Neurological Hand Pain

Neurological hand pain can make difficult such simple tasks as getting dressed, showering, writing and typing. Causes include carpal tunnel syndrome, in which a nerve is compressed in the wrist area. Tendinitis in the wrist affects the tendons and ligaments.

• Hand pain can be treated.

Features

• Symptoms from carpal tunnel include pain in the hand that is often sharp or stabbing and numbness in the fingers. Tendinitis in the wrist causes pain made worse with movement, plus tenderness and swelling.

Treatment

• Carpal tunnel syndrome treatment consists of ibuprofen, corticosteroids injections and a hand splint. If the pain and numbness continue for six months or more, a surgical option is normally explored.

Significance

• Hand pain is very common in those doing repetitive work such as typing on a computer keyboard. Repetitive tasks can lead to carpal tunnel or tendinitis.

Considerations

• Women are three times more likely than men to develop neurological hand pain such as carpal tunnel. While both women and men have equal chances of developing tendinitis, age increases the risk.

Warning

• Neurological hand pain such as carpal tunnel is progressive and will not simply disappear on its own without some type of treatment. Tendinitis tends to improve with rest and ibuprofen but also has a tendency to return if the activity that led to the pain continues.