Treatments For Hand Pain

Hand pain is rarely ever just one thing. It commonly occurs with other symptoms, such as swelling, stiffness, numbness, and tingling. In any case, hand pain is more than just an annoyance. You rely on your hands for so many things!

Hand pain may be due to osteoarthritis, a nerve condition, or an injury. Have a doctor evaluate your condition, so you receive the right treatment for your hand pain.

Treatment for hand pain usually begins with conservative methods. Here are some effective  treatments for hand pain that may help you.

Splinting

If you have hand pain caused by overuse or wear and tear injuries, splints can help. Splinting your hand relieves pressure, which eases pain. Splinting is also recommended to patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the hands. The stabilization of the hand’s components can help prevent further injury, as well.

Heat and Cold Therapy

Tight and tense hands can benefit from heat and cold therapy. The heat works to relieve pain in the joints and joint stiffness, whereas cold therapy helps reduce swelling, inflammation, and pain. Cold has a numbing effect that provides relief from pain. A hot shower may help, however, you can also use a hot towel. For cold therapy, you can use ice packs or gel pads.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Also known as NSAIDs, these drugs are available over-the-counter and help by temporarily relieving inflammation that’s causing hand pain. However, long-term use of NSAIDs is not recommended as it can damage your liver and cause other issues. Talk to your doctor about whether you should be using NSAIDs long-term.

Hand Exercises and Stretches

Effective treatment for hand pain will include hand therapy exercises as guided by a physical therapist. The physical therapist will teach you exercises to strengthen and lengthen the hand muscles and tendons, which builds endurance that benefits the painful joints. Hand exercises may differ according to your needs but usually include wrist extension, thumb flexion, and wrist supination. Physical therapists may also do hand massages to aid in pain relief.

Pain-Relief Injections

For hand pain caused by inflammation that doesn’t respond well to conservative methods, corticosteroid injections may be administered directly into the hand to relieve swelling and pain symptoms. These injections can provide lasting relief of up to several months.

Hand Pain Diagnosis and Treatment in St. Charles County, Missouri

If hand and wrist pain has prevented you from doing the things you love and completing your responsibilities at home and work, the hand pain specialists at Advanced Bone & Joint can provide you with comprehensive care and individualized pain management services.

We specialize in hand and wrist surgery for hand pain that doesn’t respond well to conservative treatment methods. If you have questions about our orthopedic services or to schedule a consultation, please call Advanced Bone & Joint at (636) 229-4222. You can also request an appointment online.

We also offer urgent care services to our patients for orthopedic injuries that need immediate medical attention. Feel free to drop by our St. Peters and O’Fallon urgent care clinics at any time. We look forward to serving you!