Wrist and Hand Pain
Presented here are several possible causes of wrist and hand pain and their symptoms*, listed in order of frequency of cases:
Scaphoid Fracture
A scaphoid fracture is a break in a small bone on the thumb side of your wrist. Of the eight carpal bones in your wrist, your scaphoid bone is the most likely one to break.
It is important to find out if you have a scaphoid fracture, because scaphoid fractures need treatment to heal well. With proper treatment and follow-up, most scaphoid fractures will heal over time. Without treatment, and sometimes with treatment, healing can be slow and difficult because parts of the scaphoid bone do not have a good blood supply. If your scaphoid bone does not heal well, you can have long-term pain, stiffness, or arthritis in your wrist.
Most scaphoid fractures occur when you stretch your hand out in front of you to protect yourself from a fall. They can also occur when your wrist twists severely or is hit very hard. Scaphoid fractures often happen while a person is playing sports such as football, soccer, or basketball or during activities such as Rollerblading, skateboarding, or bike riding. They can also occur as a result of a car accident or a punching incident.
Colles' Fracture
A Colles' fracture – or distal radius fracture – is often called a "broken wrist." Technically, it's a break in the larger of the two bones in your forearm. The bone breaks on the lower end, close to where it connects to the bones of the hand.
Colles' fractures are very common; they're the most frequently broken bone in the arm. In the United States, one out of every 10 broken bones is a Colles' fracture. So how does someone get a Colles' fracture? Usually, these injuries result from falling onto an outstretched arm or getting hit on the wrist.
Colles' fractures are common in people who play contact sports, as well as skiers, inline skaters, and bikers. But they can happen to anyone who takes a fall or gets hit.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis is an inflammation in or around a tendon, which is a band of fibrous tissue that connects muscle to bone and transmits the force the muscle exerts. Tendons are designed to withstand bending, stretching, and twisting, but they can become inflamed because of overuse, disease, or injuries that leave them with torn fibers or other damage. Tendinitis around the heel is known as Achilles tendinitis, and on the outside of an elbow it's called tennis elbow.
The pain can be significant and worsens if damage progresses because of continued use of the joint. Most tendinitis heals in about 2 weeks, but chronic tendinitis can take more than 6 weeks, often because the sufferer doesn't give the tendon time to heal. In chronic cases, you may have locking of the joint in one position due to scarring or narrowing of the sheath of tissue that surrounds the tendon. Diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and gout can slow healing.
Hand Arthritis
There are over 100 types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. The word "arthritis" means "joint inflammation." Inflammation is one of the body's natural reactions to disease or injury, and includes swelling, pain, and stiffness. Inflammation that lasts for a very long time or recurs, as in arthritis, can lead to tissue damage.
A joint is where two or more bones come together, such as the hip or knee. The bones of a joint are covered with a smooth, spongy material called cartilage, which cushions the bones and allows the joint to move without pain. The joint is lined by a thin film of tissue called the synovium. The synovium's lining produces a slippery fluid called synovial fluid that nourishes the joint and helps reduce friction. Strong bands of tissue, called ligaments, connect the bones and help keep the joint stable. Muscles and tendons also support the joints and enable you to move.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is pain, tingling, and other problems in your hand because of pressure on the median nerve in your wrist.
The median nerve and several tendons run from your forearm to your hand through a small space in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve controls movement and feeling in your thumb and first three fingers (not your little finger).
Pressure on the median nerve causes carpal tunnel syndrome. This pressure can come from swelling or anything that makes the carpal tunnel smaller.
*These listed causes and symptoms are only a small fraction of the entire range of potential causes of pain. Your pain may be caused by a different condition from the ones listed. Your OMPT specialist will be able to assist you – call OMPT today to schedule an appointment: (248) 353-1234
All information on symptoms courtesy of WebMD (www.webmd.com)
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