What is hand pain?
Hand pain includes a range of symptoms that may affect any portion of your hand, including the pain and swelling at the base of your thumb or the tingling sensation in your index finger. The discomfort you experience may be mild and come and go or cause severe ongoing pain you can’t ignore.
What are the common causes of hand pain?
Hand pain can develop from many causes. Some of the most common causes of hand pain treated at Northern Virginia Orthopaedic Specialists include:
- Arthritis of the finger joints
- Arthritis of the thumb
- Boutonniere deformity of the finger
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Guyon’s canal syndrome
- Mallet finger injuries
- Mucous cyst of the fingers
- PIP (proximal interphalangeal) joint injuries of the fingers
- Swan neck deformity of the finger
- Trigger finger and trigger thumb
- Ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the thumb
Your hand pain may develop from an underlying health issue, overuse, repetitive movements, or an injury.
What happens during a hand pain evaluation?
Northern Virginia Orthopaedic Specialists takes a patient-centered approach that focuses on providing high-quality care that keeps you informed and comfortable. To determine the underlying cause of your hand pain, your provider asks detailed questions about your symptoms, usual activities, and medical history.
Your provider then performs a physical exam and closely examines your hand, paying attention to the area responsible for your pain. To confirm or rule out a diagnosis, they may request X-rays, which they conveniently perform at the office.
How is hand pain treated?
Northern Virginia Orthopaedic Specialists develops individualized treatment plans for the management of hand pain based on your diagnosis, symptoms, and medical history. Dedicated to keeping you informed about your diagnosis and treatment, your provider spends a great deal of time going over your treatment options, so you can make educated decisions about how best to proceed.
Treatments for hand pain may include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Pain medication
- Bracing or splinting
- Cortisone injection
- Physical therapy
Your provider may recommend surgery if conservative measures fail to alleviate your pain or your pain is severe. Northern Virginia Orthopaedic Specialists performs many specialty surgeries to address the many causes of hand pain, including endoscopic carpal tunnel release, joint fusion, Dupuytren’s contracture surgery, and joint replacement for the thumb and fingers.
To get relief from your hand pain, request an appointment at Northern Virginia Orthopaedic Specialists by phone.
