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About Forearm Bands for Hand Pain

Hand pain can be caused by a number of factors. Trauma, overuse, arthritis, compression of the volar carpal ligament (carpal tunnel syndrome), tennis elbow, thoracic outlet syndrome or cervical radioculopathy are just a few potential causes of hand pain.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of hand pain can vary depending upon the cause of the pain. Carpal tunnel syndrome usually causes pain in the wrist, and pain and/or numbness in the thumb, forefinger and middle finger. Cervical radiculopathy will cause pain depending upon which cervical nerve is affected. Overuse of the hand may cause pain in the fingers, palm or the back of the hand. Tennis elbow may cause referred pain into the fingers and the back of the hand.

    Development

    • Hand pain can be caused by loose ligaments, especially if most of the pain is felt in the thumb area. It develops because the thumb works harder than any other digit. It supplies the grip power needed to hold something or perform any delicate finger maneuver. Loose ligaments can also be found in the other digits of the hand and are usually caused by repetitive movements, injury or even heredity. Hand pain may also develop as a referred pain, meaning that another part of the body, in this case usually the arm, shoulder or neck is actually having the pain, but the pain is traveling along the nerve pathways to another part of the body.

    Treatment

    • Treatment of hand pain will vary according to the cause. Use of wrist braces is a common treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. Use of a tennis elbow strap or arm band is often used to treat tennis elbow. It works by compressing the muscle just below the elbow, absorbing some of the energy being produced as the elbow is used and preventing the referral of pain from the elbow down into the hand.

    Prevention/Solution

    • The prevention of hand pain is generally aimed at reducing or eliminating whatever is causing the pain to begin with. If you work at a job that requires repetitive movements, be sure to stop every 20 minutes or so and let your hands rest, even if only for a few seconds. Use of wrist pads for those who spend their days typing can reduce the stress on the wrist area and help alleviate pain and fatigue. Use of non steroid anti inflammatories (NSAIDS) is of benefit to decrease the inflammation of affected joints and tissues.

    Considerations

    • One should not try to diagnose his own problems. A physician will order specific tests to determine exactly what is causing the hand pain and then prescribe the appropriate treatment. Persons trying to "cure" themselves can often do further damage to the affected area. Furthermore, delaying treatment may lead to permanent damage if nerve pathways are involved.

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