Bakery employee wearing JuzoFlex Manu Xtra wrist support hands cup to customer over the counter

Hand pain

Anatomy

Symptoms

Causes

Treatment

How to bring hand pain under control

The hand is a true feat of evolution. The combination of immense strength and absolute control makes them an indispensable tool for humans. There’s is hardly a moment when our hands aren’t active, and there aren’t many activities that don’t involve them.

Over our lifetimes, we bend and stretch our hands up to 25 million times. However, most people only notice how often we use our hands and how important they are when hand pain makes us feel every single movement.

Hand pain is often a warning sign and indicates that we may be using our hands too much. To avoid injuries, chronic pain and potential long-term effects, don’t take hand pain on the chin; seek medical advice immediately.

Structure and function of the hand

Your hand is made up of more than 100 ligaments, 36 joints, 33 muscles and 27 bones. The structure of the hand’s bones and joints facilitates a broad range of motions and thus a high degree of dexterity as well. The thumb plays a particularly important role here, as it can apply counter-pressure to the fingers, which in turn is essential for gripping.

The muscles used to bend and stretch the fingers are located in the forearm and their tendons run on the flexor or extensor side to their insertions in the hand. Tendons are surrounded by sheaths to ensure they are protected and can move smoothly without resistance. The short hand muscles, also known as the intrinsic muscles of the hand, are located directly in the hand, however, and these are what allow fingers to be spread and brought back together, for example.

The three main nerves of the hand – the median nerve (nervus medianus), radial nerve (nervus radialis) and ulnar nerve (nervus ulnaris) – are responsible for controlling motor function and the sensations of touch, pain and temperature.

Anatomical depiction of the right hand - palm — *Right hand, palmar view*

Hand pain Possible types and symptoms

Depending on the cause, hand pain can manifest as a range of different symptoms.

Joint diseases such as arthrosis, arthritis, rheumatism and gout cause pain when the finger joints move.
Sensory conditions such as tingling, burning and itching in the fingers or wrist indicate that an underlying neurological problem is to blame.
A trapped nerve can also cause numbness in the fingers.
Morning stiffness in the hand and fingers is a typical symptom of rheumatoid arthritis.
Other symptoms can include loss of strength and gripping problems, as well as painful swelling.

Various causes of hand pain

As a rule, there can be many different triggers for hand pain. In addition to stress-related pain, hand pain can also be caused by conditions such as rheumatism, gout, Dupuytren's contracture, carpal tunnel syndrome, injuries such as skier’s thumb or scaphoid fracture, deformities or genetic predisposition. Other possible causes include bone and joint damage, muscular problems, irritation, nerve damage and circulatory disorders.

In most cases, the possible causes of painful hands can be isolated based solely on where the pain is felt.

The following overview shows different types of pain classified by their location. It is designed purely to provide guidance and an initial overview of possible causes.

To ensure a reliable diagnosis and avoid subsequent damage, please consult a doctor at an early stage if you experience any pain or discomfort in your hand.

Localisation: Where does hand pain originate?

Possible causes of pain in the palm and ball of the hand

Dupuytren's contracture

Dupuytren's contracture is a pathological alteration in the connective tissue whereby small nodules, lumps or strands form in the palm of the hand. These hardened clumps of tissue cause those with the condition to lose the ability to extend their fingers. The condition mostly affects men over the age of 50.

Tenosynovitis

The tendon sheath is the hollow passage that the tendon runs through. Inflammation often occurs due to strain, even in the area around the wrist. This manifests itself as severe stabbing or pulling pain that can also radiate to the back of the hand, and is often accompanied by swelling or redness. One classic symptom of Tenosynovitis is crepitus, an audible and palpable crunching noise reminiscent of the sound of walking over fresh snow.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage in the wrist that the median nerve and the flexor tendons run through. Swelling can constrict the nerve, which can give rise to strong pain radiating into the hand, arm and shoulder, numbness in the fingers at night, muscle weakness and restricted function, as well as muscular atrophy on the thenar eminence (the mound at the base of the thumb – this is known as thenar atrophy).

More on carpal tunnel syndrome

Common triggers of pain in the back of the hand

Tenosynovitis

The tendon sheath is the hollow passage that the tendon runs through. Inflammation often occurs due to strain, even in the area around the wrist. This manifests as a severe stabbing or pulling pain that can also radiate to the back of the hand, and is often accompanied by swelling or redness. One classic symptom of Tenosynovitis is crepitus, an audible and palpable crunching noise reminiscent of the sound of walking over fresh snow.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

More on carpal tunnel syndrome

Scaphoid fracture

The scaphoid is often fractured when people put their hand out to stop a fall. It is the largest of the eight carpal bones. Typical symptoms are a swollen and painful wrist, compression pain in the thumb, as well as pain on the back of the hand and pressure pain on the thumb side of the carpus.

