Common Symptoms of Hand Pain
Hand pain can appear in many ways depending on the cause. Some of the most common symptoms our patients experience include:
- Pain when lifting and grabbing things
- Pain while typing at the computer
- Numbness or tingling in the hand, especially at night
- Thumb soreness or strain during everyday tasks, like styling hair
- Difficulty moving the hand or wrist after a fall
Common Causes of Hand Pain
Pain can develop after a fall onto the hand or be related to sports such as golf and tennis. Any of these activities can cause stress on the ligaments, joints, tendons, and bones of the hand and wrist. Research consistently shows that the following contribute to most hand complaints:
- Traumatic falls or direct impact injuries
- Overuse from sports or exercise
- Chronic pain
- Sitting at the computer for long periods of time
- Repetitive lifting, twisting, or gripping tasks
By understanding your activity patterns and when pain occurs, our team can pinpoint the likely source and guide you toward effective relief strategies.
Common Diagnoses of Hand Pain
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Once the underlying cause is evaluated, several specific conditions may explain your symptoms. Some of the most common diagnoses include:
- Carpal tunnel – nerve compression in the wrist
- DeQuervain’s tendonitis – inflammation along the thumb side of the wrist
- Fracture – broken bones from impact or falls
- Trigger finger – finger stiffness or locking due to tendon irritation
- Ganglion cysts – fluid-filled lumps that form near joints or tendons
- Ligament sprains/muscle strains – soft tissue injuries from overexertion
- Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) – degenerative or inflammatory joint conditions
After identifying your diagnosis, our team of experts will design a targeted treatment plan that addresses both pain relief and long-term function.
Common Physical Therapy Treatments for Hand Pain
Along with skilled manual therapy, hand exercises, individualized stretching and strengthening, and patient education, we may incorporate innovative methods such as heat, ice, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis, fluidotherapy, paraffin, splinting, and bracing to relieve your hand pain.
Our goal is to quickly restore your function, relieve your hand pain, and get you back to your favorite activities.