The symptoms of hand, finger and upper extremity injuries can vary greatly, but usually can include:
• Loss of range of motion
• Severe pain
• Numbness or weakness
• Visible skin discoloration
• Muscle aches
• Visible swelling
• Tingling sensation
Medical assistance is needed immediately. Your doctor will determine the extent of the injuries by different exams, including palpating the area, assessing range of motion, ordering x-ray or different type of scan, as well as employing other diagnostic tests.
Treatment can include surgery, pain meds, physical therapy, cold compression.
1. Hand and Wrist Fractures
There are 27 bones in a human hand. Eight of them make up the joint of the wrist. A fracture to any of these bones can impact the entire arm, usually limiting range of motion as well as affecting the ability to perform standard functions like holding a grip. Hand and Wrist Fractures in sports Risk factors such as participation in sports or conditions such as osteoporosis or other bone disease double the chance of suffering from a hand or wrist fracture. A sudden loss of range of motion is common with a hand or wrist fracture, but this is not always the case. Any suspected fracture should be treated immediately. If left untreated, even a small fracture can affect the alignment of the entire hand.
2. Reoccurring Acute Injuries of the Upper Limbs
Occupational injuries can occur when an individual does a repetitive motion with their upper extremities. This can happen in environments such as certain sports, professional offices, food preparation, manufacturing, or factory assembly lines. Other factors such as pinched nerves and fatigued muscles and tendons can lead to painful and acute reoccurring injuries. Some of the common symptoms are numbness and tingling in hands, pain radiating from the wrist, weakness in the hands and arms. The treatment includes wrist wraps, bandages, applying ice, physical therapy, cold compression therapy.
3. Chronic Pain
Patients may suffer from chronic pain in the upper extremities for a number of different reasons. Some of the conditions that may contribute to chronic pain include (but are not limited to):
• Muscle tears and micro tears
• Small fractures
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Damage of the nerves
• Degenerative joint disease
Chronic pain conditions can become quite serious cases if left untreated. Treatment includes pain medication, heat and cold therapy, or physical therapy.
4. Sprains of the hand or wrist
The stretching or tearing of ligaments can cause a sprain. The stretching or tearing of the muscles or tendons of the upper limbs is classified as a strain. These injuries can be caused in the same way as a fracture. However, an acute hand or wrist sprain is far more common than an acute strain. Chronic wrist strain usually occurs in athletes as golfers, gymnasts, rowers, tennis players due to the prolonged, repetitive movements that these sports require.