Repetitive strain injury syndrome

RSI syndrome is a non-specific sign of overuse of the hand and is triggered by constant repetition of certain movements – for example using a mouse and keyboard. In addition to pain, there may also be tingling, numbness and loss of sensation, as well as loss of strength and restricted movement.

Common conditions associated with wrist pain

Tenosynovitis

The tendon sheath is the hollow passage that the tendon runs through. Inflammation often occurs due to strain, even in the area around the wrist. This manifests as a severe stabbing or pulling pain that is localised to the little finger (ulnar) side of the wrist, and is often accompanied by swelling or redness.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

More on carpal tunnel syndrome

Ganglion

A ganglion of the wrist is a fluid-filled swelling of varying hardness that predominantly occurs on the side of the back of the hand, above the wrist extensor or even in the palm. If this ganglion puts pressure on a nerve, tendon or other structures, it can cause pain and numbness.

Arthrosis of the wrist (radiocarpal arthrosis)

This form of arthrosis occurs when the protective layer of cartilage in the wrist cartilage layer is eroded through wear, causing the bones to rub against each other. Pain is more intense in the morning and usually diminishes somewhat with time

Scaphoid fracture

Radius bone fracture in the area around the wrist (distal radius fracture)

Radius fractures account for approximately 25% of all fractures in humans, making them one of the most common types of bone breakages. Most breaks of the radius bone result from attempting to stop a fall and occur near the wrist. A broken radius leads to pain and restricted movement in the affected area. It can also cause poor posture and misalignment in the wrist.

Repetitive strain injury syndrome

Common causes of thumb pain

Skier’s thumb (rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb)

Skier’s thumb is one of the most common sports-related injuries, and occurs when the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tears or tears away due to abduction. This can even cause a piece of the bone to split off in some instances. Skier’s thumb can give rise to instability and pain when angling the thumb, as well as swelling and bruising of the metacarpophalangeal joint.

Rhizarthrosis (osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb)

Rhizarthrosis is the term used to describe the wear and tear caused to the thumb saddle joint, associated with a breakdown of the cartilage. This condition occurs more frequently in women over the age of 40, and mainly manifests as joint pain when performing a gripping and turning motion, as well as loss of strength and difficulty gripping.

Scaphoid fracture

Potential triggers of finger and finger joint pain

Trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis)

Trigger finger occurs when the tendon becomes trapped in the area around the first stabilising annular ligament in the palm as it slides through the tendon sheath. This can be caused by narrowing of the tendon sheath as a result of inflammation, as well as by the thickening of the tendons. Possible symptoms of overuse of the hand include a clicking finger, pain when stretching the finger and swelling or a ganglion around the first annular ligament.

Finger joint arthrosis

Arthrosis refers to wear caused to the joints by age. This occurs as the sliding layer of cartilage in the finger joints degrades, causing pressure-based pain as well as stiff, creaking joints, a lack of stability, restricted gripping and an increasing deformation in the affected joints.

Cubital tunnel syndrome (sulcus ulnaris syndrome)

Cubital tunnel syndrome develops when the nerve in the elbow (the ulnar nerve) is constricted in the groove of the bone (sulcus) and is compressed. It is particularly noticeable at night. Cubital tunnel syndrome manifests as numbness or tingling, pain on the palmar side of the ring finger and little finger and on the ulnar side of the hand.

Arthritis / Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis occurs when a joint becomes inflamed, leading to the deterioration of the affected joints. Typical symptoms are a loss of strength, pain in the fingers, redness and swelling, build-up of heat and restricted movement. Morning stiffness subsides after about one hour and the fingers are easier to move again.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

More on carpal tunnel syndrome

Repetitive strain injury syndrome

Common causes of pain in the side of the hand

Cubital tunnel syndrome (sulcus ulnaris syndrome)

Cubital tunnel syndrome develops when the nerve in the elbow (the ulnar nerve) is constricted in the groove of the bone (sulcus) and is compressed. It is particularly noticeable at night. Cubital tunnel syndrome manifests as numbness or tingling and pain on the palmar side of the ring and little finger, as well as on and the ulnar side of the hand.

Treating hand pain

Before you start taking measures yourself, you should always consult a doctor if you experience hand pain. Every puncture wound or cut, no matter how small, should be examined by a qualified hand surgeon immediately. This is because a tendon can still fully rupture (for example) after it has torn – even if there is no immediate loss of functionality.

