You use your hands and wrists constantly in your daily duties. These body parts are prone to injuries, which can affect their functioning. Accidents, hard blows, poor position, and overuse are the common causes of hand injuries. You are at high risk of hand or wrist injuries if your occupation involves repetitive use of your hand or wrist or you engage in sports. Cumming hand & wrist injuries can involve bones, tendons, ligaments, or muscles, causing pain, inflammation, or limited mobility. Most of these injuries can be treated by medications, immobilization with casts or splints, and physical therapy. Your doctor can use surgical procedures if you have severe injuries. There are many hand and wrist injuries, including:
Wrist sprains
Wrist sprains arise when ligaments stretch or tear. They can be caused by falls or overuse. Swelling, discoloration, warm feeling around your wrist, pain, and limited mobility are the symptoms of wrist sprains. You may also experience a popping or tearing feeling inside your wrist. Rest, ice packs and elevation can help treat minor sprains. If you cannot move your wrist or experience severe pain and numbness, consult your doctor immediately.
Fractures
A fracture is a crack or break in a bone. Hand and wrist fractures can result from a hard blow, accidents, falls, or repetitive movements. Swelling, difficulty moving your hand or wrist, tenderness, pain, and deformity are the symptoms of fractures. Mild fractures can be treated by wearing a splint or cast. Surgery can be used for severe structures to realign broken bones.
Tendonitis
Tendonitis is the inflammation of tendons. Tendons are flexible and rigid bands of tissues that connect muscles to bones. Tendonitis causes pain and weakness in your hand and wrist, and your skin may feel warm when you touch it. Hand and wrist tendonitis primarily affects assembly line workers, gardeners, and musicians. You can treat tendonitis with rest, anti-inflammatory, cortisone injections, and elevating your hand and wrist.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when major nerves in your hand are squeezed or compressed, resulting from repetitive use of your hand and wrist. The inflammation of the tendons travels to your wrist and can also affect your arm, causing pain and numbness. Shock-like sensations, stiff fingers, pain, and tingling in your wrist are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. You can also experience an inability to make a fist and weakness in your hands that cause you to drop things.
Mallet finger
A mallet finger is where an injury forcibly bends the tip of your finger. For example, a ball or other object can strike the end of your finger, tearing the tendon that straightens your finger. Symptoms of a mallet finger include pain, bruising, swelling, inability to straighten your fingertip, blood collecting, and the nail can detach from your finger. If you do not treat your mallet finger, it may never return to its usual form and function. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical care.
You use your hands and wrist in almost every activity, making them prone to injuries. Fractures, sprains, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and mallet fingers are common injuries that affect your hands and wrists. Schedule an appointment at Stephen Fisher, MD, for hand and wrist injury treatment to resume your daily routine.
