Hand and wrist pain can affect almost everything you do, from typing and cooking to opening a jar. It may come from tendons, joints, nerves or an injury, and sometimes from a pinched nerve in the neck. At Innovation Spine Medical, we find the source of your pain, numbness or weakness and build a non-surgical plan whenever possible.
Aching or sharp pain in the wrist, palm, fingers or thumb
Numbness or tingling, often worse at night
Weak grip or dropping things
Swelling or stiffness in the joints
Pain with typing, gripping or twisting
Clicking or catching in a finger
pressure on the median nerve at the wrist, causing numbness and tingling in the thumb and first fingers
including De Quervain’s tenosynovitis on the thumb side of the wrist
from falls
especially at the base of the thumb and the finger joints
a finger that catches or locks when bent
in the forearm from repetitive work
Consider an evaluation if pain, numbness or weakness lasts more than a couple of weeks, wakes you at night, or makes it hard to grip or hold objects.
Seek urgent care after a fall if the wrist looks deformed or you can’t move it, or if your hand is red, hot and swollen, especially with fever.
Call our office if you notice redness, warmth or drainage at an injection site, a fever, pain or swelling that keeps getting worse, or new numbness or weakness.
Seek emergency care right away if you have trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat.
Your provider examines your hand and wrist, tests strength, sensation and specific nerve signs, and checks your neck and elbow, since nerve problems there can cause hand symptoms. X-rays, ultrasound or nerve studies may be recommended.
Your treatment plan depends on your diagnosis and may include:
Carpal tunnel often causes numbness or tingling in the thumb, index and middle fingers, frequently worse at night. An exam and sometimes nerve testing can confirm it.
Arthritis, tendon irritation, trigger finger and nerve compression are common causes.
Yes. A pinched nerve in the neck can cause pain, numbness or weakness in the hand.
Many causes improve with splinting, therapy and activity changes. Your provider will explain your options.
Schedule an evaluation at our Rego Park office to find out what’s behind your symptoms.
