatment is necessary when it reaches that point, but you should talk with an orthopedic specialist before it reaches this point. It may be possible to prevent your condition from becoming worse if it’s diagnosed and treated early.
Atlanta Orthopedic Treatment for Hand Pain
Hand pain can cause a series of chronic conditions as well as injuries such as sprains or fractures. Our Atlanta orthopedic doctors have seen everything from the most common causes of hand pain to conditions that are debilitating and leave patients unable to function without severe pain. Fortunately, they also know a variety of ways of treating these conditions. From simply resting the hand and wrist to orthopedic techniques, hand pain is not something you have to live with.
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Why Is Hand Pain a Common Problem?
Each of your hands is comprised of 27 bones, over 120 ligaments, 29 joints, 48 nerves, and 17 muscles. That figure doesn’t include the muscles that exist within your forearms that help control the fingers or the tendons attached to them. This complex system allows for the wide range of motion and functionality that you depend on to pick up objects, manipulate items, drive your vehicle, and much more. In short, your hands do a lot every day, and that can put a strain on the many different parts that must work together to accomplish these tasks.
Over time, the bones, muscles, and other parts of your hands can become damaged, worn down, or otherwise injured. This can lead to one of a number of conditions that can affect how your hands work. Because you depend on your hands for so much of your everyday routine, it is imperative to seek immediate orthopedic treatment as soon as you notice any pain or discomfort.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Hand Pain?
From the tips of your fingers to the base of your palms, from your wrists to your upper arms, there are many places where something can go wrong and cause pain. Some of the more common hand conditions that patients throughout Atlanta experience include the following:
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The carpal tunnel is a small opening through the carpal bones – the bones that make up your wrist and the base of your hand. It offers a pathway both for the tendons that allow your fingers to move and for the median nerve, which is responsible for feeling and movement within your thumbs, index, and middle fingers. In carpal tunnel syndrome, the opening narrows or becomes almost completely closed off, applying a significant amount of pressure on the median nerve. This creates numbness, tingling, and pain in your hands. Those who do repetitive work with their hands, including computer work, often suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome.
While carpal tunnel syndrome in extreme cases can require surgery, that shouldn’t be your first option. In fact, many times carpal tunnel simply requires rest. Wearing a brace at night can help reduce the swelling in the wrist, as can replacing a traditional mouse and keyboard with ergonomic options.
Hand and Finger Fractures
There are a wide variety of causes behind hand fractures, including slip and fall accidents where the victim tries to break their fall with their hands. Fractures are easy to detect since they are normally accompanied by swelling and pain. In most cases, any attempt to move the hand or fingers that have been fractured causes sharp pain. If left unchecked, fractures may not heal correctly, leading to lifelong issues and chronic pain.
Trigger Finger
Your fingers operate in conjunction with each other in a way that’s similar to how a grandfather clock operates with a set of pins and wheels. The tendons slide through a series of tendon sheaths at the joints, allowing your fingers to remain flexible. In the condition known as trigger finger, the tendon develops a nodule or thickened area which prevents it from moving freely through the tendon sheath. This causes the finger to lock up or become stiff at a certain point when you try to straighten it.
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Find Treatment for Common Causes of Hand Pain at AICA Orthopedics
The orthopedic doctors at AICA Orthopedics offer a full range of treatments for hand pain and emphasize using nonsurgical methods whenever possible. Some of the treatment solutions for hand pain offered at our clinics include the following:
- Cortisone injections
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
- Physical therapy
- Ligament reconstruction
- Diagnostic Arthroscopy
- Endoscopic carpal tunnel release
- Trigger finger release
If you suffer from hand pain, call us today at (404) 855-2141 to schedule a free consultation.
