Hand pain is greater than just annoying. The stiffness and swelling that accompany hand pain can sap strength and reduce the flexibility to perform normal tasks, corresponding to buttoning clothes.
A standard explanation for hand pain is osteoarthritis — when the shock-absorbing cartilage between the bones within the finger joints and the bottom of the thumb wears down or wears down. Hand pain can be the results of nerve conditions, corresponding to the pain and tingling you’re feeling when there’s pressure on the median nerve within the wrist (attributable to carpal tunnel syndrome) or the ulnar nerve near the elbow. Sometimes hand pain is the results of tendinitis, inflammation of the tissue that connects muscles to bones. Here are five ways to assist manage hand pain, maintain hand function, and avoid surgery.
1. To explode
A splint stabilizes the position of your fingers, thumb, or wrist. If arthritis flares up, you possibly can wear a splint for a couple of weeks, so the inflammation can go down.
2. Injection
A corticosteroid injection into the joint can reduce inflammation. The relief it provides can last for months. For some people, subsequent injections provide less relief.
3. NSAIDs
A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) helps relieve hand pain by blocking enzymes that cause pain and inflammation, but is just not effective for carpal tunnel syndrome. Long-term use of oral NSAIDs corresponding to ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is related to an increased risk of ulcers, stomach bleeding, liver damage, and heart attack. Topical NSAIDs, corresponding to diclofenac (Voltaren), pose less risk.
4. Heat and cold
Heat can reduce hand stiffness. Even a warm shower will work. Cold is effective for hand pain that results from activity, corresponding to playing golf. Apply it in the shape of flexible gel pads that you just keep within the freezer, and even bags of frozen peas or corn, which conform to the three-dimensional intricacies of the hand.
5. Exercises and stretches
These give attention to the tendons and muscles of your hand. A physical therapist or occupational therapist can guide you thru exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles, which may also help absorb stress on the hand joints and reduce pain.
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