Hand pain

The hand is a true masterpiece of evolution. The combination of immense strength and absolute control makes it an indispensable tool for humans. That is why you should have any pain in your hand examined by a doctor straight away. This is because such pain is a warning sign and may indicate conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis, diseases such as arthritis and Dupuytren’s contracture, signs of wear and tear such as rhizarthrosis and tenosynovitis, or injuries such as skier’s thumb or fractures.

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A bakery sales assistant is wearing a wrist bandage

On this page, you can find out more…

Structure and function of the hand

A diagram of the bones of a hand is shown: the upper section consists of 14 phalanges, the metacarpus consists of 5 metacarpal bones, and the lower section contains 8 carpal bones — Right hand: view of the back of the hand

The hand consists of over 100 ligaments, 36 joints, 33 muscles and 27 bones. The bones and joints are arranged in such a way as to give the hand a wide range of motion and, consequently, a high degree of dexterity.

The thumb can be rotated for grasping so that it faces the other fingers. This is made possible by the interaction of the thumb’s saddle joint (above the wrist) and the thumb’s metacarpophalangeal joint (between the thumb and the hand).

Anatomical diagram of a hand: you can see the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb, the saddle joint of the thumb and where the carpal tunnel is located — Left hand: view of the back of the hand

The muscles responsible for bending and straightening the fingers are located in the forearm. Force is transmitted via tendons, which are enclosed within tendon sheaths to protect them and ensure smooth movement. The carpal tunnel is a passageway in the carpal region through which tendons and nerves pass.

Common conditions associated with pain in the hand

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome:

Numbness and tingling in the thumb, index finger and middle finger
Pain that may radiate into the wrist and arm
Weakness when gripping

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed. This happens in the carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway in the wrist.

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome:

To immobilise the wrist and thus reduce the pressure on the nerve, a wrist brace such as the Juzo Pro Manu Xtec Palmar can be worn at night.

More information on carpal tunnel syndrome

Tendovaginitis

Symptoms of tendonitis:

Sharp, stabbing and pulling pain during movement
Redness and swelling
Restricted movement

Tendovaginitis is an inflammation of the sheath through which the tendons pass. This sheath protects the tendons and facilitates their movement. The inflammation is usually caused by overuse or repetitive movements.

Treatment of tendovaginitis:

To counteract the inflammation and relieve pressure on the joint, a support such as the JuzoFlex Manu Xtra can be used, or an orthosis such as the JuzoPro Manu can be used to immobilise the joint.

Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Symptoms of arthritis:

Heat, swelling and morning stiffness in the finger joints
Pain in the finger joints (usually on both sides)
General exhaustion and tiredness

Arthritis is the umbrella term for inflammatory joint disease. The most common form is rheumatoid arthritis, in which an autoimmune reaction triggers inflammation

Treatment of arthritis:

In addition to anti-inflammatory medication, physiotherapy is used to maintain joint mobility.

Osteoarthritis of the fingers (osteoarthritis of the finger joints)

Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the fingers:

Pain on movement
Stiffness after periods of rest
Swelling and the formation of nodules

In osteoarthritis of the fingers, the cartilage in the finger joints is worn away due to overuse, age-related wear and tear, or as a result of an injury. This leads to increased friction when moving the fingers.

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the fingers:

In acute cases, immobilisation using an orthosis or relieving pressure with a support such as the JuzoFlex Manu Xtra may be advisable. In addition, physiotherapy is used to relieve pain and maintain the mobility of the fingers.

A person is clutching their hand because of pain in their thumb

Osteoarthritis of the thumb (rhizarthrosis)

Symptoms of osteoarthritis of the fingers:

Pain when moving the thumb
Loss of strength when gripping and holding objects
Swelling and stiffness

In osteoarthritis of the thumb, the cartilage in the thumb saddle joint is worn away. This joint is located above the wrist, at the base of the thumb.

Treatment for osteoarthritis of the thumb:

A brace such as the JuzoPro Rhizo Xtec Soft is used to stabilise, relieve pressure on and immobilise the thumb saddle joint.

Trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis)

Symptoms of trigger finger:

Jamming or jerky movement of the tendon
Pain on movement
Swelling and the formation of lumps

In trigger finger, thickening of the tendon causes it to become caught in the tendon sheath, eventually come loose and then move with a sudden jerk (triggering).

Treatment of trigger finger:

If the trigger finger is not yet chronic, anti-inflammatory medication and immobilisation using a brace such as the JuzoPro Digitus Xtec are used in an attempt to avoid surgery.

Other conditions associated with pain in the hand

Dupuytren's disease

Symptoms of Dupuytren’s contracture:

Lumps forming in the palm of the hand
The fingers can no longer be fully straightened
Permanent flexion of the hand

In Dupuytren’s contracture, the connective tissue in the palm of the hand becomes thickened and hardened. Nodules and cords form, which can pull the fingers into a bent position.

Treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture:

To restore mobility to the fingers, surgical removal of the hardened cords is often unavoidable. An orthosis such as the JuzoPro Digitus Xtec can be used to help restore full extension of the fingers.

Tendon inflammation (tendinitis)

Symptoms of tendonitis:

Pain on movement
Redness and swelling
Limited range of motion

Tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendons, often caused by overuse or repetitive movements. It frequently affects people who work at a computer or do a lot of manual work.

Treatment for tendinitis:

To reduce the inflammation and promote healing, orthoses such as the JuzoPro Manu Xtec Palmar are used to immobilise the hand.

