Hand/Wrist
Conditions
Hand / Wrist
Wrist or Hand Sprain / Strain Injuries
A wrist sprain is an injury to a ligament. Ligaments are strong bands of connective tissue that connect one bone to another. A wrist strain is an injury to the muscle or tendon. Tendons bind muscles to bones. Both are a common injury. There are many ligaments and tendons in the wrist that can be stretched or torn, resulting in a sprain or a strain. This occurs with an acute injury like a fall or can happen due to repetitive overuse jobs requiring the use of hands.
Wrist sprain symptoms may vary in intensity and location.
· Swelling in the wrist
· Persistent pain when you move your wrist
· Bruising or discoloration of the skin around the wrist
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common source of hand numbness and pain caused by compression of the median nerve. The carpal tunnel is a narrow, tunnel-like structure in the wrist. The bottom and sides of this tunnel are formed by wrist (carpal) bones. The top of the tunnel is covered by a strong band of connective tissue called the transverse carpal ligament. The median nerve travels from the forearm into the hand through this tunnel in the wrist and can become irritated by the tendons that bend the fingers and thumb that also travel through the carpal tunnel.
Symptoms include:
· Numbness or pain in your hand, sometimes worst at night
· Occasional hand tingling, numbness, or pins-and-needles sensation
· Numbness or pain that worsens with use
· Hand or wrist pain with typing on a computer
· Difficulty or pain with gripping, twisting, etc.