ELBOW | ARM | HAND | FINGER Pain
Hand, Elbow & Arm Pain: Too Much Computer Use, Tennis Playing, Golfing and or other Repetitive Hand & Arm Use? Your fascia looks like a spider web; when tight and constricted due to chronic pain and/or repetitive stress YOU are likely to experience pain… Hand & Arm Pain including pain in the wrist, elbow, and shoulder.
(1) Hand & Arm Pain can occur due to a variety of different causes, such as traumatic injuries, shoulder injuries, repetitive movements, overstretching, muscle strains, nerve compression or some medical conditions.
The hand is used on a daily basis and can become inflamed and cause pain. Pain of the hands and fingers could be caused by ongoing conditions. Common conditions that may cause hand pain are gamer’s thumb, carpal tunnel syndrome, and trigger finger. Gamer’s thumb is a nickname for the condition called de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. Other names for this condition are de Quervain’s disease or de Quervain’s syndrome. De Quervain’s syndrome is inflammation of the tendons in the thumb and wrist. Injury or overuse can cause this syndrome. People who participate in racket sports, gaming, gardening, and repetitive work have a greater chance of developing this syndrome. This condition can be a secondary condition of rheumatoid arthritis. Women are more likely to suffer from de Quervain’s syndrome and it often happens after pregnancy. Age is also a factor for developing this syndrome. Pain can be felt on the back of the thumb, the base of the thumb, and on the side of the wrist. Pain can be felt upon movement and can happen gradually or sudden. If surgery is not needed, treatment will include wearing a splint, physical therapy, and avoid movement. Carpal tunnel happens when pressure is placed on the median nerve which controls movement in the thumb and fingers (except pinky). Swelling causes the carpal tunnel (pathway of median nerve in the wrist) to narrow. Repetitive motions of the hands like typing causes carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome can also result due to hyperthyroidism, diabetes, obesity, and pregnancy. Burning, tingling, or an itching numbness can be felt in the palm, thumb, and all fingers except the pinky. If left untreated, muscle damage could cause loss of function. Women have a greater chance of having carpal tunnel syndrome than men. Assembly line workers, cashiers, sewers, hair stylists, and bakers are at higher risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated with a splint, stretching, strengthening exercises if surgery is not needed. Trigger finger is the catching or locking of the thumb and fingers when a person attempts to bend them. If only your thumb catches or locks, the condition is called trigger finger. The catching or locking is a result of irritation of the tendon sheath as swollen tendons glide through them. A person with this condition may also experience stiffness, soreness, or a locked finger that cannot be straightened. This condition occurs because of repetitive or forceful movements of the fingers or thumb. Women, farmers, and musicians are more likely to develop trigger finger. Age is also a factor. Some forms of treatment involve rest or wearing a splint.
The hand is used on a daily basis and can become inflamed and cause pain. Pain of the hands and fingers could be caused by ongoing conditions. Common conditions that may cause hand pain are gamer’s thumb, carpal tunnel syndrome, and trigger finger. Gamer’s thumb is a nickname for the condition called de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. Other names for this condition are de Quervain’s disease or de Quervain’s syndrome. De Quervain’s syndrome is inflammation of the tendons in the thumb and wrist. Injury or overuse can cause this syndrome. People who participate in racket sports, gaming, gardening, and repetitive work have a greater chance of developing this syndrome. This condition can be a secondary condition of rheumatoid arthritis. Women are more likely to suffer from de Quervain’s syndrome and it often happens after pregnancy. Age is also a factor for developing this syndrome. Pain can be felt on the back of the thumb, the base of the thumb, and on the side of the wrist. Pain can be felt upon movement and can happen gradually or sudden. If surgery is not needed, treatment will include wearing a splint, physical therapy, and avoid movement. Carpal tunnel happens when pressure is placed on the median nerve which controls movement in the thumb and fingers (except pinky). Swelling causes the carpal tunnel (pathway of median nerve in the wrist) to narrow. Repetitive motions of the hands like typing causes carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome can also result due to hyperthyroidism, diabetes, obesity, and pregnancy. Burning, tingling, or an itching numbness can be felt in the palm, thumb, and all fingers except the pinky. If left untreated, muscle damage could cause loss of function. Women have a greater chance of having carpal tunnel syndrome than men. Assembly line workers, cashiers, sewers, hair stylists, and bakers are at higher risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated with a splint, stretching, strengthening exercises if surgery is not needed. Trigger finger is the catching or locking of the thumb and fingers when a person attempts to bend them. If only your thumb catches or locks, the condition is called trigger finger. The catching or locking is a result of irritation of the tendon sheath as swollen tendons glide through them. A person with this condition may also experience stiffness, soreness, or a locked finger that cannot be straightened. This condition occurs because of repetitive or forceful movements of the fingers or thumb. Women, farmers, and musicians are more likely to develop trigger finger. Age is also a factor. Some forms of treatment involve rest or wearing a splint.
(2) Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow: Stretching the fascia should be slow and when done correctly YOU can regain flexibility…Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are conditions that may cause pain of the elbow. Although these conditions are common in athletes, athletes are not the only people who may develop this condition. Repetitive overuse of the elbow can lead to elbow tendinitis. Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are both forms of elbow tendinitis. Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is caused by inflammation of the tendons that are on the outside of the elbow. Golfer’s elbow, or medial epicondylitis, is caused by the inflammation of tendons that are inside the elbow. Tennis elbow is the more common than golfer’s elbow. An activity that requires a person to do a great deal of flexing, gripping, and/or swinging increases their chances of tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow. Tennis elbow is also common in people who have hobbies that require them to knit, paint, or type. Golfers elbow is also common in people who play tennis, baseball, bowl or use tools. Using an elbow strap or icing the elbow may improve elbow tendinitis. Range of motion exercises may increase a person’s flexibility. A physical therapist can recommend exercise that can help strengthen the muscles. These methods of treatment may be used if surgery is not required.