Common Hand and Wrist Injuries
A variety of hand and wrist injuries can occur - the hands and wrists are frequently injured as they are used for numerous activities every day, such as typing, cooking, playing sports, performing at work, and cleaning.
At the Advanced Ambulatory Surgery Center, we are here to provide you with excellence in healthcare whether it is for diagnosis, pain management, and/or procedures. In this blog, we are going to cover the most common hand and wrist injuries, their causes, symptoms, and treatment options.
Causes of Hand/Wrist Injuries and Preventions
In order to understand hand and wrist injuries, we must first understand their causes. These injuries can be the result of sudden trauma, such as a fall or impact, or they can develop over time due to repetitive strain or overuse.
When individuals are aware of the common causes of these injuries, they can take steps to prevent them, including using proper technique when performing tasks requiring hand or wrist movements, taking frequent breaks, and using ergonomic equipment such as an ergonomic keyboard or mouse.
Most Common Types of Hand/Wrist Injuries
It is very important to pay attention to the chair you are sitting in during the workday. You should ensure that your office chair provides your back with good lumbar support and that your feet are flat on the ground. Ergonomic chairs can be great everyday chairs to offer support and have been shown to improve back fatigue and pain.
Sprains: A sprain occurs when the ligaments in the wrist are stretched or torn, usually due to a fall or other traumatic injury.
Fractures: A fracture is a break in one of the bones in the wrist or hand. Fractures can be caused by trauma or repetitive stress.
Carpal tunnel syndrome: This condition occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm to the hand, becomes compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. This can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and fingers.
Tendinitis: Tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendons that connect the muscles in the hand and wrist to the bones. This can be caused by repetitive motion, such as typing or playing a musical instrument.
Trigger finger: This condition occurs when the tendons in the fingers or thumb become inflamed and catch as they move through the tendon sheaths. This can cause pain and stiffness in the affected finger.
Symptoms
As for symptoms of the injury, this will depend on the severity of the injury and the type of impact your hand or wrist endured. Symptoms can range from light or extreme pain to swelling, stiffness, weakness, numbness, tingling, and even deformity. It is important to seek out help as soon as you suspect prolonged pain.
Treating the Injuries
Professionals at AASC spine are able to diagnose and help you find a solution for your specific injury. For sprains and fractures, your doctor may suggest you rest from any strenuous activity that may prevent you from healing faster. You may also be advised to ice and compress the injury (either wearing a brace or cast).
You may also be advised to begin physical therapy after this brace or cast comes off to ensure the healing of your bones and muscles returns to normal. Surgery may be recommended by your physician if you suffer from severe carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis to relieve pain and repair damaged ligaments and bones.
Hand and wrist injuries are known to interfere with a person’s daily life as they make it complicated to continue to perform tasks in their routine. At AASC, you can trust us to provide you with excellence in healthcare solutions from quality and convenience to affordability - rest assured that we have your best interest in mind.