This is particularly true if you suffer a loss of sensation in the hand, after an acute injury, or if you experience extreme pain, a visible deformity or grinding or snapping noises during or after an injury or restricted movement. You should always seek medical advice if the pain does not subside or your condition does not improve over time. Please ensure that any measures you take benefit your health.

First steps for painful hands

When it comes to hands, there are many different diseases that require an individual approach to treatment.

For Chronic pain, stiffness and tension, heat treatment can help to loosen joints and relieve pain.
For acute pain, swelling, inflammation and bruising, as well as pain that is aggravated by activity, a cooling pad can provide relief; however, these pads should be wrapped in fabric and not applied directly on the skin.
Where overuse or an inflammation is involved, it makes sense to immobilise the hand first. Juzo also has a wide selection of other orthoses for any affected area.

Treatment with medical products

Orthoses are primarily used for immobilisation and stabilisation. If the goal is to preserve mobility while providing support and relieving strain on the hand during movement, supports should be used. This counteracts swelling and can pave the way back to pain-free movement.

Relief and stabilisation: JuzoPro hand orthoses

With their high-quality materials that are precisely tailored to the field of application, JuzoPro orthoses provide optimal wearing comfort and functionality. Depending on the indication, the wrist, individual finger joints or the metacarpophalangeal and carpometacarpal joint can be relieved and stabilised, or the mobility of the individual joints can be restricted or prevented. These orthoses are tailored to the requirements of the given treatment and thus also support sustainable treatment success.

Learn about hand orthoses

Hand with JuzoPro Manu Xtec Palmar wrist orthosis

Compressive and mobilising: JuzoFlex wrist supports

Wrist supports combine optimal protection and stabilisation for strained wrists. The compressive pressure counteracts swelling, compensates for muscle disbalance and stabilises tendons and ligaments without limiting the wrist’s and fingers’ freedom of movement. Integrated silicone pads ensure even pressure distribution, relieve pressure-sensitive areas and provide a massage-like effect that can reduce the likelihood of postoperative oedema, and thus improve joint mobility.

Learn more about wrist supports

Hand with JuzoFlex Manu Xtra wrist supports

Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and lymphatic drainage

Therapeutic measures such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy are primarily used after operations and injuries to restore and permanently secure the functionality and full mobility of the hand. In addition to passive exercises, where the therapist performs the movements, in most cases you will also be shown suitable exercises you can do at home. Lymphatic drainage can help reduce swelling and stimulate the healing process.

Exercises for hand pain

There are a range of different exercises that can be used to help combat wrist or finger pain when it occurs. However, these exercises should be chosen individually based on the specific trigger of the pain.

If the trigger is arthrosis (joint wear and tear), for example, then finger mobility can be maintained and promoted through regular loosening and finger exercises.

Muscle contractions and trapped fasciae can also increase tension on the wrist. Regularly stretching your fingers and wrists can help to gradually release the tension in your forearm.

Medication-based treatment

Anti-inflammatory painkillers in the form of ointments or tablets are used as a temporary measure to help combat hand pain. Pain therapy should, however, preferably not be a long-term solution. It is therefore important to identify the exact trigger of the pain, to treat it and to prevent the condition from progressing over time. The immune system can also be suppressed with medication if the pain and discomfort is triggered by an immune response (autoimmune disease).

Surgical procedures

In many cases, surgery is performed as a result of an acute injury, such as a broken bone, a ligament injury or a tendon injury with nerve and/or tendon damage. Constriction of nerves and tendons may also make surgical intervention necessary, however. A comprehensive treatment process that includes optimally coordinated orthopaedics, hand and trauma surgery and scar management products promotes the best possible treatment outcome.

After an operation, it is important that the resulting wound heals optimally in order to mitigate any new or lingering restrictions to function or movement. Compression garments can be used to improve the quality of the post-surgical scar. The seamless ScarPrime Seamless glove is available for post-operative care once the wound has healed, and a custom-made ScarComfort glove is available for long-term care.

One important component of treating scars involves the use of silicone in conjunction with compression garments. Medical silicone allows a moist environment to develop on the scar, meaning that it doesn’t dry out. The silicone keeps the scar soft and has a beneficial effect on scar tissue. There are two different Juzo silicone products available for scar therapy: Juzo Silon®-TEX– a medical silicone layer on a textile base material, which is sewn directly into the compression garment – and the Juzo ScarPad – a self-adhesive silicone sheet that can be cut to size.

In addition, orthoses such as the JuzoPro Manu Xtec Palmar, the JuzoPro Palmar Xtec Rhizo or the JuzoPro Palmar Xtec Digitus are used during the healing process to immobilise and relieve the strain on the surgical site.