Our Services / Hand Pain

Everyone experiences hand pain occasionally, but if your symptoms affect your ability to write, drive, or hold eating utensils, it’s vital to seek professional help. At Mercer-Bucks Orthopaedics, the board-certified orthopaedic specialists regularly work with people to diagnose and treat the underlying causes of hand pain. Using a combination of activity modification, conservative treatment measures or surgery, finding relief is possible. To make an appointment in Hamilton, Lawrenceville, Princeton, and Marlton, New Jersey, or Langhorne, Pennsylvania, call the nearest office or book online today.

What is hand pain?

Hand pain refers to aching, stiffness, or general discomfort that affects any part of the hands, like your palms, wrists, or fingers. 

Each of your hands has numerous bones, joints, tendons, muscles, and ligaments. These tissues work together, allowing you to grip, hold, and touch. If you injure your hand or develop a degenerative condition like arthritis, hand pain can keep you from work, exercise, and other things you enjoy.

The providers at Mercer-Bucks Orthopaedics (MBO) can identify the underlying cause and develop a treatment plan that restores your mobility and enhances your quality of life.

What causes hand pain?

At MBO, the providers treat hand pain caused by various conditions, including:

• Arthritis
• Tendonitis
• Ligament injuries
• Nerve compression (such as carpal tunnel syndrome)
• Ganglion cysts
• Rheumatologic conditions

You might also benefit from treatment if you injure your hand while working, playing sports, or as a result of a car accident.

When should I visit an orthopaedic specialist about hand pain?

Make an appointment with the orthopaedic experts at MBO if you experience hand pain that lasts for more than a week. That’s especially true if the pain occurs alongside other symptoms, like numbness in your fingers or difficulty bending your fingers or making a fist.

How is hand pain diagnosed?

To diagnose hand pain, your MBO provider reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including where the pain occurs, if it extends into other parts of your body, and if certain activities like work, make it worse. 

Next, your provider examines your hand. They look at your palm, wrist, and fingers to pinpoint areas of swelling, bruising, or redness. Your provider also has you do a few easy hand movements to test your range of motion, reflexes, and muscle strength. 

If your provider suspects you have a fracture, a dislocated joint, or arthritis, they might also order diagnostic imaging with X-rays.  

How is hand pain treated?

Treatment of hand pain depends on several factors, including the severity of your symptoms, your age, and the underlying cause. Usually, the specialists at MBO recommend conservative treatments first. For example, you might benefit from rest, over-the-counter medication, and a combination of ice and heat therapy.

If these treatments don’t provide relief, your provider might recommend a splint, prescription pain medication, or hand therapy. If you experience chronic hand pain due to an underlying medical condition, like carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, or a serious fracture, surgery might be necessary. 

Don’t let hand pain interfere with your daily routine. To explore the various treatment options, make an appointment at Mercer-Bucks Orthopaedics by calling the nearest office or scheduling online today.