Are you experiencing hand pain? Do you know what causes it? The hand plays an important role in our body. Hands are used for many different tasks, making them vulnerable to pain. Hand pain is a very common condition affecting women, men, and children of all ages and can flare up at any time.
The good news is that hand pain can be treated by understanding the causes and treating it properly with the help of a pain management NYC specialist. With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the most common causes of hand pain.
The Hands are Delicate
The hands are delicate and complex structures that allow us to perform many tasks with finesse and precision. The joints of your hands are small, and the muscles around them are not very big. Because of this complexity, this makes them vulnerable to injuries, especially if we don't take care of them.
It is not uncommon for there to be pain or discomfort in your hands. The causes range from mistreatment of the hands to arthritis or other forms of degenerative joint diseases but also include hereditary conditions that are passed down genetically. For instance, certain conditions affecting your fingers can be traced back to a genetic predisposition that might have been evoked due to lack of use, overuse, improper posture, or even physical injury.
Poor Posture
Poor posture is one of the most common causes of hand pain. Even if you're not aware of it, poor posture can cause your hands to be in an awkward position that leads to pain and discomfort.
The most common way that poor posture causes hand pain is through improper positioning of the wrist. The hands are designed to be able to move in a variety of ways, but when you have poor posture, that range of motion is limited. You may also have other issues like carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis that will make your hands feel worse as well.
If you want to avoid hand pain, you need to correct your posture so that your body is aligned properly and your joints aren't being stressed unnecessarily. A physical therapist can help get your hands back into shape and improve the strength and flexibility of your arms and wrists. Especially if you already have hand pain, it's important to see a physical therapist as soon as possible so they can develop a treatment plan for you.
Repetitive Motion
This type of injury usually happens from doing something like typing or playing sports over an extended period of time. The repetitive motion puts stress on tendons and joints in your hands, which can lead to inflammation and other problems.
Repetitive motion injuries are common among people who spend a lot of time on a computer keyboard or playing musical instruments. This type of injury happens when the same muscle group is used over and over again without proper rest periods in between. These injuries occur because people don't take enough breaks during their workday or practice session, leading to stiffness and discomfort in their hands and wrists.
Lack of Use
If you don't use your hands regularly, chances are they'll be weak and stiff when you start using them again. This is because the blood flow to your hands decreases as you don't use them. This is especially true if you have been inactive for a long time or have been in bed for several weeks or months due to an illness or injury.
If you have hand pain that doesn't seem to go away or is interfering with your daily life, talk to a pain doctor about getting treatment. It's important to note that most cases of hand pain can be treated without drugs or surgery. Medical massage is a treatment that can help increase blood flow to your hands, reducing swelling, relieving pain, and promoting the healing of injuries.
Overuse
Overuse is a common cause of hand and wrist pain. It means using your hands too much, too often, or in ways that they're not accustomed to. It occurs when you do the same activity over and over again, like typing on a keyboard or using a hammer all day long.
When you do the same movements repeatedly, your muscles get tired and sore. Over time, they can develop stress fractures or small tears that cause pain and swelling. For example, if you work with your hands all day long, there's a good chance your fingers will eventually start to ache and feel sore. This is especially true if you do manual labor or work with your hands.
Cold Temperature
The cold temperature causes the blood vessels in your hands to contract, which reduces circulation and can result in pain. This is especially true if you spend a lot of time outdoors in cold weather or work with your hands outdoors in cold weather.
The skin becomes dry and cracked if your hands are exposed to the cold for too long. Cold temperatures can cause hand pain as well as numbness and tingling in your fingers. It is usually temporary but if the pain doesn't go away after a few days, see a pain specialist to rule out other causes.
Stress
Stress is one of the leading causes of hand pain because it can affect your posture and muscle tension throughout your body. For example, if you're stressed out about something, it will show up in your posture and how you hold yourself. This could cause strain on muscles throughout your body and result in hand pain over time.
Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints in the body. It is caused by wear and tear of cartilage within a joint over the years. It leads to loss of function and damage to bones around the joint, which results in pain and stiffness during movement.
Arthritis is more common in older people, but it can also affect younger individuals as well as children who are still growing up. There are several types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear type), rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune disorder), gouty arthritis (a form of chronic arthritis), etc.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed as it passes through the wrist into the hand. The symptoms include numbness, tingling, and pain in the fingers and thumb – which often comes on after a period of repetitive activities such as typing or playing a musical instrument. If you have these symptoms, you should see a pain specialist to rule out other conditions before starting any treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Treat Your Hand Pain
Most types of hand pain are caused when tissues in the body are injured or become overloaded with inflammation due to repetitive actions. Pain can range from mild to debilitating, and some people will lose motion in the affected area of their hand or arm.
It can be hard to think about anything else when your hands hurt. And if left untreated, you could suffer from long-term pain or even lose the use of your hands. Thankfully, there are lots of steps you can take to prevent hand pain from becoming a chronic problem.
You don't need to suffer through this! Don't ignore your hand pain, and remember to take breaks from any activity that causes pain, even if it's fun. Sometimes we get so focused on enjoying ourselves that we fail to realize the toll our activities are taking. Finally, schedule regular visits with a pain management NYC specialist so they can check for other causes and help you relieve hand pain.
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