Why does the hand hurt when bending?
There are several groups of diseases that cause pain in the right or left hand when bending (and sometimes in both hands at once).
Injuries
This is the most common cause of discomfort. The wrist bears a large load and often takes the blow when falling. Due to the complex structure of this zone and the presence of small bones in it, fractures often occur here, as well as other types of injuries.
Due to the bruise, subcutaneous hematomas and swelling may appear, which is why it hurts to bend the arm. A dislocation can also occur, for example, if, while trying to hold something, a person sharply twists his arm. Naturally, the hand hurts very much when bending in case of a fracture.
Inflammation
The inflammatory process in the wrist area has a different nature. So, if the skin is damaged, infection can get inside. In this case, usually only one wrist is affected, for example, the crook of the right hand hurts. Inflammation can also be allergic as a reaction of the body to certain substances. Autoimmune inflammation develops due to metabolic disorders (for example, gout).
Any inflammatory process in the wrist joint is called arthritis and makes itself felt with pronounced pain. At first, this is felt when moving the hand, and later it bothers you even in a calm state. If acute arthritis is ignored, it develops into chronic arthritis.
With inflammation, the joint of the hand usually hurts when bending, but sometimes nearby tissues are also affected: muscles, tendons, etc.
Arthrosis
With age, irreversible degenerative changes occur in the wrist joints - arthrosis begins. It often affects older people, although recently the disease has become younger. Also, degenerative processes sometimes provoke chronic diseases. At the initial stage, arthrosis usually does not manifest itself; noticeable pain occurs as it progresses. A characteristic sign of arthrosis is a crunching sound, because the articular surfaces rub against each other, as they lack lubrication - synovial fluid.
Other diseases
Sometimes the answer to the question “Why does my arm hurt in the crook of my wrist?” associated with the condition of the cervical spine. After all, nerves come from this area that can be compressed. Pain in the wrist is provoked by intervertebral hernias, protrusion of intervertebral discs, and osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
Another possible cause of the pathology is myocardial infarction. You should be alarmed if your left hand hurts when bending and the discomfort moves up the arm. At the same time, tingling and numbness of the skin is felt.
Sometimes wrist discomfort occurs when the thumb is bent. This is a sign of tunnel syndrome, in which tissue microcirculation is disrupted. If the patient is right-handed, then his right hand hurts, especially at night. Also concerning is swelling, numbness, tingling, and changes in skin color (it turns pale or blue).
What to do and how to treat wrist pain?
Traditional therapy
If your wrist is sore and swollen, the limb should be provided with complete rest. If an injury is diagnosed, it is recommended to wear a rigid brace - a cast, orthosis or splint. New growths are removed surgically. If the joints are inflamed due to infection, the process can be stopped with antibiotics or anti-inflammatory ointments:
- "Piroxicam";
- "Voltaren";
- "Dolgit";
- "Fastum";
- "Ibuprofen";
- heparin ointment.
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Physiotherapy
Physiotherapeutic procedures contribute to the patient’s rapid recovery.
If severe joint pain develops, the following physiotherapeutic methods are recommended:
- inductothermy;
- electrophoresis;
- laser treatment;
- thermal wraps with ozokerite or paraffin;
- exposure to ultrasound.
The procedures help relieve pain and have the following therapeutic effect:
- improve the production of synovial fluid;
- restore mobility;
- stop the inflammatory process;
- eliminate muscle spasm;
- help accelerate the process of tissue regeneration, especially cartilage.
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Physiotherapy
In combination with medications and physiotherapy, it is recommended to treat wrist pain with the following exercises:
- flexion-extension of the arm;
- clenching and unclenching fingers;
- rotational movements of the brush;
- wave-like movements of the hands, clasped in a “lock”;
- rolling a ball placed under the palm.
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How to treat hand pain
Therapy involves eliminating the cause of hand pain (specific disease) and relieving discomfort. In the second case, analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications are used in the form of tablets and ointments (creams, gels); sometimes it is necessary to resort to hormonal treatment.
For injuries, plaster or elastic bandages are used. Arthritis, depending on its nature, requires the use of antibiotics, drugs to suppress the immune system, and antihistamines. Arthrosis requires complex treatment, including the use of chondroprotectors. For carpal tunnel syndrome, therapeutic orthoses are indicated (this is a fixation device for the hand area).
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Complex treatment in the network’s clinics is provided by doctors in such specialized areas as traumatology and orthopedics, manual therapy and osteopathy, neurology and therapy, physiotherapy and reflexology, as well as specialists in other medical professions in demand among the population (cardiology, surgery, dietetics). Unique techniques and innovative equipment allow you to quickly and accurately make the correct diagnosis, and most importantly, correctly prescribe the necessary course of effective therapy. The high level of professionalism is confirmed by numerous positive reviews from patients who have successfully resolved their health problems and returned to their normal lifestyle.
