The hidden diseases behind hand pain

By DrDavid Shen, Hand Surgeon

No matter how old you are or what you do for a living, you are always using your hands. When there is something wrong with them, you may not be able to do your regular activities.

Hand pain has many causes, including injury or disease. Fortunately many of those causes can be treated and symptoms eased. Here are the most common conditions that cause hand pain:

1. Hand trauma: e.g. Broken finger (fracture), joint dislocation, ligament tear, subungual

hematoma (black fingernail)…

Symptoms & Diagnosis: Local swelling and tenderness appear. Finger movement is severely limited. In extreme cases, deformities can appear on finger and/or hand. An X-ray is generally recommended by the doctor to clarify the diagnosis. What to do in case of Hand trauma?

 Elevate the hand above the heart level to reduce bleeding and the pain  Immobilize or splint the finger or hand, if possible.

 Cover the injury if bone is exposed (open fracture), with a clean towel, cloth, or gauze.  Ice may help decrease the pain, but never apply ice for more than 20 minutes at one

time, and never apply ice directly to skin.  Seek medical attention immediately.

2. Hand infection:e.g. Paronychia, felon (abscess in the finger pulp), pyogenic flexor

tenosynovitis…

Symptoms & Diagnosis: Pain in the fingers or the hand with erythema and swelling. At late stage, fluctuation and purulent exudates can be found from a wound. The movements of the fingers are severely restricted. Hand infections can result in significant morbidity if not appropriately diagnosed and treated. Doctors make the diagnosis based on thephysical examination, blood tests and sometimes x-rays. What to do in case of Hand infection?  Keep the wound clean and dry.

 Seek medical attention immediately.

3. Hand inflammation:e.g. Tenosynovitis, osteoarthritis, gout…

Symptoms & Diagnosis: Hand inflammation can be caused by a buildup of fluid in the soft tissues and tendon sheath as well as joints of the wrist and hand. There are a variety of reasons thatthis condition may occur and some of them are relatively benign.However, it could also be a sign of something more serious due to an underlying disease, such as gout, rheumatism and diabetics. Tenosynovitis can be confirmed when the exact site of tenderness is located. At late stage, snapping or triggering sensations appear when fingers are moving.Osteoarthritis and goutcan be further diagnosed through blood test, X-ray and medical examination.

What to do in case of Hand inflammation?

妇痋耶  Limit the finger and hand motion  Seek medical attention immediately.

4. Hand tumor: e.g. Pyogenic granuloma, malignant skin tumors, glomus tumor, foreign body

granuloma, ganglion cyst, muscous cyst.

Symptoms & Diagnosis: Any abnormal lump or bump in the hand is considered a tumor. The term “tumor” does not necessarily mean it is malignant or that it is a cancer. In fact, most ofhand tumors are benign.

Tumors can occur on the skin and soft tissue, such as a pyogenic granuloma and malignant skin tumor, or tendon sheath even the bone, which make them difficult to diagnose.

Nevertheless, the glomus tumor can be detected by a pin-point pressure over the nail plate or finger pulp. While a history of foreign body piercing may suspect a foreign body’sgranuloma. X-ray or sonographycanconfirm the diagnosis. It is easy to make diagnosis of ganglion cyst and mucous cyst as it is a visible massin the finger or hand with mild tenderness.

What to do in case of Hand Tumor?

 Seek medical attention immediately.

5. Nerve Compression Syndrome:e.g. Carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve), cubital tunnel

syndrome (ulnar nerve)…

Symptoms & Diagnosis:There is numbnessand tingling sensation (radiating electrical feeling or paresthesia) along the anatomic distribution of the hand nerves. The patient with carpal tunnel syndrome usually complains about “night awaking”. Thumb, index finger, middle finger or ring finger can be involved, while the little finger is affected in cubital tunnel syndrome. An electromyography is a very important auxiliary exam for diagnosis. What to do in case of Nerve Compression Syndrome?  Seek medical attention immediately.

Nowadays, physicians can make accurate diagnosis usingX-ray, blood tests and electromyography. If you feel any pain in your hand, do not hesitate to contact your physician. Early treatmentwillresult in early relief of pain and rapid function recovery.

ParkwayHealth China,In 2005, ParkwayHealth opened its first medical center in Shanghai, bringing world-renowned quality healthcare to China. Through the acquisition of World Link Group in 2007, ParkwayHealth becomes Shanghai’s largest foreign-owned medical network.

妇痋耶