Dr. Alex Jimenez is excellent; he’s patient, he gets right to the point of the situation, and then helps you with your stretching and therapy to make sure that it doesn’t continue. I recommend him to everybody in El Paso, the whole state of Texas. He should be in every town, move to San Antonio.

Ottis Hamlet

Are you aware of how dependent you are on the use of your hands for everyday tasks? As humans, we rely tremendously on the proper function of our hands, wrists and elbows to perform many physical activities. Many people may not understand how essential this can be until they encounter an injury or condition which impedes them from using their hands.

Hand, wrist and elbow pain can cause a wide variety of problems, preventing you from being able to take part in even some of the simplest, ordinary chores without experiencing painful symptoms. Based on the severity of the pain, health issues affecting your hands, wrists or elbows can prevent people from driving, utilizing a computer or other electronic devices, cooking dinner and it can even make working difficult.

To make matters worse, the condition of your hands can ultimately affect the entire condition of your upper extremities. An injury or aggravated condition along a single part of the hand, such as a finger, could cause pain to radiate through the wrist and elbow, into the arm and shoulder. Below, we will discuss the common causes of hand pain and their treatment.

Common Causes of Hand Pain

While many instances of hand pain, wrist pain and elbow pain may resolve on their own, a minor inconvenience can quickly become a much bigger health issue if left untreated. Painful symptoms can slow us down as we’re attempting to go about our day and chances are that the need to finish a job will continue to aggravate the pain and cause discomfort. If you experience chronic hand pain symptoms, you may want to visit a doctor immediately.

Because our arms and hands are interconnected, an injury or condition to any part of the upper extremities can end up causing anything from tingling sensations and numbness in the fingers to pain and discomfort in the arms. A qualified and experienced healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, can help you understand the source of your hand pain as well as determine the best treatment option for your specific health issue.  

There are many health issues which might lead to pain and discomfort in the hands, elbows and wrists. Common causes of hand pain include:

• Joint pain
  
• Arthritis
  
• Tendonitis
  
• Tennis/Golf Elbow
  
• Fractures
  
• Sprains
  
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

One of the most common causes of hand pain is the result of a chronic condition called carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS, is a painful syndrome caused by a pinched nerve in the wrist which causes pain, tingling sensations and numbness in the hand and arm. The pain usually feels like a profound and intense hand cramp although cramping is not a common symptom associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel syndrome develops due to heightened stress and pressure on the median nerve, frequently due to highly repetitive movements with the hand and wrist. Some of the most common tasks in today’s society, such as writing, typing on a keyboard, playing with video games, gardening, and anything else which requires repetitive alternative or lifting hand motions, have become one of the leading causes of carpal tunnel syndrome.

As mentioned above, several common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS, may cause severe pain in the hand, wrist and elbow, as well as result in tingling sensations and numbness which may radiate from the fingers up to the arm. Research studies have also found that patients who may be experiencing hormone fluctuations are at an increased risk of developing the condition. However, people who are most at risk of developing CTS have been found to be those who work in a position that requires them to engage in repetitive motions with their hands.

Many healthcare professionals recommend surgical interventions to treat carpal tunnel syndrome but many patients have experienced relief from their hand pain through the use of alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care,. Moreover, wearing a brace, working to counteract repetitive motions and taking steps to decrease stress and pressure on the hand can help improve pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

While a number of these treatment techniques and methods can be performed at home by the patient, it’s essential to seek immediate medical attention from a qualified and experienced healthcare professional to avoid further damage. A chiropractor can help treat hand pain. Below, we will describe how chiropractic care may improve chronic hand pain symptoms.

Because we depend tremendously on the use of our hands, injuries and/or conditions which result in hand pain, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, can be very debilitating, ultimately affecting every aspect of an individual’s quality of life. Chiropractic care is a safe and effective, alternative treatment option which can help treat hand pain. Through a series of exercise and physical activity programs, chiropractic care can help restore normal hand function and reduce hand pain.

Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C., C.C.S.T.

Chiropractic Care for Hand Pain

Chiropractic care is a healthcare profession which utilizes spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to treat a variety of injuries and conditions associated with the musculoskeletal and nervous system. For a doctor of chiropractic or chiropractor, the first step for managing hand, wrist or elbow pain is to evaluate the source of the symptoms.

After the diagnosis, the chiropractor’s next priority is to use a series of alternative treatment options to relieve the patient’s hand pain as soon as possible. A chiropractor may use spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to carefully correct any spinal misalignments, or subluxations, which may be causing referred hand pain.

After that, a chiropractor may recommend a series of lifestyle modifications, including exercise and physical activity programs, in order to promote recovery and begin focusing on building the patient’s assortment of motion, particularly flexibility maneuvers. Stretches and exercises for building strength will be included following the patient’s treatment plan, in order to ensure no additional damage occurs.

When you’re ready to start, contact a chiropractor to set up an appointment to get yourself on the road to relieving your hand, wrist and/or elbow pain. The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic as well as to spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .

Curated by Dr. Alex Jimenez

Additional Topics: Acute Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most prevalent causes for disability and missed days at work worldwide. As a matter of fact, back pain has been attributed as the second most common reason for doctor office visits, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Approximately 80 percent of the population will experience some type of back pain at least once throughout their life. The spine is a complex structure made up of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles, among other soft tissues. Because of this, injuries and/or aggravated conditions, such as herniated discs, can eventually lead to symptoms of back pain. Sports injuries or automobile accident injuries are often the most frequent cause of back pain, however, sometimes the simplest of movements can have painful results. Fortunately, alternative treatment options, such as chiropractic care, can help ease back pain through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, ultimately improving pain relief.

EXTRA IMPORTANT TOPIC: Carpal Tunnel Pain Treatment