Hand Pain Causes And Relief Measures

Hand pain is one of the most common complaints that people have. We work with our hands no matter what kind of work. The palm, fingers, wrist and forearm are subject to forces and stresses during the day. This regular activity can sometimes take its toll on the hand if it has become weak or if it doesn't get enough time to recuperate. These are some activities which can easily lead to hand pain.

• Sports that involve extensive use of hand in comparison to the body, like tennis, squash, golf, cricket etc. 
• People who write or type often. Many people have to do both. It can easily stress the fingers and then lead to pain. 
• Industrial occupations involve use of hand in repetitive manner ( like in traditional manufacturing, oil drilling, building and construction etc ). The strong forces and powerful vibrations can lead to hand pain. 

The major causes of hand pain are : 

• Arthritis : Most of the middle aged people who complain about hand pain are sufferers of the dangerous disease Arthritis. It causes inflammation of the joints leading to pain in movement. Arthritis makes it very difficult for people to do their jobs. 
• Carpal tunnel syndrome : This is a syndrome that causes pain and numbness in the hand. People who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome lose their grip strength and often experience sharp burning sensations in the fingers. In some cases it is so painful that people undergo surgery for this condition. 
• Elbow conditions like golfer's elbow and tennis elbow are quite painful. They can cause pain to occur in the hand and the forearm as well. These conditions require a long time to recover. 
• Ganglion cysts : These are bumps that form on the hands or the feet. Ganglion cysts often occur in the hand near the wrist. They are drained out by minor surgery. This condition is also painful and discomforting. 
• Injury to the hand, like sprain, fracture or dislocation causes intense pain at the site of injury, like wrist or thumb or palm of the hand. 

Hand pain should not be ignored as it often aggravates if it is not given proper rest and treatment. Conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome cause slow loss of strength in grip. Besides the regular treatment, one can take steps to relieve hand pain at home. 
Hand pain relief measures : 

• Ergonomic evaluation : It is helpful to get evaluated on your posture and technique of doing a job. People who play sports or those who write often or industrial workers should get their technique evaluated. Wrong technique often puts extra load on the hands which leads to pain. 
• Massage with a warm oil helps in relieving the pressure and numbness in the hand. 
• Applying a turmeric poultice can also provide relief from hand pain. This is because turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties which helps in overcoming the condition causing the pain. 
• Eat a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods. 
• Perform hand, finger and wrist strengthening exercises when the pain has subsided. This prevents the further incidents of such pain. 
• If you suspect that the pain is due to arthritis, then one should start some treatment quickly. Arthritis can be better controlled if treatment starts early on. This can delay the onset of sharp arthritis pain.