Diagnostics
An examination by a specialist allows you to find out the causes of pain and make an accurate diagnosis.
- X-ray;
- Ultrasound;
- computed or magnetic resonance imaging;
- arthroscopy;
- scintigraphy;
- puncture of joint fluid;
- General and biochemical blood test.
Research reveals the following:
- presence or absence of injuries, including old ones;
- degenerative-dystrophic processes;
- pathogenic microflora;
- necrosis or inflammation of surrounding tissues.
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- Arthritis of the wrist joint: symptoms, causes and treatments
Features of the carpal area
What is the carpal area? It contains 8 bones that connect the hand and forearm. This promotes stable functionality of the hand, which will be able to deal with heavy objects - holding them and lifting them. At the same time, the proximal side serves to form a joint that is movable - this is the wrist joint. This is also the carpal area. If pathological processes occur in the joint, they are diagnosed as wrist diseases.
The hand can rotate, bend and extend thanks to the joint. Without these functions, it is difficult to imagine full-fledged work in everyday life, because for it you need to straighten and bend your arm. Therefore, if there is pain in the wrist when bending, then for a person to perform any activity. With such pain , grasping any object with your fingers becomes a real problem, and it is especially difficult to hold it.
Along with pain, concomitant pathological signs arise, due to which the patient’s capabilities are noticeably reduced. There may be tingling and numbness in the hands, as well as swelling, which makes movement difficult and the wrist area deformed. So, let's look at 4 main points:
- why there is pain in the wrist of the right hand when bending;
- what is the danger of such situations;
- diagnostic methods;
- possible therapy.
What is the wrist made of?
The carpal zone (not counting the 8 bones) includes a joint called the radiocarpal. The bony structures that make it up contain hyaline cartilage that covers the bones that move. A durable capsule envelops this joint, and a special fluid (necessary for the bone structures to slide freely) is produced by the synovial membrane.
The wrist has important structures on the inside that play a big role in the mobility of the hand. Transverse ligaments secure and protect blood vessels. The formations also include nerve trunks and flexor muscles. Fatty tissue and skin cover the wrist area.
Why do we need information about these anatomical structures? The fact is that some of them become sources of pain when pathologies arise. Of course, each of them can get sick. Because of this, some diseases are formed. Negative processes can be:
- inflammatory;
- degenerative;
- allergic;
- autoimmune.
Injuries can destroy any of the elements, be it nerve trunks or bone structures. It all depends on the situation.
Due to a weak immune system, allergens and infectious agents, inflammatory reactions may occur. Mostly middle-aged people and especially the elderly suffer from degenerative processes. Due to the fact that the metabolism is disturbed or the circulatory system suffers from pathologies, dystrophic manifestations may appear. Bones and cartilage do not receive proper nutrition.
Characteristic pains
When the wrist area becomes ill, several pathological processes occur at once. For example, inflammation is characterized by changes in blood supply, increased pain, activation of the immune system and tissue destruction. The cartilage layer is deformed and bone tissue grows when age-related changes occur in the joint. Fibrosis begins to stand out faster, which affects the deterioration of microcirculation.
Nerve endings are the first to respond to the occurrence of pathological processes in the carpal area. Every part of the body, except bones, has pain receptors. Therefore, if destructive processes occur, pain in the wrist may begin when bending. It all depends on what type of disease the patient suffers from. However, the pain may not be as pronounced at an early stage. If we are talking, for example, about arthrosis, then the pathological processes are almost painless.
There are several groups of diseases that cause wrist pain. Here are the main ones:
- traumatic injuries;
- inflammation process;
- degenerative and dystrophic manifestations.
Each pathology has its own characteristic pain. Certain situations can strengthen or weaken it. It may either spread or not. In addition to it, other symptoms appear that can be identified clinically or laboratory. methods are also used for this . Thanks to this, it is possible to accurately diagnose the disease and provide appropriate medical care.
Injuries
Pain in the left wrist when bending is often due to injury . For example, while trying to hold something, a person twists his arm sharply. Pain also occurs when you actively or passively straighten your arm. In addition to pain, there are other signs of injury. We are talking about hematomas, swelling, deformities, lack of mobility, and also when the subcutaneous fatty tissue is damaged.
Among the mildest types of injuries are bruises, in which there are no special deformations. Swelling may occur if a person has sprained or broken their wrist.
How is traumatic injury diagnosed? First of all, this issue needs to be approached seriously, because each situation has its own nuances. Take advantage of radiography, which is basically available to everyone. Some experts recommend undergoing CT, MRI and ultrasound. Thanks to this approach, the diagnosis will be made most accurately.
If we are talking about dislocations, fractures or sprains, then their treatment is quite long. Sometimes it will be necessary to go to a surgeon. Once the bones have healed, it is important to undergo appropriate rehabilitation to restore mobility to the joint.