Ski thumb

Symptoms of a skier’s thumb:

Instability of the thumb
Pain in the area of the thumb’s metacarpophalangeal joint
Swelling and bruising

‘Ski thumb’ refers to an acute injury to the medial collateral ligament at the base of the thumb. It often occurs when breaking a fall, causing the thumb to bend sharply.

Treatment of a skier’s thumb:

For 4 to 6 weeks of immobilisation in cases of overstretching or partial tears of the collateral ligament, a brace is used to stabilise the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints of the thumb. A complete tear of the collateral ligament is treated surgically.

Hand contusion (wrist contusion/sprain)

Symptoms of a bruised hand:

Pain when moving the wrist
Swelling and bruising
Limited range of motion

A bruised hand is usually caused by a fall or a blow. This results in compression of the bones and soft tissues, leading to pain and swelling.

Treatment for a bruised hand:

In addition to applying cold, in severe cases a support such as the JuzoFlex Manu Xtra or an orthosis such as the JuzoPro Manu is used to immobilise the hand.

Mouse hand (RSI syndrome)

Symptoms of ‘mouse hand’:

Tingling and numbness in the hands
Pain in the hand and wrist when moving them
Restricted movement

Mouse hand is caused by one-sided movement patterns, such as frequent clicking of a computer mouse.

Treatment for mouse hand:

In addition to improving workplace ergonomics, using ergonomic computer accessories and undergoing physiotherapy, a support such as the JuzoFlex Manu Xtra or an orthosis such as the JuzoPro Manu may be used to immobilise the affected area temporarily.

Fallhand

Symptoms of a drooping hand:

The hand hangs limply
Weakness in the fingers
Loss of sensation

In cases of drop hand, the fingers can only be extended upwards to a limited extent and the hand hangs limply downwards. This is caused by damage to the radial nerve, which is responsible for the extension of the hand and fingers.

Treatment of drop hand:

In addition to physiotherapy, a brace such as the JuzoPro Palmar Xtec Digitus is used to immobilise the fingers

Ganglion (ganglion cyst)

Symptoms of a ganglion:

Clearly visible swelling
Pain on pressure
Restricted movement

A ganglion is a benign, fluid-filled lump that usually forms on joints or tendon sheaths.

Treatment of a ganglion:

It is recommended that the joint be rested and immobilised. If the condition does not resolve on its own even after a prolonged period, the ganglion can be surgically removed.

General information on treating hand pain

Before embarking on long-term self-treatment, you should consult a doctor if you are experiencing pain in your hand.

This applies in particular to…

… acute injuries
… stab or cut wounds
… extreme, persistent or worsening pain
… numbness and tingling
… visible deformities
… grinding noises
… a snapping sound at the time of an injury
… restricted movement

First steps to take if your hands are aching

Administer first aid: for example, treat wounds, immobilise the affected area, apply a cold compress and, if necessary, call for emergency medical assistance

There are many different conditions affecting the hands, each of which requires a tailored approach.

Symptom	Treatment
Chronic symptoms, stiffness, tension	Heat from a hot water bottle, heat pad, heat patch or infrared lamp to help you relax and relieve pain
Acute pain, swelling, bruising, pain on movement	Cooling with cold water, ice spray or a cold pack to reduce swelling and relieve pain
Inflammation, pain on movement, overexertion	Cooling and immobilisation
Open wound	First apply a bandage, then cool the area and keep it still

Note:

The following applies when using heat or cold for treatment. Never apply directly to the skin. Always wrap cold packs and heat pads in a cloth. Avoid extreme temperatures and do not apply cold for longer than 10 minutes at a time.

Overview of treatment options

Depending on the clinical picture and the severity of the symptoms, various treatment options may be considered for hand pain. The main non-surgical options include aids such as bandages and orthoses, physiotherapy, exercises and medication. Injections and surgery are considered invasive procedures.

Medical aids: bandages and orthoses

Relieving pressure and providing stabilisation: JuzoPro hand orthoses

Orthoses are generally used for temporary immobilisation and stabilisation. This is required, for example, following surgery, acute injuries or in severe cases.

Compressive and mobilising: JuzoFlex wrist supports

These supports relieve pressure, provide support and help reduce swelling. They maintain mobility and pave the way back to pain-free movement.

Exercises for pain in the hand

There are a number of different exercises that are particularly useful for pain in the wrist or fingers. However, the exercises should be tailored to the specific cause of the pain.

Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and lymphatic drainage

Physiotherapy and occupational therapy are often used following operations and injuries to restore the function and mobility of the hand. As well as passive exercises carried out by qualified staff, you will also be given exercises to do at home. Lymphatic drainage helps to reduce swelling and thus aids the healing process.

Medication

Anti-inflammatory painkillers, in the form of ointments or tablets, can be used to provide temporary relief from hand pain. However, to prevent the condition from becoming chronic, it is important to identify and treat the causes of the pain as soon as possible.

Surgical procedures

Surgical procedures are carried out, for example, following acute injuries such as fractures, lacerations or ligament injuries, as well as in cases of nerve and tendon compression. A holistic approach to treatment, using products that are optimally tailored to the needs of orthopaedics, hand surgery, trauma surgery and scar management, promotes the best possible healing outcome.

Compression therapy is suitable for preventing functional and mobility restrictions and promoting healing. The compression pressure counteracts uncontrolled scar tissue growth and can help to improve the appearance and mobility of the scar.